PICA is an agency of the Ministry of National Security (MNS). It was established in its present form in 2001 through the merger of the:
Passport Office and the Immigration Service which were part of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF);
Citizenship Section of the Ministry of National Security
Immigration & Passport Policy Unit in the Ministry;
The merger was a timely strategy given the heightened international focus in relation to border security.