Does Jamaica have a zip code? The short answer is no.
Believe me, I know the feeling of trying to enter a zip code while online shopping or filling out forms.
But not to worry, I’m here to make sense of Jamaica’s postal code system. I’ll explain why Jamaica doesn’t use zip codes, how our postal system works and give you some tips on how to navigate the online world without a zip code.
So whether you’re planning a trip to Jamaica, living on the island, or simply curious, keep reading to learn all about our unique postal system.
Table of Contents
What Zip Code to Use for Jamaica?
Jamaica does not utilize ZIP Codes, which are solely designated to the US Postal Service for addresses within the United States. Therefore, it’s unnecessary to include a ZIP Code when addressing mail or packages to Jamaica.
If you encounter a ZIP Code field when shopping online or filling out forms, you might have been left scratching your head. As we’ve mentioned earlier, Jamaica doesn’t have a zip code. So what should you enter in that field?
Well, after years of shopping online and filling out forms, I’ve found two options that have worked for me every time.
Using “00000” as an Alternative to Zip Codes in Jamaica
The first option is to simply enter “00000”, that’s five zeros. This may seem strange, but it’s a workaround that I have been using for years. The good news is that it has never caused any problems for me.
Using Kingston’s Mailing Zones as an Alternative to Zip Codes in Jamaica
The second option is for those who live in Kingston. For example, if you live in Kingston 6, you could enter “00006”. This is because Kingston is divided into different mailing zones, each with a unique number. Again, I’ve used this option many times without any issues.
So the bottom line is, don’t stress too much about the lack of a Jamaican zip code. Use one of these options, and you should be good to go. And if all else fails, you can always contact the retailer or website’s customer support to ask for guidance.
Does Jamaica Have Post Codes?
Currently, Jamaica does not utilize postal codes, although there were plans to introduce a system in 2006. This new system was intended to simplify the sorting of mail bound for Jamaica from overseas and make the process faster and more efficient.
However, due to public confusion, the introduction of the new postal code system was put on hold indefinitely.
Many countries have adopted postal code systems as a result of modern technological developments, such as the United States’ ZIP code system and the United Kingdom’s postal code system.
Despite the benefits of a postal code system, Jamaica has not implemented one, and there have been no updates on whether the system will be revamped or not.
While the introduction of the new postal code system may have been a step towards streamlining the mail sorting process, it seems that the confusion it caused outweighed the potential benefits it could bring.
The Proposed Jamaican Postal Code System
The Jamaican postal code system was set to have a seven-character code based on the following system:
- First two characters – Country Code: JM for everywhere in Jamaica
- Next character – Zone Code:
Zone A includes the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine
Zone B includes the parishes of St. Mary, Portland, and St. Thomas
Zone C includes the parishes of St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, and Hanover
Zone D includes the parishes of Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon
- Next two characters – Parish Code: These are made by stripping the relevant parish names of their sainthood and using the first and last letters of the parish
- Last two characters – Post Office Code: This is a two-digit numerical representation for the relevant Post Office, indicating where the relevant Post Office falls in an alphabetical list of Post Offices in the relevant Parish.
Here is an Example for Kington & St. Andrew:
ZONE A:
Kingston (KN):
JMAKN01 Allman Town (Kingston 4 )
JMAKN02 Central Sorting Office
JMAKN03 Denham Town (Kingston 14)
JMAKN04 General Post Office
JMAKN05 Port Royal (Kingston 1)
JMAKN06 Windward Road (Kingston 2)
St. Andrew (AW):
JMAAW01 Border
JMAAW02 Bull Bay
JMAAW03 Constant Spring (Kingston 8)
JMAAW04 Cross Roads (Kingston 5)
JMAAW05 Dallas
JMAAW06 Gordon Town
JMAAW07 Hagley Park (Kingston 11)
JMAAW08 Half-Way-Tree (Kingston 10)
JMAAW09 Harbour View (Kingston 17)
JMAAW10 Jones Town (Kingston 12)
JMAAW11 Lawrence Tavern
JMAAW12 Liguanea (Kingston 6)
JMAAW13 Mavis Bank
JMAAW14 Meadowbridge (Kingston 19)
JMAAW15 Mona (Kingston 7)
JMAAW16 Mount James
JMAAW17 Red Hills
JMAAW18 Stony Hill (Kingston 9)
JMAAW19 St. Peters
JMAAW20 Vineyard Town (Kingston 3)
JMAAW21 Western District (Kingston 20)
JMAAW22 Whitfield Town (Kingston 13)
JMAAW23 Woodford
To see the full list, visit this site.
