PICA to Offer Temporary Residency to Foreign Nationals – Minister Chang

Horace Chang - Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of National Security.

A submission is soon to be presented to the Cabinet for the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) to introduce a one-year temporary residency to foreign nationals. This according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. 

 The Minister was speaking earlier today at the opening ceremony for a new PICA office at the Fairview Plaza in Montego Bay, St. James. 

 Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Chang noted, an increase in travel to the island will be expected. “One of the questions coming out of the pandemic is ‘where will I live’, and in figuring this out one has to establish residency, which is why PICA is working to establish the temporary residency programme.  The impact of that will not only increase demands on the operations of PICA, but will provide an opportunity for foreigners to live and work in Jamaica for one year”, the Minister said. 

Meanwhile, PICA’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wynter, added that last year, over 4,000 persons were granted citizenship to Jamaica. “When the temporary residency programme is approved”, he added, “this will be another product and service our agency will be happy to provide to visitors”.  

The new office in Montego Bay will enable the Agency to provide more immigration and citizenship products to the list of offerings. Additionally, Jamaicans who live in the western parishes will no longer have to travel to Kingston to submit applications.   

Editors Note: With the increase in employment in the island why are we admitting more persons as residents and what are the qualifications for this?

Why is there need for a PICA office in Montego Bay? Why persons cannot apply online and have their passports delivered to them by courier, rather that having another office in Montego Bay.