Receiving Money in Jamaica

The Bank of Jamaica requires payout partners to verify who’s receiving funds before depositing them into a bank account. This is called Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, and it’s designed to protect everyone from fraud. The good news: it’s a one-time process. Once your recipient is registered, future transfers go straight through without any extra steps.

They’ll need four things: a valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, national ID, or voter’s ID), their Tax Registration Number (TRN), proof of address like a utility bill or bank statement from the last 3–6 months, and proof of their bank account such as a recent statement or passbook. Having all of these ready before starting makes the process much faster.

There are two options. Online: they’ll receive an email with a link to upload copies of their documents, and verification typically happens within 1–2 business days. In person: they visit an agent location with the original documents, and verification is usually done on the spot.

Online registration takes about 10–15 minutes to complete if all documents are ready. Verification happens within 1–2 business days. In-person registration is verified immediately in most cases.

No. Registration is a one-time process. Once their bank account is authorized, they won’t need to register again for future transfers from any sender using the same payout network.

If a transfer has already been sent and they don’t complete registration within 7 days, the funds are returned to you. You would then need to send the transfer again after they’ve completed registration. This is why we recommend having them register before you send the first transfer.

Transfers can be received at National Commercial Bank (NCB), JN Bank, Scotiabank Jamaica, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Sagicor Bank, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), JMMB Bank, and most credit unions. Make sure you have the correct bank name, branch, and account number when sending.

For bank deposits transfers arrive the next business day.

They will receive a notification from the payout partner by SMS once the funds are deposited. They can also check their bank account directly or call their bank to confirm. Share the transaction reference number with them so they can track the transfer.

There is no limit on transfer amounts for registered recipients. However, for transfers over approximately $10,000 USD, they may be asked for documentation about the source of funds. Additionally, if they receive frequent large transfers, the bank’s compliance team may request additional information—this is standard fraud monitoring for all bank customers.

TRN stands for Taxpayer Registration Number. It’s Jamaica’s national identification number for financial and tax purposes, similar to a Social Security Number in the US. A TRN is required for all financial transactions in Jamaica, including receiving remittances. If your recipient doesn’t have one, they can apply at any Tax Administration Jamaica office or online.

For bank deposits: no, the payout partner handles matching the transfer to their account. Regardless of the delivery method, always share the transaction reference number with them.

PassportPay does not charge recipients any fees. However, their bank may have its own policies for incoming international transfers—they should check with their bank directly if they have concerns.

Funds are deposited in Jamaican dollars (JMD).

For issues with a PassportPay transfer, contact our support team directly or through the app. We can help track transfers, troubleshoot registration issues, and resolve problems.