# Need a passport when traveling to Jamaica? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-passport-when-traveling-to-jamaica/242269 "2004-04-27T13:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-passport-when-traveling-to-jamaica/242269/1 "2004-04-27T13:52:32Z")
Also,how hot is it in Jamaica in june? My son is getting married the end of May and their honeymoon is a trip to Jamaica. I’m thinking its gonna be plenty hot by june but thats just what I heard. Back to the passport question. Will they need anything else besides a couple of types of identification to get a passport? How about shots? ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-passport-when-traveling-to-jamaica/242269/2 "2004-04-27T14:40:07Z")
[State Department info on Jamaica…](http://travel.state.gov/jamaica.html) > [@](#): > > ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens traveling as tourists may enter Jamaica with a U.S. passport or a certified U.S. birth certificate and current, government issued photo identification. Persons traveling with U.S. passports tend to encounter fewer difficulties upon departure than those who choose to use other documents. Visitors must have a return ticket and be able to show sufficient funds for their visit. U.S. citizens traveling to Jamaica for work or extended stays are required to have a current U.S. passport and visa issued by the Jamaican Embassy or a Jamaican Consulate. Travelers must pay a departure tax when leaving the country. Also go to [http://www.visitjamaica.com/](http://www.visitjamaica.com/) for more travel info. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-passport-when-traveling-to-jamaica/242269/3 "2004-04-27T22:24:54Z")
I haven’t been for a few years, but since they’ll need to show ID a lot (to use a credit card, check into a hotel, e.g.) a passport is more convenient. I was there in early to mid-June. It was hot but also rained now and then. The humidity was variable but not too bad. Tourist season begins about June 15, so before that date they may encounter a more targeted sales pitch from more people. We found that once we weren’t the only tourists, we had a little more privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-passport-when-traveling-to-jamaica/242269/4 "2004-04-28T12:21:36Z")
> [@justwannano](#): > > How about shots? You do the shots when you get there - I recommend rum, but any spirits will do the trick. Seriously, though, the [CDC doesn’t recommend any particular innoculations for most Caribbean travel](http://www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm). You should have up-to-date booster shots for diphtheria-tetanus and measles (if you’ve never had measles, of course), which is good advice for any travel. They also mention getting Hepatitis-A vaccination if you’re going to be any place where sanitation is suspect. That’s another one that’s probably a good idea for travel almost anywhere. IIRC, a single shot covers you for 2 years, but if you get the booster within 6 months of the first shot, you’re covered for 10 years. Beyond that, Jamaica isn’t the sort of place where you have to worry about any exotic tropical diseases (like malaria or dengue fever).