Some Things To Consider If You Are Moving To Jamaica

If this is you, and you are considering relocating to Jamaica, there are a few things that you should know.

You may already have noticed how laid back the way of life is in Jamaica, but if you are going to live there permanently you will need to get used to "island time". What does that mean? It means that when you call a plumber to come and fix your leaking tap or broken toilet and he says he will be there tomorrow, that could be any time in the next week. If he is going to visit at a convenient time, he means a time convenient to him, not to you.

As an expat you will need to find somewhere to live if you are moving to Jamaica permanently, and many people decide upon Kingston. It is a city of some 600,000 people so it is full of hustle and bustle, and if you prefer the quiet life, you may want to choose Portmore which is a small residential town about 11 miles from Kingston, so is popular with commuters. Another town is Spanish Town which used to be the island's capital and is now the capital of the St Catherine parish. (A parish is an administrative area of the island). That is about 15 miles from Kingston.

Finding a home shouldn't be too difficult because at present supply is greater than demand so buyers have plenty of choice. In most cities there are gated communities, which are closed neigbourhoods which often have walls around them and may well have security guards as well. This is obviously a more expensive option. However, Jamaica has a very high crime rate for such a small island, although they are mostly petty criminals and warring gangs, but that doesn't mean that expats are left alone. Known hotspots are inner city areas that suffer from poverty, so you should avoid these areas if you can. Keep an eye on the news too, and don't walk about flashing your Rolex watch or carrying lots of cash.

When you go shopping, you will notice that the prices are high. Almost everything has up to 20% consumption tax on it, in a similar way to VAT. You will be able to buy lots of UK brands from the supermarkets, but they are going to be a lot more expensive than they are here. You are better off buying locally made products and getting fruit and veg at the market.

If your country of origin means that you need a visa, or if you plan to stay longer than six months, you need to apply for one at your nearest Jamaican mission. If you are going to take up employment on the island you will need a work permit, unless you are married to a Jamaican national. You will still need a visa, and you will need to include your work permit approval together with a letter of confirmation that you have a job offer from your future employer.

As far as medical care is concerned, there are major hospitals and also many private medical centres across the island, but the closer you live to Kingston or Montego Bay the more of them there are. However, whenever you visit them, island time remains the same, so be prepared for long waits.

Public transport is cheap and easy in the cities, but out in the countryside it gets more expensive and there is less of it. However, there are private taxis for hire which can take you where you need to go, or of course you can drive. If you do that, be prepared for insane overtaking and speeding. If you thought Majorca was bad you haven't seen anything yet.

Of course, when you are ready to leave you will need your belongings shipping to Jamaica, and the good news is that there are UK companies that specialise in shipping to the island. This means that they will be completely familiar with import requirements, customs, and so on, and may be able to arrange for your goods to be delivered to wherever you are going to live when you arrive there.

W. I. Freight is a specialist in shipping to Jamaica and has been doing so for 50 years, so is the perfect choice for those moving to the island.