DO I NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE TO HOST IN JAMAICA?

[Vivienne82]

Hello fellow hosts,

I'm new to Airbnb. 

I currently live in Canada , but will be hosting our family home in Jamaica on Airbnb.

Do I need a business license ?

can any host in Jamaica help me out with this question?

[Jenny]

Hi @Vivienne82 

I recommend looking for a local group here as you'll be more likely to find something for Jamaica.  As the Community Center is international, there's not always someone in your local area.

Hope this helps!

Jenny

[Flavia202]

@Vivienne82: No, generally, hosts in Jamaica do not need to have a business license to operate their airbnb rentals. However, if you want your property to be certified by our Ministry of Tourism as a 'tourism product' you must have a license issued by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) which is the company that inspect, approve and monitor the standard of such properties. The process is costly and time-consuming and it is mainly the villas/resorts-types that apply for the licence.  Some hosts who have multiple listings (e.g., houses, apartments) and want to operate as a business but not specifically as a 'tourism product, can use a simpler and cheaper route of registering the company or business with the Companies Office of Jamaica.

[Debra300]

@Flavia202,

It's a similar system in St. Lucia, and it is expensive and time consuming.  The government tries to entice property owners to register by putting out a carrot-on-a-stick saying that registered properties may be eligible for duty concessions and tax incentives for a couple of years.  Which isn't that advantageous for a places that have been around for a few years, and aren't likely to make significant capital expenditures in the near future.

@Vivienne82,

I suggest that you directly contact the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health to get official information.