- The UK government is chartering evacuation flights for British nationals stranded in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.
- Travelers must register via the Register Your Presence portal to receive booking links once airports reopen.
- The FCDO will prioritize vulnerable passengers, including those with medical needs and children, for limited flight seating.
(JAMAICA) — The UK government chartered evacuation flights for British nationals in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa disrupted travel, telling people to register through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s “Register Your Presence” portal to be considered for a seat.
British nationals already registered will be contacted automatically with a booking link once airports reopen, while anyone not yet registered must sign up immediately through the portal, which the FCDO said is accessible through its official channels.
Officials stressed that the assisted departure plan depends on airports reopening and on operational conditions, and that booking links cannot be issued until flights can safely operate.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The UK government is chartering flights to bolster commercial capacity and ensure people who wish to return to the UK can do so as soon as possible.”
The FCDO set out eligibility rules for the charter flights as it sought to manage demand and ensure people with permission to enter the UK can travel.
Eligible travellers include British nationals and their immediate family travelling together, with “immediate family” defined as a spouse or partner and children under 18.
All travellers must hold valid travel documents, the FCDO said, and non-British immediate family members must have valid UK entry permission granted for over six months.
The government also said the Windrush generation with indefinite leave to remain are eligible, but must contact the FCDO directly for the appropriate registration method and form rather than relying only on the online pathway.
For Windrush-related registration and eligibility handling, the FCDO provided contact numbers of +1 (876) 936 0700 and +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
The FCDO told British nationals in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa to register immediately if they had not already done so, while also checking commercial options by contacting their airline or travel provider to confirm availability or existing bookings.
Officials said the charter operation aims to bolster commercial capacity rather than replace it, and encouraged travellers to clarify whether they already had a route home before seeking an assisted departure seat.
With limited seats expected, the FCDO said it will prioritise vulnerable passengers when allocating places, including those with medical needs and children.
The FCDO said it expects to charge standard commercial rates for seats on the charter flights, and that people who are allocated a seat will be contacted directly.
Officials warned people not to go to the airport unless instructed, framing airport access and check-in as part of a controlled process that will follow once airports reopen and flight arrangements become operational.
Two UK Rapid Deployment Teams are en route to Jamaica to support flight facilitation and consular needs, the FCDO said, as it prepares to manage registration checks, passenger support and coordination around departures.
Alongside registration and seat allocation, the FCDO emphasised documentation requirements that travellers must meet at airline check-in and on arrival in the UK, including the need to prove permission to enter.
Airlines will verify permission at check-in, the FCDO said, and while British citizens are exempt from the UK’s ETA requirement, they must still prove eligibility and identity to carriers.
Dual nationals should expect to use a British passport when returning to the UK, the FCDO said, and it warned that foreign passports alone are insufficient post-25 February 2026 due to ETA enforcement.
For some travellers, other forms of evidence of a right of abode may be accepted depending on individual circumstances, and non-British family members should be prepared to show their UK entry permission.
The government said no other active UK charter flight programs for British nationals were detailed in the current announcements, as it focused this update on Jamaica and Hurricane Melissa-related disruption.
Officials said updates will come through FCDO channels and through direct outreach to those who have registered, with booking links issued to registered individuals once airports reopen and assisted departures can be scheduled.
