Do you need a Visa to visit the Cayman Islands?

Written by:
Mrs Paulette Anglin-Lewis, Managing Director/Notary Public, Anglin-Lewis & Associates Ltd. "Your Immigration Solution!"

Visa requirements change from time to time, you should therefore check with your nearest British Consulate to verify.

If you are a national of the following Countries you do not presently require a visa to land in the Cayman Islands:

Andorra
Italy
Argentine
Japan
Austria
Kuwait
Bahrain
Liechtenstein
Belgium
Luxembourg
Brazil
Mexico
Chile
Monaco
China (People’s Republic) provided holding
Hong Kong (SAR China) passports
Netherlands
Norway
Oman
Denmark
Panama
Finland
Portugal
France
San Marino
Germany
Spain
Greece
Sweden
Iceland
Switzerland
Ireland
United States of America
Israel
Venezuela.
 

 If you are not a national of the above Country then you will be required to obtain a visa before traveling to the Cayman Islands. You should however be aware that a person with a valid visa to enter to the Cayman Islands can be refused permission under certain circumstances by an Immigration Officer.

Temporary Work Permits

Persons seeking to be self-employed or Employers looking to employ persons on a temporary basis may apply to the Chief Immigration Officer.

A Temporary Work Permit can be issued from one (1) day and up to six (6) months, but cannot be extend beyond six (6) months.

Work Permits

Employers (with less than 15 persons on work permits) wishing to employ a person for one (1) or more years may apply to the Work Permit Board for permission to do so. 

Self-Work Permits

A Person wishing to be self-employed on a Work Permit may apply to the Work Permit Board, and only under exceptional circumstances which is deemed by the Board, may it be granted.

Business Staffing Plans

Any company, firm or other business enterprise, that has carried on business for six or more months as of January 1, 2004 and employs fifteen (15) or more persons on work permits is required to submit a Business Staffing Plan to the Business Staffing Plan Board.

Once your Plan is submitted Employers (with 15 or more persons on work permits) wishing to employ a person for one (1) or more years may apply to the Business Staffing Plan Board for permission to do so. 

Trade & Business Licensing Board

Persons wishing to carrying on a trade or Business unless exempt (see Trade & Business Licensing Law (2003 Revision)) in the Cayman Islands must first obtain approval from the Trade & Business Licensing Board.

Student Visa

Persons who are over the age of eighteen, wishing to attend an educational institution in the Islands may apply to the Chief Immigration Officer for the grant of a Student Visa.

Term Limits

A worker can only be granted a work permit for a maximum period of seven (7) years, unless they are designate as a Key employee. After this period a worker will have to depart and cannot be granted any further work permits until a period of one year has lapse.

 Key Employee

A worker who has been designated as Key Employee may be granted work permits for a maximum period of nine (9) years. After this period a worker may apply for a Residency & Employment Rights Certificate, which would entitle them to continue to work and reside until the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board has made their decision. If a worker does not submit a Residency & Employment Rights Certificate they will have to depart and cannot be granted any further work permits until a period of one year has lapse.

Residency & Employment Rights Certificate

A person who has been legally & ordinarily resident in the Cayman Islands for eight (8) years may submit an application to the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board to be granted a Residency & Employment Rights Certificate.

If granted would allow them to reside and work in a specified occupation(s) with any employer.

Residency & Employment Rights Certificate (Spouse of a Caymanian)

A person who is married to a Caymanian may submit an application to the Chief Immigration Officer or the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board to be granted a Residency & Employment Rights Certificate.

If granted by the Chief Immigration Officer for a period of six (6) months or by the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board for a period seven (7) years.

Caymanian

 A person who was born in or outside the Cayman Islands who considers themselves to be a Caymanian may apply to the Chief Immigration Officer to be acknowledged as one.

 Right to be Caymanian by grant

 A person who was born in the Cayman Islands between March 27, 1977 and January 1, 1983 and is a British Overseas Territories Citizen and has resided in the Cayman Islands since birth may apply to the Chief Immigration Officer to be granted the right to be Caymanian.

A person may also apply to the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board for the grant of the Right to be Caymanian if they are:

Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen

 If a person is a legal resident, they may be eligible to apply for the grant of a Certificate of Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen if they are:

Registration as a British Overseas Territories Citizen

 A person may be eligible to apply to be granted of a Certificate of Registration as a British Overseas Territories Citizen if they are:

Registration as a British Citizen

A person may be eligible to apply to be granted of a Certificate of Registration as a British Citizen if they are:

Cayman Islands Passport

 Some ways a person may be eligible for a Caymanian Passport is:

United Kingdom Passport

Some ways a person may be eligible for a United Kingdom Passport is:


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