Last week, I shared my first five recommendations for those countries that Jamaican passport holders and those from other countries with middle-ranked passports can visit visa-free.
The starting point for your visa-free travels should be the Henley Global Passport Index where you can quickly conduct a search to find the countries that you can go to without needing a visa. Of course, you then have to check the official websites of the countries you choose, but I’ve always found the Henley index to be totally accurate.
- Were great places to visit and where we had a great time
- The entire trip could be conducted visa free, which means that you can get there from Jamaica without the need for any form of transit visa along the way
- We entered without the need to go through any form of visa approval process in advance. This meant either it was either a totally visa free entry or we just needed to pay an entry tax in the form of a visa on arrival or e-visa.
Again, in no particular order, here are the other 5 amazing countries we have visited visa-free from Jamaica.
Table of Contents
1. Tanzania
If you read our post about our utterly amazing safari in the Nyerere National Park, you will know that Tanzania is a pretty special place for us. Even if we’d never gone on safari, we’d still be in love with this glorious country in East Africa.
We enjoyed a fabulous few days at a boutique resort called Ras Kutani on the Indian Ocean’s stunning Swahili Coast. We ventured a little way into the ocean itself when we visited the spice islands of Zanzibar, which are so different than mainland Tanzania.
We also loved Dar es Salaam where we met some wonderful people, but we are far from finished with Tanzania. One day, soon I hope, we will go back to climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent.
We flew from Kingston to Dar es Salaam via Toronto and Dubai on Air Canada and Emirates. We could also have left from Montego Bay to Frankfurt on Eurowings and then onwards with any of the big four middle-eastern airlines: Emirates, Etihad, Qatar or Turkish airlines. Unfortunately, there is no quick, easy or direct route, and you’re going to need at least three legs to get there. Of course, it’s more than worth the effort.
Thanks to a reciprocal agreement between Jamaica and the East African Community (EAC), Jamaicans can visit Tanzania absolutely visa-free.
I remember my first visit to Tanzania, when I travelled with co-workers from London. When we landed, they all turned left, completed a form and joined a long line to pay $250 for the privilege of a business trip to Tanzania.
I, on the other hand, turned right and went through the same immigration line as all the locals with my Jamaican passport. Best of all, and yes, I maybe could have been a bit nicer, but by the time the rest of the group arrived at the hotel: tired, sweaty and with empty wallets, I was showered, changed and waiting in the lobby bar enjoying a cold drink. Boy was I smug at that moment!
To learn more, take a look at the official Tanzania Tourist Board site. For an up to date list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to visit go to the government’s Immigration Services Department website.
2. Panama
Thanks to Tocumen International Airport, Panama is really important to the Jamaican who wants to travel the world visa-free. It’s a two-hour, direct flight with Copa Airlines from either Kingston or Montego Bay.
You can transit Tocumen visa-free and fly to almost anywhere in South or Central America, as well as to Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Istanbul. From these European airports you can transit without a visa to amazing visa-free destination in Africa and Asia. So, we love Panama!
But it’s not just a great transit hub, Panama is a fabulous destination in its own right. The most obvious attraction is the Panama Canal and it’s definitely worth a visit. In many ways, it’s not especially exciting until you get some context by learning a little about the history of the canal and its ongoing economic impact on the world. That said, seeing some of the huge ships squeeze through the relatively narrow water way is pretty impressive.
Panama City is a modern, vibrant metropolis with gleaming skyscrapers and wide boulevards. It’s also extremely safe and pedestrian friendly. My favourite place is the Frank Gehry designed Biomuseo. The building is magnificent, and we were amazed to learn about why central America has such vast biodiversity and that Jamaica was part of South America millions of years ago. It’s definitely worth getting out of the city though, as there’s so much to see and do.
As I described earlier, getting to Panama is easy from Kingston and Montego Bay courtesy of Copa Airlines, with flights throughout the week. To get the official list, in English, of the countries whose passport holders do not require a visa to enter Panama, try the website of the Panamanian Embassy in Washington DC. For more general information the official Panama website is a great resource.
3. Malaysia
Malaysia is an amazing country to visit in so many ways. With a nominal GDP per capita a little over $10,000 it is considered to be a top-tier middle income country that is well on the way to “moderately prosperous” status. For the visitor, this means great infrastructure and services at a reasonable cost.
Kuala Lumpur is a fantastic city: modern, clean, dynamic and affordable. No visit to Malaysia is complete without spending a little time in the capital city and taking a trip up the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscraper. I tend to avoid “tallest buildings,” as they are usually expensive and crowded tourist traps. They also typically provide disappointing views as you can’t see the area’s most iconic structure because you are standing on it: the view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower, for example, doesn’t include the Eiffel Tower.
However, the Petronas Towers are definitely worth the time and money, as the views from the sky walk between the towers are breath-taking. The Towers were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004 and today are not even the tallest in the city. How’s that for progress!
There is so much more in Malaysia to do and see, that I know that we’ve only scratched the surface. In other words, there are several return trips in our future. I personally love the vibrancy of Penang and George Town as well as the architecture of the “Historic City” of Malacca. But wait, there’s more! Explore the Batu Caves, experience the beauty of the islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, get away to the traditional culture of Kota Bharu, spend time with the orangutans in Sepilok or ascend Mount Kinabalu!
We flew to Kula Lumpur via Toronto and Hong Kong on Air Canada and Cathay Pacific. We didn’t clear customs or leave the airport in either transit location, so no pesky transit visa required. I also took a similar route when travelling to Penang. You should also be able to make the trip from Toronto via Tokyo or Taipei by choosing EVA Air, Japanese Airlines, China Airlines or ANA.
To check on the latest visa information go to the country’s official immigration site. It is different from many as it only lists which countries don’t need a visa, so if your country is not shown, you are good to go. Malaysia also has a fabulous official tourism resource.
4. Turkey
Despite 97% of the country being located in Asia, the Republic of Türkiye counts as one of the three European countries that Jamaicans can visit without a visa. The other two are Serbia, which we discussed in Part 1, and Russia, which is probably not top of anyone’s holiday destinations in 2022.
Istanbul is one of a small number of cities that you simply must experience at least once in your life. The “transcontinental” culture of a metropolis that straddles Europe and Asia is unique. The food, the palaces, mosques, waterways and people combine for an outrageously stimulating trip. Best of all, it’s all hugely affordable. Oh, and don’t forget to find a hammam for a traditional Turkish bath, something you will never forget.
Of course, there’s a huge amount to do outside of Istanbul. Stunning beach resorts and towns such as Antalya, Bodrum and Marmaris attract thousands of visitors every year. My personal favourite is Fethiye where you will encounter more Turkish vacationers than foreigners and the culture just seems so much more authentic. Then there’s the Cappadocia region that is fabulous for hot air balloon rides, hiking and, of course, sleeping in 5-star luxury caves.
The ancient ruins of Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is visited by tourists all year-round. So they should be ranked pretty high on your list too. You can even go skiing or take a fabulous train ride such as the Eastern Express, a 24-hour long journey from Istanbul to the capital of Ankara.
As the holder of multiple passports, I usually check to see which offers the best value and convenience before I visit a country for the first time. I entered Turkey on my Jamaican passport for the simple reason that the Visa on Arrival using it cost only $20, while if I had used my Canadian passport the price would have been $60. Jamaicans can choose between an eVisa, purchased in advance, or a Visa on Arrival. They cost the same, so we always recommend the former. For the latest information on visas go to Turkey Visa Online.
To learn more about the massive range of sights and attractions take a look at the official Turkish tourism website.
5. Brazil
There’s only one reason that I left Brazil to last on this list. This is because in 2013 CNN ranked Brazil as the coolest country in the world, just pipping Jamaica, that came in second, to the title. To rub salt into our wound, in January 2022, Conde Nast ranked Brazil as the most beautiful country on the planet. That said, once you’ve been there, you will appreciate what’s so special about this South American country, which is home to more than 200 million people.
For most first-time visitors, the city of Rio de Janeiro has to be the first stop. Samba, food, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, sugar loaf mountain, the statute of Christ the Redeemer and so much more, Rio can be the sole destination for an amazing vacation.
But, if you ever tire of parties, grilled meat and impossibly tiny swimwear, there is so much more to excite you in the rest of Brazil. The Amazon can exert a very special pull, and there are a vast number of options offering terrific organized tours in places such the Anavilhanas National Park and Xixuaú Reserve. For the best wildlife spotting head to the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland.
Often overlooked by visitors is the paradox that is Brasília, the purpose-built city that replaced Rio as Brazil’s capital in 1960. It is a uniquely retro-futuristic urban municipality that is both stunning and impractical in equal measure.
To start your research before you visit Brazil go to the VisitBrazil website. To learn more take a look at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For Jamaicans, getting to Brazil is easy as Copa Airlines offer direct flights from Panama City to several destinations in Brazil. They even offer free stop overs in Panama so why not spend a few days there before or after your visit to Brazil?
It was incredibly tough keeping this list down to just 10 visa-free destinations for Jamaicans. When we thought about those which we’ve personally visited, wonderful countries such as Senegal, Argentina, Kenya, Uganda, Hong Kong, Rwanda, Uruguay, Singapore, the Dominican Republic and many other Caribbean beauties were incredibly unlucky not to make our list. Maybe we need to do another similar article soon?
I hope that I have whet your appetite for visa-free travel whether you’re Jamaican or from one of the many other countries with middle-ranked passports. Tell me what you think, by leaving a comment down below.
Author
Nick Abbott
Hi, I’m Nick. Visiting foreign countries has been an important part of my life since my parents moved to Kano in Nigeria in 1977. Since then, as both a military officer and in later jobs I have enjoyed the huge privilege of being exposed to many different countries and cultures.
I am delighted to be able to support my wife Monique and Yes2Yolo primarily by contributing travel articles, providing editing and proof-reading services and being a general sounding board.
Hi Nick, thanks for sharing this insightful article. I too enjoy traveling and these articles are quite informative.
Thanks Erica. Happy you find them informative and we thank you for your support!
Another great article Nick! Very informative.
Thank you Elizabeth!