Officials of the High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa and the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York provided information to the Research Directorate on passport application procedures for parents applying on behalf of their children (Jamaica 31 July 2006a; ibid. 31 July 2006b). Both of the Officials indicated at the time of correspondence that a new passport application form had been recently introduced, but that it was not yet available electronically (ibid.; ibid. 31 July 2006a). The Official of the High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa indicated that the original form continues to be valid and is used when a new form is not available (ibid.). Both the original passport application form and the new version allow one parent to apply for a passport on behalf of his or her child by signing in the relevant section of the form (ibid.; ibid. 31 July 2006 n.d.b; ibid. n.d.a; ibid. 1 Aug. 2006). If the adult applying on behalf of the child is not the child's biological parent, the adult must provide proof of guardianship in addition to his or her consent (ibid.).

According to the Web sites of the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York and the High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa, a parent applying for a passport on behalf of his or her child must submit:

a. A completed passport application form

b. Two identical colour photographs

c. A certified copy of the child's birth certificate

d. A certified copy of adoption register, where applicable, and

e. The parent or guardian's identification, with a letter of guardianship for the latter (ibid. Apr. 2006; ibid. n.d.b).

Passports issued to minors are valid for five years (ibid. Apr. 2006) and cost CAN$93 to issue or to renew (ibid. n.d.b).

Legally married parents in Jamaica share joint custody of their children (US n.d., 1), which takes effect once the mother has indicated the father's name on the child's birth certificate (Jamaica 31 July 2006b). Under the Jamaican Children (Guardianship and Custody) Act, mothers are granted legal custody of their children in cases of separation or divorce unless this would run contrary to the child's best interests (Jamaica 1 July 1957, 8; US n.d., 1).

In 31 July 2006 correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the immigration authority at Jamaica's Norman Manley International Airport, one of two international airports in Jamaica, outlined the exit procedures for a parent travelling with his or her children in the absence of the second parent (Jamaica 31 July 2006c). The Representative said that mothers are not required to follow any procedures or provide special documentation when travelling with their children in the absence of the father (ibid.). Fathers travelling with their children in the absence of the mother, however, are sometimes asked to demonstrate, by means of a notarized letter of consent, that they have permission from the mother to exit the country with the children (ibid.). The Representative indicated that in practice, the immigration authorities generally do not ask a parent travelling with his or her child for supporting documentation (ibid.).

In contrast, a representative of the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York explained that there are no specific documents or procedures required of a parent travelling abroad with his or her children in the absence of the second parent (ibid. 31 July 2006b).

The Web site of the United States (US) Bureau of Consular Affairs indicates that an adult other than the child's parent, however, requires written consent from one of the child's parents to exit the country with the child (n.d., 2).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Jamaica. 31 July 2006a. High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa. Correspondence with an official.

______. 31 July 2006b. Consulate General of Jamaica in New York. Correspondence with an official.

______. 31 July 2006c. Immigration Authority, Norman Manley Airport. Correspondence with a representative.

______. April 2006. Consulate General of Jamaica in New York. "Passports." http://www.congenjamaica-ny.org/passports.htm [Accessed 31 July 2006]

______. 1 July 1957. Ministry of Justice. Children (Guardianship and Custody) Act. http://www.moj.gov.jm/laws/statutes/The%20Children%20(Guardian%20and%20Custody)%20Act.pdf [Accessed 31 July 2006]

______. N.d.a. High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa. "Application for a Jamaican Passport." http://www.jhcottawa.ca/forms/passport.pdf [Accessed 31 July 2006]

______. N.d.b. High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa. "Passport Info." http://www.jhcottawa.ca/passports.htm [Accessed 31 July 2006]

______. 1 August 2006. High Commission of Jamaica in Ottawa. Passport application information sent from an official.

United States (US). N.d. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. "International Parental Child Abduction: Jamaica." http://www.travel.state.gov/family/abduction/country/country_500.html [Accessed 2 Aug. 2006]

Oral Sources: Jamaica Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works and Women Incorporated did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet Sites, including: Air Jamaica; Foreign Affairs Canada, Travel Report for Jamaica; Hague Conference on Private International Law, Child Abduction Section; Jamaica Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works (Airports Authority of Jamaica and Port Authority of Jamaica).