Guide to Filming in Jamaica
Practical guidance for local and international producers — registration, incentives, permits, and filming basics. Archival 2019 edition; confirm current rules with the Film Commission.
Archival publication
Welcome to the Guide to Filming in Jamaica
Created for filmmakers and visual storytellers who want to shoot in Jamaica — streamlining policies, processes, and regulations across the filming-on-location journey. Launched within JAMPRO in 1984, the Jamaica Film Commission facilitates registration, location promotion, and sector development.
Register a film projectJamaica Film Commission
What we do
Facilitate & advise
Process film registration, bond waivers, PIR requests, work-permit support, and special-permit liaison with government partners.
Promote Jamaica as a location
Maintain a locations gallery, support eligible scouting missions, and represent Jamaica at festivals, trade shows, and content markets.
Export & investment
Position Jamaican content and destination productions for trade, investment, employment, and export growth.
Advocate & develop
Push for funding, incentives, and policies that strengthen Jamaica's screen-based industries.
Getting started
Film registration
Registration is required for all international film and audio-visual productions undertaken entirely or partially in Jamaica, and is expected for local productions.
Register a film projectSpecial permits needed
Submit registration at least fifteen (15) business days before principal photography when special permits or support are required.
Simpler projects
For simpler projects, submit at least five (5) business days before the scheduled start date.
Register online
International productions filming wholly or partly in Jamaica must register; local productions are also expected to register.
Open Jamaica Business Gateway
Process
How to register
Outline from the 2019 Guide in three steps — confirm current fees and forms with the Film Commission before you apply.
Apply & pay
Complete and submit the Film Registration Form online via the Jamaica Business Gateway.
Pay the film registration / permit fee (cash, cheque, wire transfer, or online where available).
Submit production documents
Submit a company profile, one-page project summary, itinerary, and list of lead production personnel.
For a bond waiver: provide a detailed equipment list (description, quantities, serial numbers, value, and currency).
Local partners & entry
Retain a customs broker — required to clear imported equipment with Film Commission documentation.
Engage a local Production Manager, Fixer, or Coordinator (mandatory for productions filming in Jamaica).
Confirm immigration and visa requirements for foreign cast and crew with the nearest Jamaican Consulate before locking travel.
Benefits
Incentives for the film industry
Available once registration and approval processes are completed successfully. Values and rules may change — verify with the Film Commission and partner agencies.
Customs & import relief
Bond waivers for approved equipment imported temporarily for a registered production.
Productive Input Relief (PIR) for approved items imported permanently by local film producers (duty relief).
Access & permits
Facilitated access to public spaces (fees may apply) and support securing special permits.
Tax measures
Employment Tax Credit (ETC) — up to 30% credit on local companies' PAYE obligations, which can reduce CIT liability to as low as 17.5%.
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) — specialist tax advice recommended.
On location
Filming in Jamaica: the basics
Customs & equipment
Import production equipment through bond waiver or PIR pathways with Film Commission verification and a licensed customs broker.
Hiring a local team
A local Production Manager, Fixer, or Coordinator is mandatory. The Film Commission can share contacts for crew, rentals, transport, and vendors.
Locations
Diverse urban, coastal, historic, and natural locations island-wide — from Kingston and Port Royal to Montego Bay, Cockpit Country, and the Blue Mountains.
Special permits
Drones (JCAA), firearms, public roads, underwater photography, and other regulated activities require partner-agency permits — start early.
International partnerships
UK–Jamaica Co-Production Treaty
In 2007 Jamaica signed a film co-production treaty with the United Kingdom — and remains the only Anglophone Caribbean country with access to these benefits. Co-produced films can qualify as national films in both countries.
View co-production treatiesArchival notice. This page summarises the 2019 Guide to Filming in Jamaica. An updated edition is in development. Policies, fees, and procedures may have changed — contact the Film Commission and relevant agencies to confirm current requirements before you produce.
The original PDF remains available for download from the hero button above. This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice.
Continue with JAMPRO
Related pages
Explore related Film Commission and JAMPRO resources.
Need current filming guidance?
Speak with the Film Commission about registration, permits, and co-production pathways — the archival guide may not reflect the latest requirements.