U.S. citizens traveling as tourists can enter Jamaica with a U.S. passport or a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate and current photo identification. They must also have a return ticket and sufficient funds for their visit. U.S. citizens traveling to Jamaica for work or extended stays are required to have a current passport and a visa. In some cases, supplementary medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation insurance, has proved helpful. Crime is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston.
Criminal acts can rapidly turn violent.
Sporadic gang violence can spread from neighborhoods west of downtown Kingston to the fringes of the downtown area. These areas of Kingston occasionally have been subject to curfew. The areas affected by curfew are not tourist areas, but travelers should check with local authorities or the U.S. Embassy for details. The U.S. Embassy advises its staff to exercise caution when traveling to and from Kingston Airport via Mountain View Avenue and Windward Road, especially after dark, because of the crime threat in the neighborhoods they traverse. The U.S. Embassy also advises its staff not to use buses, which are often overcrowded and provide a venue for crime.