PICA moving towards widespread use of online passenger declaration form

The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency says it will soon be moving to more widespread use of its online passenger declaration form.

All arriving passengers are required to complete the immigration and customs form.

Responding to a query from Prime Minister Andrew Holness about why the paper form is still being used, Chief Executive Officer of PICA, Andrew Wynter said the agency first needed to implement the passenger name record and interactive advanced passenger information systems.

Mr Wynter and a team from PICA were at the Office of the Prime Minister earlier today where they presented the Prime Minister with the new e-passport.

PICA announced that it would be issue e-passports, starting this month. The new passports feature a microchip containing the holder's biographical data.

Jamaica is the twelfth CARICOM country to begin issuing e-passports.