• Jamaica trades many goods, but tourists are the primary concern of Jamaican customs enforcement.garita image by Cobabunga from Fotolia.com
  
  Jamaica is a very popular tourist destination in the Caribbean Sea and has relatively straightforward customs rules. Visitors and migrants will find that rules for bringing things into the country are much more strict than the rules surrounding exporting goods back to their home country. This is done to protect Jamaica's fledgling economy from cheap foreign goods. The Jamaican Customs Act regulates the flow of goods and visitors in and out of Jamaica.
  
  

Visitors

• A tourist over the age of 18 coming to Jamaica may bring with her 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, one quart of beer or spirits and one quart of wine, up to 150 grams of perfume, along with personal items worth up to 500 Jamaican dollars. Items that are brought into Jamaica to be used by the visitor as a part of his occupation, as well as essential medical items, do not count against the personal item exemption of $500 JMD.
  
  

Restrictions

• It goes without saying that any prohibited drug, including marijuana, may not be brought into Jamaica. All animals, fruits, vegetables, meats and other foodstuffs must have individual import certificates from the Jamaican Customs Department. Firearms are also strictly prohibited unless you obtain an import/export certificate from the Jamaican Police Commissioner of Customs.
  
  

Currency Rules

• Visitors can bring as much foreign currency or Jamaican dollars into the country as they wish, but can only take back as much foreign currency with them as they declared on arrival. This is meant to persuade visitors to convert some of their foreign currency into Jamaican dollars during their stay. Taking Jamaican dollars back to another country after a visit is not allowed.
  
  

Big Ticket Items

• Bringing in items that the customs department values at more than $1,000 USD requires the use of a Jamaica-licensed customs broker. The broker helps to obtain the proper import certificate for each good from the appropriate department of the Jamaican government. For example, importing a new or used car requires three different government certificates from three different departments. Also, any used car imported to Jamaica must not be more than four years old.