I was deported but my passport was surrendered before I left the United States. How can I get it back? If this is not possible, can I apply for a new passport?

In many instances, people who have been deported to Jamaica have been required to hand over their passports to the immigration authority in the deporting country in order to confirm their nationality. They are thereafter forwarded to the Jamaican mission (Embassy, High Commission, Consulate).

The passports are then sent to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency's (PICA) headquarters at 25C Constant Spring Road in Kingston. At present, we have in storage hundreds of passports that have been returned, particularly from the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom.

From time to time, persons who have been deported, turn up at our offices to apply for a new one. They are usually not aware that their passports may have been sent to our offices. You are therefore advised to, first of all, ascertain whether or not your passport is with the Agency.

This can be done by either calling or visiting the office; our numbers are 754-4742, 754-5092-3, 754-5249, 754-9740, 906-1304, 906-1497 or 906-4402).

If the passport is at PICA and upon retrieving it you notice that it has expired, then you may go ahead and apply for a new passport.

If your passport has not been returned, you will be allowed to apply for a new passport. The usual application procedure will apply.

Note that we are required to accept a valid form of identification (with photograph) issued by the Government of Jamaica, such as an Electoral ID or driver's licence.

Please be reminded that when completing your application, you should state whether you had been previously issued with a passport.