Moving to Jamaica from the USA

Relocating from the United States to Jamaica means moving a household across a border, a customs regime and an ocean. Whether you are returning after years abroad, moving for work, or retiring to the island, the shipping side follows the same shape: decide what comes with you, get it packed and inventoried properly, choose the right amount of container space, and clear it correctly at the other end. Shore to Shore Shipping handles that move from Union, New Jersey to our own offices in Kingston and Montego Bay.

Decide What Actually Comes With You

The most useful thing you can do before requesting a quote is to be honest about what is worth moving. Shipping is priced on space, so bringing furniture you were going to replace anyway is the most common way people overspend on a relocation.

As a rough rule: things that are expensive to replace, hard to find locally, or that matter to you personally are worth their space. Bulky, cheap and easily replaced items usually are not. Electrical items are worth a thought too — check voltage and plug compatibility before they take up room in a container.

How Much Container Space

• A few boxes or barrels — a partial shipment consolidated with other cargo.
• Part of a household — shared container space (LCL), paying for the volume you use.
• A full home, or a home plus a vehicle — a dedicated container (FCL).

Packing and Inventory

Two things make the difference between a smooth clearance and a stalled one: how well the goods are packed, and how well they are listed. Pack for a sea voyage rather than a car journey — everything will be handled more than once and stacked. And write the inventory as you pack, box by box, rather than trying to reconstruct it afterwards. Customs works from your declaration, so a vague list creates questions that a detailed one never raises.

Clearing Your Goods in Jamaica

Whoever receives the shipment needs a TRN before it can be cleared. Duties are assessed by the Jamaica Customs Agency against what you are importing — unless you qualify as a returning resident, in which case concessions may reduce or remove them on qualifying items, subject to conditions. If you think you may qualify, sort it out before you ship rather than after.