Apply for Jamaican Citizenship for Children Born Overseas

Parents and guardians are being encouraged to apply for Jamaican citizenship by descent for their children who are born overseas.

The service, which is offered by the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), is crucial for children born in another country but reside permanently in Jamaica.

PICA’s Business Development and Communications Director, Kauna McKenzie, explained that the children may be raised in Jamaica, but they are unable to reap the benefits of being a citizen.

“We know the culture where persons fly out to have their children and in the parents’ mind that child is Jamaican. The challenge presents itself when that child wants to attend university in Jamaica or access other services and they do not qualify, as their birth certificate states that they are another nationality,” she said.

Ms. McKenzie noted many of these students apply to study at the local universities and are shocked when they are asked to pay the international cost because they are not Jamaican citizens.

“The child is now asking how they are going to pay international fees when they are in Jamaica, because they attended primary and high school in Jamaica, and they see themselves as Jamaican? They are now being [charged] a big international fee because your birth certificate does not say that you are Jamaican,” she said.

Ms. McKenzie indicated that in most cases, there is a lack of awareness of the implications of not having citizenship until the child needs specific government-provided services.

“We encourage that you don’t wait until this happens to the child because you will come to PICA trying to get the citizenship and, while the request is usually immediate, there is a processing time. To avoid all of that, put in the request for your child’s citizenship the moment you return to Jamaica with them after they are born,” Ms. McKenzie said.