The PICA Corner

Welcome to another groundbreaking Gleaner feature, The PICA Corner.

The Gleaner, in collaboration with the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) will be answering all your questions on issues relating to citizenship, passports and immigration. Send your questions, comments and suggestions to editor@gleanerjm.com and the PICA will respond.

I am a born Jamaican, however, there is no record of my birth at the RGD. Must I apply for citizenship?

Thank you for a very interesting question. It seems many persons have found themselves in this position. People who were born in Jamaica and for whom no record of birth can be found will find themselves in need of a document to identify them as citizens of Jamaica.

Without your citizenship being clearly established, basic rights and opportunities that are afforded to ordinary Jamaicans will not be readily available to you. For example, you would not be able to apply for a passport or receive certain social benefits. In many instances, persons who find themselves in this situation will be at a great disadvantage.

It's important, therefore, that you seek to establish your citizenship as quickly as possible. Section 10 of the Jamaican Nationality Act makes provision for persons whose citizenship of Jamaica, whether on a question of fact or law, is in doubt. In such instance, you would be able to make an application for a Certificate of Citizenship In Case of Doubt.

Persons wishing to benefit from this provision are required to obtain a referral from the Registrar General's Department (RGD). You would then attend the Citizenship Unit of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) at 25c Constant Spring Road with the referral, where you will be interviewed and guided on how to make an application for Citizenship in Case of Doubt.

The following is the procedure to apply for Citizenship in Case of Doubt:

1. Write a letter of request to the minister of national security for a document to identify the applicant as a Jamaican and the reason for the request. Include as much useful information as possible regarding the applicant's birth and background. For example:

The applicant's date and place of birth

(a)
(b)	The applicant's parents' names
(c)	Number of children born to the applicant's parents
(d)	Whether the applicant was baptised during infancy
(e)	The applicant's schools attended
(f)	The applicant's present occupation.
2. The application should be supported by three Statutory Declarations which are obtainable at PICA. The Statutory Declarations should be completed by three different persons, preferably relatives, who are at least seven years older than the applicant. Paragraph seven of the form should include the following information: (a)	How many children were born to the applicant's parents?
(b)	Of the number of children, what position does the applicant take?
(c)	Was the applicant baptised during infancy? If this is the case but the record is unavailable, state why.
(d)	Did the applicant attend school? Where? If the record of admission is unavailable, state why.
3. The application should be accompanied by: (a)	Evidence that unsuccessful efforts were made to secure a Birth Certificate from the Registrar General's Department
(b)	Two passport-size photographs of the applicant, certified by a justice of the peace
(c)	School record
(d)	Baptismal record
(e)	Birth Certificate of the applicant's two eldest children.
The fee for the Certificate of Citizenship is $1,000 which is payable when the application is approved. It is important to note that this is not a birth certificate but a document to certify that the applicant is a Jamaican.