Jamaica Travel Risk Level

The advisory level was decreased to Level 2. There were no changes to the risk indicators. The advisory summary was updated. Exercise Increased Caution due to crime, health, and natural disaster risks. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Advisory Summary U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Jamaica are not allowed to use public buses or drive between cities at night. They are also not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas, as noted below. U.S. citizens in Jamaica should take the same precautions. Natural disaster Jamaica continues to recover from Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall there on October 28, 2025. The hurricane caused widespread damage to the western part of the island. Some areas are still experiencing post-storm impacts on infrastructure and services. All major airports have reopened for commercial flights. Some areas in the western part of Jamaica, such as Black River and Montego Bay, are in varying stages of recovery from the hurricane. Exercise increased caution if traveling to affected areas at this time. Confirm availability of services and amenities at your destination before you travel to Jamaica. Crime Violent crime is a risk throughout Jamaica. The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common. The U.S. embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are often not prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence. Health Basic and specialized medical care may not be available in many parts of Jamaica. This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury. Health ca

Hurricane Melissa Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a major hurricane in Jamaica in October 2025. All Western parishes suffered significant damage and some communities are still without electricity and piped water. In the worst affected areas, access to healthcare is limited, and there is still debris and standing water that carries health risks, including water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics. Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice . Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO : travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram