Today's PICA Corner will look at products, other than passports, which are now available with expedited service at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency.

Besides passports, what other services are now available for next-day processing?

The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) now provides next-day processing for the following at the additional cost specified.

Emergency certificates - $2,500

Seaman certificates - $2,500

Travel permits - $2,500 (adults); $1,000 (minors, under 18 years).

Customers can still obtain these documents at the regular cost for three-day delivery.

What are emergency certificates, seaman certificates and travel permits?

Emergency certificates

Emergency certificates are temporary travel documents issued to persons who have an urgent need for travel and are not able to be issued with a passport at the time. It is useful for travel to and from any country which accepts it as a valid travel document. With the current emphasis on border security and the implementation of various travel restrictions, many countries are now requesting a machine-readable passport as the preferred travel document.

We, therefore, advise persons wishing to travel to check their passports prior to purchasing a ticket. This is particularly important for children, as their passports are valid for five years.

Seaman certificates

A seaman certificate of nationality and identity is issued to a Jamaican citizen who is either a seaman or is employed on a seagoing vessel.

Travel permits

A travel permit is a temporary document issued to a person who is not a citizen of Jamaica. This is generally issued to persons who, while in Jamaica, lost their passport and do not have a consular representative in Jamaica to provide them with a travel document.

Procedures for obtaining emergency certificates, seamen certificates and travel permits:

To obtain an emergency certificate (EC), the applicant must:

Complete an application form, obtainable at PICA.

Provide two certified passport-size photographs.

Submit his or her birth certificate.

Provide valid ID or expired passport.

Pay the relevant application fees.

To obtain a seaman certificate, the applicant must:

Complete an application form obtainable at PICA.

The application form is to be certified by a justice of the peace.

Two passport-size pictures, one of which must be certified.

Provide letter from a maritime institution, if needed.

Provide letter from employer (where applicable).

Pay the relevant application fee.

To obtain a travel permit, the applicant must:

Fill out prescribed form obtainable at PICA.

The application form is to be certified by a justice of the peace.

Submit two certified passport-size photographs.

Submit his or her birth certificate.

Provide ID.

Pay the relevant application fee.

PICA Corner is a collaboration between The Gleaner and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency. Send questions, comments and suggestions to editor@gleanerjm.com and PICA will respond.