The Rise of Jamaican Logistics
Over the last few years, Jamaica has become something of a powerhouse when it comes to being proficient with logistics in moving property in and out of the country.
For many people, they view the tropical country as one where tourists travel to unwind and spend weeks on end enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches, lively nighttime entertainment and outgoing locals.
Nonetheless, for most people, the details of relocating their personal property, automobiles and other items tend to slip away as they enjoy their vacation or while they get accustomed to a new life living in this tropical paradise.
Since Jamaica has been focused on improving trade and working diligently to optimize shipping ports and make improvements to logistics to be able to handle larger amounts of freight shipping in as well as out of the country, this has made it much easier for the average citizen or vacationer to travel to and from Jamaica with ease.
For shipping property or personal vehicles to other countries from Jamaica, you will need to follow the customs guidelines set by the country you are shipping to. With the abundance of cargo ship space situated in the Jamaican ports, it now takes less time to ship from the country than ever before.
If you want to import a motor vehicle or other property into Jamaica, then access to the ports is usually pretty swift and cargo ships are able to haul heftier loads. You will need to adhere to the custom regulations of Jamaica when you import anything to the country.
Import Regulations of Jamaica
For most items that you will need to ship into Jamaica, the rules and documentation will be similar. You will most likely want to ship to heavily populated cities or tourist towns to ensure safety during shipment. Larger cities may also offer busier ports where merchandise will be able to ship in or out at a faster rate than the smaller ports can offer.
In order to ship anything in or out of the country you must hire a shipping company or an experienced international auto transporter that has the knowledge and experience shipping to or from Jamaica and knows the rules and regulations of what is required to legally ship the type of property you will be shipping in or out.
Personal Property and Household Goods Requirements
If you plan to ship personal property, it must be taken care of within three months of your arrival in the country. If you wait longer than three months, you will need to file mandatory customs paperwork to obtain permission to import your goods.
You will be required to pay taxes at rates between 5% and 40% as well as a separate government Consumption Tax at a rate of 15%. If you are a foreign diplomat, taxes and duties will not be necessary. You can legally ship most household goods but you will not be able to ship explosives, weapons, narcotics, pornography or even foods including honey or sugar. Pets may be shipped if they are from the UK but they must be placed in quarantine upon arrival for up to 30 days or longer.
Motor Vehicles
If you are a new or returning resident or visitor, you may ship only one vehicle into Jamaica once every three years. Once a motor vehicle has been imported to Jamaica, the owner can legally drive it for up to one year without registering it or obtaining a Jamaican license plate. At the end of the year, registration will be required. You will need the following paperwork to bring a vehicle into Jamaica:
⦁ Driver’s License
⦁ Import License
⦁ Vehicle Title
⦁ Vehicle Registration
⦁ Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
⦁ Invoice or Sales Receipt
⦁ Tax Compliance Form from the Tax Administration of Jamaica
⦁ Simplified Administrative Document from Customs Broker
New cars may be shipped as well as used cars but used cars must be within five years of the manufacture date.
Thanks to the vast improvements to logistics in Jamaica, the cargo shipping industry heading in and out of the country has been able to increase productivity in recent years. Whether you need to have something shipped into Jamaica or want to export it to another part of the world, careful planning and greater access to shipping lanes now makes logistics work practically seamlessly for property owners to have their household goods, motor vehicles and other items shipped as quickly as possible.
While logistics is still on the rise and has seen a vast improvement over the last several years, there may be times when things can still be delayed when waiting on a shipment to arrive. Thankfully when visiting or relocating to Jamaica, there are many things that one can do to spend time relaxing and enjoying life while waiting on goods to ship in to the port. From the tropical beach fronts to the expansion of local industry, there is something for everyone when in Jamaica.
By Jason
Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]