• You must have lived in Jamaica for five years to be qualified for naturalization.jamaica flag icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
  
  Jamaica, population approximately 2,847,232 as of July 2010, is an island in the Caribbean Sea south of Cuba and west of Haiti. Immigration law on the island is enforced by the Jamaican Immigration Department, while labor issues are handled by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. You must contact both departments to get the appropriate documentation to stay in Jamaica for the long-term.
  
  

Visa Requirements

• Jamaican authorities divide visitors into three classes for immigration purposes: those who do not require a visa, those required to obtain a visa at arrival, and those who must obtain a visa prior to travel. Regulations vary according to nationality. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for a stay of up to six months. People requiring visas prior to travel should contact the nearest Jamaican Embassy.
  
  

Work Permit

• Foreigners wishing to be employed in Jamaica require a work permit. Applications are to be made to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security via the employer, contractor or, in the case of investors, through the Jamaica Promotions Corporation. The work permit allows the holder to work for a specified amount of time.
  
  

Naturalization

• A person wishing to be naturalized as a Jamaican citizen must have lived in Jamaica for at least five years immediately preceding the application date, be financially solvent, and of good moral character. The applicant must complete Naturalization Form N1 and sign it in the presence of someone authorized to administer oaths, such as notary public or justice of the peace. An applicant must have four references from Jamaican citizens not including family, lawyers, civil servants, or any other representative of the applicant. The law also requires that an applicant announce his intention to naturalize in a daily newspaper in two advertisements at least two weeks apart. These advertisements must be submitted along with the application. When the application is completed, it must be sent to the Ministry of National Security and Justice along with a birth certificate, passport, work permit, evidence of any community activities the applicant was involved with, two passport-size photos officially certified by a justice of the peace, and a tax compliance certificate. The fee for naturalization is $10,000.