Welcome to Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and to the beautiful island of Jamaica! The Office of Student Services oversees International Students and provides services and information to assist in a smooth transition to life at the College. Please feel free to contact us at
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if you have any questions. Details regarding admission information including programmes of study, the application process, tuition payment etc. can be found on the Admissions page.
Entry and arrival in Jamaica
The ports of entry by air are the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingstonand the Donald Sangster International Airport in MontegoBay. Students are advised to make reservations to land in Kingston ratherthan Montego Bay.
Transportation
If prior arrangements have been made through the Office of Student Services, a representative of the College will meet overseas students upon their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport. These arrangements must be made at least two weeks before scheduled arrival – full arrival details (student’s full name, airline, flight number, city/country of departing flight and time of arrival) must be provided in order to facilitate pick up. This is free of charge.
There is also a reliable taxi service at the airport offered by the Jamaica Union of Travelers Association (JUTA) that can provide transportation to the campus. Please note that students are responsible for all costs associated with the taxi service.
Immigration Policy
As stipulated by the Immigration Laws of Jamaica, foreign nationals are required to hold a valid passport and entry visa. Visas are required for international students (regardless of the period of study). Students from CARICOM or Commonwealth countries do not require a visa (except those from the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria). The student visa must be obtained from the nearest Jamaican Consulate or Mission, prior to arrival in Jamaica.
On arrival at the airport, the letter of acceptance, issued by the College, must be presented to the Immigration Officers, following which your passport will be stamped, granting entry for two weeks. Once you are enrolled, the Registry will issue you a letter confirming registration, which should be submitted to the Immigration Office for processing an Extension of Stay Approval. Foreign students attending the College must report to the Immigration Department, 25c Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10, within this two-week period, and submit the following documents in order to extend their stay:
A letter from the College (Registry) confirming his/her programme, and the year for which the student is registered
A valid passport (for the duration of studies)
An Alien Registration card (for non-Commonwealth nationals)
Two passport sized pictures (for non-Commonwealth nationals)
A fee of J$10,000 (approximately US$112)
Taxpayer Registration Number
The Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), while not necessary for admission to the College is required to carry-out certain business transactions such as opening a local bank account etc.
International students can apply for a TRN at the Tax Collectorate (Inland Revenue) Office. There is no fee to apply for the TRN. However, students will need to:
Complete and submit the “Application for Taxpayer Registration (Individuals)” form, available at the Tax Office.
Show their passport at the time of submitting the application form.
The TRN is issued immediately and is valid for use right away. Students are advised to store the TRN slip carefully. A permanent TRN card will be issued by the Tax Office approximately one month after the application is submitted. International students can check with the Office of Student Services if they need assistance with the TRN process
