.png)
id you know that Jamaican citizens hold the 63rd most powerful passport globally?
According to passportindeix.org the Jamaican passport has a world reach of 43%. We can see almost half of the world with our passports. Of course, we have to keep in mind each country's travel requirements in the pandemic.
In this post, I have some info for my fellow Jamaican wander lusters, to help you to tick off your bucket list with over 50 visa-free travel destinations that do not require Jamaicans to go through a rigorous and sometimes expensive visa application process.
BIG BIG FOREIGN
As a child when someone went to "big foreign" the list always included the United States, Canada, and England. Who could even think our Jamaican passports could take us to so many countries other than the big three?
On my recent visit home to Jamaica, many acquaintances assumed that I migrated to either to U.S. or Canada. It didn't come to their minds that I could travel further than North America. I live in Poland...what a strange thing to say.
On the list of visa-free countries for Jamaicans, I've only visited three; The Bahamas, Panama, and Venezuela. There was a layover in the Dominican Republic but that doesn't count since I didn't leave the airport.
I planned to visit Togo, Benin, and Ghana, circa 2020. Then Earth, the Pandemic Season 1premired. I hope we get through Season 3 episode #putinchuj to continue seeing what's in our world.
Hopefully, this list will help you tap into your inner Oliver Samuels persona while boarding flight 007 to say " I travel very regular".
If you remember the plot twist, Oliver didn't have a visa either.
TRAVEL THEN VS NOW We all had family members and neighbors who would occasionally travel to smaller foreign countries, usually neighboring islands for work; the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and later on to Trinidad and Tobago. As a teenager, on rare occasions, I heard travel stories of trips to Paris and Japan and quickly concluded that those places are too far away and were only for the rich. Travel for our fathers and uncles meant Farm Work programs or for our mothers and aunts; maximizing their six months stay to "hustle enough money to pack a few barrels for back to school". Fast forward two decades later, my generation is now able to travel and explore the world for leisure. Trending hashtags #blackgirltravelslay and #blackpassportstamps are added to social media pictures, of themed girl trips to exotic destinations like the city of Dubai, now called
"Dubs" by Jamaicans.
One of the must-do's is to shake your booty on a yacht... in a thong.
While I'm yet to shake my booty on yacht in Dubai IN A THONG, it's still there on the list.
GREEN PAPER, WHITE PAPER SAGA
To many Jamaicans, there is nothing more coveted than their precious U.S. visa.
There are so many memes about how the most rebellious and boisterous Jamaicans, transform into a meek lamb, standing in the queue in 33°C heat to submit their application.
I've been there. It's a nerve-racking experience!
Waiting with a lump in my throat and an elevated heart rate, beating like an African kette drum. Witnessing decision leaflets being handed out. Green means you've been denied and the glorious white paper means you can collect your visa within a few days at DHL on Haining Road. To those who have been denied 5 times and more, they have more persistence and determination than Sisyphus. I know a guy who was denied 9 times, he got it on his 10th attempt... I would have given up after the third decision.
LIST OF VISA FREE COUNTRIES: visaguide. world
YOUR TRIP STARTS HERE!
If you found this post informative, I would appreciate it if you shared it. Please feel free to download the list and tick off your destinations!
I would also like to hear from you, if you want to visit or have visited any of these countries leave a comment and let me know.
Walk good!
Comments