PICA to Offer Passport Services at Independence Village

The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) will be offering its services at the Independence Village to be held August 1 to 6 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.

In an interview with JIS News, Communications Officer of PICA, Angela Hamilton, said that persons attending the Independence Village can access passport and citizenship services, while celebrating the Jamaica culture.

“We will be offering the seven, three and next day passport services, but we will not be offering any same day service at the village. In addition, we will be offering our citizenship services, such as unconditional landing, and extension of stay services,” she informed.

Unconditional landing is offered to persons of Jamaica heritage, who are travelling on foreign passports, and the service allows them to stay in Jamaica for an extended period.

PICA will also be accepting descent and non-decent applications for Jamaican citizenship.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Hamilton advised that PICA will not be accepting cash payment for transactions, noting that only debit and credit cards will be accepted.

The cost for the regular seven-day passport service is $6,500 and $4,000 for adults and children, respectively. The three-day service is for $9, 500 and next day service will attract a fee of $11,500.

The documents will be available for pickup at the PICA Head Office on Constant Spring Road.

“We are encouraging persons to come out, support the Independence celebrations and learn more about the different services that will be offered,” Mrs. Hamilton said.

More than 20 government and private sector entities will be displaying products and services at the village.

The government entities include:  Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), National Library, Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

The village offers free daily admission from noon to 5:00 p.m. with paid nightly entertainment shows.

The 2015 Emancipation and Independence activities will be celebrated under the theme: ‘Proud and Free! Jamaica 53’.