HONORARY CONSULATE

Honorary Consuls are appointed by the Government of Jamaica in the capitals of countries or other major cities where there is no resident Diplomatic or Career Consular Representation. These appointments are non-remunerative in nature.
Honorary Consuls should be either Jamaican nationals or nationals of a receiving State who are resident in that country. They are required to maintain sound professional standing and well-respected status in the receiving State. In order to represent Jamaica meaningfully and effectively, Honorary Consuls should have a wide ranging and up-to-date knowledge of Jamaica including the political, social and economic structure and government policies.
Honorary Consuls fall under the jurisdiction of a Superintending Post, that is either a Jamaican Embassy, High Commission or Consulate General, that is located in the receiving State or whose Head of Mission is accredited to the State in which the Consulate is located or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Honorary Consuls are required to undertake the following duties:

Promotion of the Interests of Jamaica
Assist in the development and maintenance of trade, investment, tourism, and cultural links between Jamaica and the receiving State, in consultation with the Superintending Post, and where appropriate, with the pertinent Ministries, Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Trade and Invest.
Respond to negative reports on Jamaica or Jamaicans in the media of the receiving State. All interaction with media, whether through press releases, interviews or comments, should be undertaken in consultation with the Superintending Post.

Promotion of the Interests of Jamaica

• Assist in the development and maintenance of trade, investment, tourism, and cultural links between Jamaica and the receiving State, in consultation with the Superintending Post, and where appropriate, with the pertinent Ministries, Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Trade and Invest.
• Respond to negative reports on Jamaica or Jamaicans in the media of the receiving State. All interaction with media, whether through press releases, interviews or comments, should be undertaken in consultation with the Superintending Post.

Protection of the Welfare of Jamaican Nationals

• Notify the Superintending Posts or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the arrest, detention or incarceration of nationals.
• Provide assistance to arrested or incarcerated nationals, to the extent possible;
• Advise the Superintending Post of notifications of the impending deportation of Jamaican nationals;
• Assist with the repatriation of distressed Jamaican nationals;
• Provide assistance to Jamaicans trading in, visiting or residing in the consular jurisdiction;
• Assist the Superintending Post in maintaining a register of Jamaicans residing within the consular jurisdiction.

Insurance of Travel Documents and Visas

• Process and transmit passport applications, with the attendant supporting documents and fees, to the Superintending Posts;
• Issue emergency travel documents, with the appropriate authorization from the Ministry of National Security, to Jamaican nationals;
• Issue visas, in accordance with the appropriate instructions and regulations, to persons wishing to travel to Jamaica.

Assistance to visiting Jamaican Dignitaries and Officials

• Arrange/coordinate appointments and meetings with Government officials and corporate interests in receiving State;
• Participate in/extend courtesies at the airport to visiting dignitaries and officials;
• Arrange meetings of visiting dignitaries/officials with Jamaican nationals resident in the jurisdiction;
• Participate in meetings and events involving visiting officials and dignitaries, as directed.