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The FLA Jamaica
How To Apply For A Gun Licence In Jamaica

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fla_jamaicaFLA Jamaica

by Sheree-Anita Shearer | Associate Writer

The FLA is one of the younger established government organisations in the country having been formed only 16 years ago. This was done after the Jamaican government mandated the bill a year prior.

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Can you own a rifle in Jamaica?

Yes, Jamaicans are permitted to own a rifle as long as they have the requisite licence obtained from the FLA.

Do you need a gun licence in Jamaica?

Yes, gun licences are needed to legally own a gun in Jamaica.

What does FLA mean in Jamaica?

The FLA is the Firearm Licensing Authority given the responsibility to provide approval for the issuance and renewal of firearm licences in Jamaica.

The Firearms Act of 1947 was not as comprehensive as the FLA currently is. Its primary objective was to control the manufacturing, sale, purchasing, importation, exportation possession and use of firearms and ammunition.

The new system for firearm licencing in Jamaica is more transparent and has less room for unscrupulous activities to take place.

How long does a firearm license application take?

  1. The new application for a firearm license takes 12 months. However, a request for additional ammunition, disposal permit, firearm import permit and ammunition import permit all take 5 working days to be processed.
  2. The replacement or exchange of non-defective firearms will take 10 days.
  3. How long do the permits last
  4. Each permit has a specific permit in which it’s valid. This can be between 30 days to 5 years depending on the permissions you have received.

5 Year Permits

  • Firearm User’s Licence Card
  • Firearm User’s Business Licence
  • Firearm User’s (Special) Permit
  • Safe Use & Handling Assessment

1 Year Permits

  • Firearm User’s Licence Fee Certificate
  • Firearm User’s Employee Certificate
  • Firearm Dealer’s Licence
  • Gunsmith’s Licence

30 Day Permits

  • Disposal Permit
  • Permits Valid For A Specific Period or Event
  • Provisional Permit (Bird Hunting Season)
  • Minor Permit (Bird Hunting Season)
  • Firearm Import Permit

At what age can you get your licensed firearm in Jamaica?

You must be 18 years old to own a licensed firearm in Jamaica. However, a provisional permit can be applied for from the age of 17 while minors (11-16), with the help of a primary holder, can apply for a minor permit.

How do you apply for a provisional or minor permit?

There are a few documents required for your application. You will need:

  • Application Form: Minor Application Form (for children 11 years – 16 years) or FLA Application Form (17 years and over)
  • 1 passport size photo
  • Tax Registration Number (TRN)
  • Licence fee receipt

Copy of Licence and current licence fee certificate belonging to the primary holder
Authorization letter from parent/legal guardian (where applicable) & primary holder of the licence.

Letter of competence: This must be obtained from an approved FLA trainer. The letter should state the applicant's competence with handling the shotgun and compliance with safe use standards.

Who can go to a gun range in Jamaica?

Gun ranges are open to the general public in most cases. Only adults, 18 years and older are allowed to go on their own. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old.

What are the requirements for a gun license in Jamaica?

  • 1 Application form completed in the handwriting of the applicant
  • 2 Passport photographs certified by a Justice of the Peace. (The JP’s stamp should include their registration number.
  • Proof of Age (Passport or Birth Certificate; Original and Photocopy).
  • Proof of Income (Original and Photocopy)
  • 2 Recommendations
  • Licence Fee Receipt (Original and Photocopy)
  • Letter of Justification for application

Additional information for the firearm application process

Both recommendations must come from the following persons. You must be known to both referees for at least 5 years.

  • Minister of Religion (must be a Marriage Officer)
  • Justice of the Peace
  • School Principal
  • Gazetted Rank Police Officer (not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent)
  • Attorney-at-law
  • Medical Doctor
  • Resident Magistrate
  • Member of the J.D.F (Major and above)
  • Member of Parliament

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force or Jamaica Defence Force must include a sealed letter from their commanding officer in their application.

All recommendations must be addressed to the Firearm Licencing Authority
For proof of income, you will be required to present original and photocopied payslips for the past 3 months (for fortnightly paid workers this would be 6 payslips).

For those who are self-employed, a valid Business Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) and a valid Individual Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) are required where the applicant is a business i.e. a Company, Sole Trader or Partnership. An official bank statement is also required.

Can I ask someone to drop off my application?

No. All applications must be handed in by the applicant via registered mail.

Can you bring a firearm into Jamaica?

No. Guns, knives or weapons of any kind are not allowed on the island.

Can Jamaicans Living abroad apply for a Firearm licence in Jamaica?

Before this, persons living outside the island were not allowed to apply for permits. But now pensioners, returning residents and persons who work seasonally abroad are allowed to apply. The same documents are required.

It is important to note, that those living abroad must travel back to complete their renewal process in person each year. And, you must have a permanent residence in Jamaica.

Also, spending most of your time outside of the country might hurt your application.

Can a person apply for any type of firearm in Jamaica?

No, the only two guns allowed in Jamaica are 9mm pistols and shotguns.

What do you do if you lose your licensed firearm?

In the event that your firearm is lost or stolen, you should report it within 48 hours at the nearest police station. A signed and stamped copy of the report must also be submitted to the Firearm Licensing Authority. The report must give full details of the weapons and the circumstances under which it was lost or stolen.

How should I store my firearm if travelling from the island?

Whenever you are travelling outside of the island, your firearm must be left at the nearest police station or at the Firearm Licencing Authority.

This must be done in person and failure to comply can result in penalties. There is a cost associated with leaving your firearm at the FLA. Handguns cost JMD 300 per month and rifles and shotguns cost JMD 500 per month.

Contact Information

  • Address: Headquarters - 91A Old Hope Road. Kingston 6 | Montego Bay - Shop #9, Bogue City Centre. Bogue, Montego Bay, St. James | Manchester – Shop G15, James Warehouse Plaza. Mandeville, Manchester | St. Ann, Lot 60, Dairy Road, Discovery Bay, St. Ann

  • Phone: Kingston (Headquarters): (876) 927-5159 - 60 / 927-6057 - 59 |
    Montego Bay - (876) 978-0245 | Manchester: Digicel - (876) 927-6073 / (876) 927-6075 / (876) 618-0487 (Digicel) | St. Ann: Flow- 876-670-0812 | Digicel- 876-618-2920-21

  • Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am - 4:00pm | Fridays: 8:30am - 3:00pm (Closed on Weekends)

I sure hope I covered most of the questions you had. However, if there are some that I missed, the FLA website has a wealth of information including fees and application forms. The FLA representatives are also quite informative.

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References & Sources For FLA Jamaica

  1. Fla.gov.jm. 2022. Firearm Licensing Authority - Firearm Licensing Authority. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 September 2022].
  2. Jis.gov.jm. 2022. Firearm Licensing Authority – Jamaica Information Service. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 September 2022].
  3. Youtube.com. 2022. Jamaicans Living Abroad Can Apply For Firearm License - Here’s How | Sage Talk. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 September 2022].

FLA Jamaica | Written: September 28, 2022

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