I am a Canadian who loves Jamaica. I have the opportunity to go to Jamaica and stay for approx. 9 months. I am trying to find out if I can do that as a visitor, does anyone here have any experiences with long stays like that.

I have contacted the Jamaican Consulate, they have not been able to answer my question. The staff at the Jamaican Consulate has informed me that the immigration staff in Jamaica will determine if I can stay for 9 months or not. They have advised me to buy an open return ticket.

I am hoping that someone here would have some experiences or information that they could share with I.

Tks

My experience was you can get up to 6 months at the airport (subject to having a return ticket and a kind immigration officer) and then have to go to an immigration office in Kingston (though I've heard recently you can now go to Black River) to get it extended.

Don't expect them to auto extend it. Dress well, have records showing you can support yourself (so they don't think you're going to be working), and hope you get a kind person to hear your case.

Good luck!

From my experience, as a Canadian who has spent a lot of time in Jamaica, you cannot be out of Canada any longer than 6 months. I would aim for 6 months at the most, but customs in Jamaica will stamp your passport upon arrival with the amount of time they will 'allow' you to stay. Chances are they will not stamp your passport for a full 6 months. But you can extend the time you want to stay by visiting the police station. They will let u know who you have to talk to in order to extend the date you have in your passport.
They used to be really lenient about it.. ie we would always stay over the date in our passport and not let anyone know, but now it would be a lot riskier.. you could run into problems the next time you tried to enter Jamaica.
Hope that helps you a bit!

I always just get 90 days on my visa when I arrive. They are very pleasant, but tell me that is the maximum they are allowed to give a visiting Canadian.
I go to the Police station in Negril to extend my visa. Last year that was the closest place that I knew of. MoBay also has an Immigration Officer at the Police Station as does Kingston.
It would be sweet if they got one closer.
Negril can be a fun day trip, our favorite is the West End past the lighthouse.There is a bar on the sea with about 100 hammocks!

Canadian Permanent Residents risk losing their resident status with stays over 6 months out of Canada, unless there is a valid reason. It's best to check in at the Canadian High Commission before the 6 months are up.

If a Canadian citizen stays longer than 6 months outside of Canada, their tax status is affected. Check the Canada Revenue Agency website.

That's my understanding.

You will find it a lot easier to get your extension if you obtain a six month visa from your local Jamaican Consulate before leaving Canada. There is a fee and a form to fill out, but they will stamp it in your passport, so on arrival to the island airport immigration will automatically accept it. Just before your six months expires, go to the immigration office to ask for an extension. Be sure to take bank statements showing your ability to stay without employment. This is the first step everyone must take when seeking residency on the island.

I agree with Eric. I once made the mistake of asking at immigration upon arrival for a 10 day trip. I was bombarded immediately by the "kind" officer of how much money I had with me, how much I could get from credit cards etc. I asked her why I was being asked these questions and she stated that if I wanted to enter her country I better answer them if I wanted to stay 3 months. I had already told her I was asking for future reference so I simply told her I had never been asked this before for a simple 10 day trip. She finally realized her mistake but I noticed the stamp on my passport was not letting me stay any longer than 30 days.
Sometimes they stamp it 30 days, sometimes they stamp it 3 months.
BE SURE you are prepared to provide proof of finances.

WHY DON'T YOU CANTACT THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT ANSWER.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SAY WHO YOU ARE.THEY ARE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT ONE.

WHY SHOULD THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER HAVE TO BE KIND. JUST DO HIS/HER JOB THE WAY THEY WERE TRAINED.

I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ENTERING BACK INTO CANADA THAN OVER STAYING MY STAY IN JAMAICA.

GOOD LUCK.

Thank you everyone for your help. Your positive vibes and generosity to share information is most appreciated.

dj and resident
I would appreciate it if you have the time and the inclination to contact me
Thanks

Turey is right about the tax status. If you are out of Canada for more than 6 months, it can also affect your medical. I would check on all of this before you come.
Do the right thing is correct that chances are you will have more problems re entering Canada then over staying in Jamaica.
I was hassled A LOT upon re entry in Canada after being gone for a year. Not a good situation at all.
That being said, they did let me back in.