How to Get Through the Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica as Quickly as Possible
You are excited about your trip. Your ticket is booked for the Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica, airport code MBJ.
You can’t wait to get to where you are staying and kick your shoes off. But first, you’ll need to get through immigration and customs at the airport without any hiccups.
Here are the things about landing at the Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay Jamaica, that no one will think to tell you ahead of time …
Getting Through Immigration at Montego Bay Airport: The C5 Form
Each arriving passenger is required to complete the C5 Form, Jamaica’s Immigration and Customs form.
The link to the online form is here.
Read the definitive blog post on the topic entitled “Top Mistakes in Filling Out the Jamaica Immigration and Customs Form”.
To save time, make sure you complete the form before you land in Jamaica. You will definitely waste time filling out the form at Montego Bay Airport.
Peak travel times at Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica
The five busiest months for arrivals at Montego Bay’s airport are March, June, July, August, and December, with July being especially busy. This makes sense as it coincides with many holidays, including school holidays.
September, October, and November see the fewest number of arrivals every year. Hint, those are great months to snag deals!
The weekends are the busiest days of the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the least busy days.
The busiest time of day with flight arrivals is between 11am and 2pm. See airplane arrival times here.
Many flights arrive within minutes of each other. Supposedly, the facility is designed to process 500 people an hour. But, even so, the airport can be crowded.
If you have a group traveling together, especially if some are coming in on separate flights, consider using Club MoBay.
Read the article which covers everything you want to know about Club Mobay , the VIP airport service that fast tracks you through immigration and customs.
They meet you on arrival and help you through immigration and customs. Plus, you get a nice place to relax with TV, internet, and free snacks until everyone in your group arrives before heading off to your driver. You must book the service at least 48 hours prior to travel to be accommodated.
Distance from the airplane to Immigration at Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica
There are several gates, but for most, it is a long walk from the airplane to immigration. Keep this in mind if you have physical disabilities.
There is an elevator, should that be necessary; however, that is at almost the end of the long walk.
And, of course, they have wheelchair service, should you need it. Make sure this is booked with the airline ahead of time to avoid delays.
Bathrooms at the Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica
There are bathrooms before you join the line to go through immigration. Most people don’t know that so they are almost always empty and clean!
The bathrooms in the waiting area outside of customs are similar to the ones before the immigration area. They have an adequate number of stalls and are usually clean. There is often a wait for these bathrooms.
Kiosk versus immigration line
There are kiosks just before you get to the immigration area and most of the traffic is directed there.
Once you get the receipt from the kiosk, you will either go in line with an immigration officer or use the electronic gates which use facial recognition to process visitors.
Baggage Claim
Unlike some other airports, you get to use luggage carts for free!
Sometimes the baggage handlers take the suitcases off the carousel and put them to the side to make room for all the luggage from the airplanes that are landing. So, look among those bags before you assume your bags are lost.
Customs
- There are three types of lines in customs: Nothing to Declare, Passengers with goods to declare, and Special passengers, which is generally for wheelchair passengers and unaccompanied minors.
- Tourists usually use the “Nothing to Declare” lines. These lines are longer but move quickly.
- The lines for “Items to be Declared” are always shorter (fewer people) but they are for people who actually have things to declare and or have exceeded their duty-free limit.
- Depending on who the customs officer is, he or she has the right to send you back over to the “Nothing to Declare” line if they think you are merely joining the line to get ahead of everybody else.
- Don’t pack a pest. All agriculture items must be declared.
- Pets are also not allowed.
Currency Exchange
The official currency is the Jamaican dollar but it is the US dollar that is most desired!
There are foreign exchange services just after immigration before you get to baggage claim. The more you exchange the better the rate. Most hotels and tour operators have their prices in US dollars and unless you will be living like a local, there won’t be much need for Jamaica dollars.
The Bank of Jamaica sets the official exchange rate for foreign currency. There is a range that is then seen on the market based on those rates.
Always check the Bank of Jamaica’s website to see the most current exchange rates.
Note that if you are exchanging foreign currency, such as US dollars, for Jamaican dollars, you need to look at the selling price. If you are exchanging Jamaican dollars for foreign currency, you need to look at the purchase or buying rate. It’s confusing and comes into play if you need to convert Jamaican dollars back to US dollars upon departure.
Porters
- Luggage carts may not go outside. They are allowed as far as the reception area outside of customs.
- You are free to carry your own bags; however, there are porters just outside of the customs area to help you take your bags outside for a fee of US$1 per bag. They seem to have some sort of organized rotation system that they use to offer assistance.
Ground Transportation at Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica
The reception area outside of customs has hotel lounges, tour operators, and car rental agencies.
Every second person will be asking you if you want a ride.
To prevent confusion and for peace of mind, make sure to make transportation arrangements prior to your arrival. It is a wonderful feeling to arrive knowing that someone who you can trust is waiting for you at the airport.
Hopefully, these tips will take the stress off arriving at Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica. The process is actually quite easy, whether or not you use Club MoBay.
If you are staying at Mais Oui, your driver will be waiting to transport you to the villa in a well-maintained, comfortable, air-conditioned bus, the perfect setting to get a little rest after several hours of traveling.
Do you have any suggestions that I missed? Send me a note or write a comment.
If you are traveling as a group, consider a stay at a villa. Mais Oui Villa in Discovery Bay is an 8BR boutique Jamaica villa that is perfect for families and groups. Amenities galore. Great central location to allow you to explore all that Jamaica has to offer. We are about 45-50 minutes from the Montego Bay airport – close enough so you don’t have a tiring drive home but far enough to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city of Montey Bay.
‘Til next time.
Think and dream Jamaica!
Sherry
Considering a visit to Jamaica? Contact us today for more information about, Mais Oui Tennis & Spa Villa, our boutique 8-BR ocean view Jamaica villa rental experience in beautiful Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Perfect for multi-generational families and groups.
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