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:

• a country within the British Commonwealth of nations, with the exception of:
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Bangladesh
  • India
  • Ghana
  • Cameroon
  • Gambia
  • Jamaica
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sierra Leone
  • Uganda; and
• any of the following countries:

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:

• Naturalised or Registered as a British Overseas Territories Citizen of the Cayman Islands
• The child of a Caymanian born in the Cayman Island
• The Spouse of a Caymanian
• The Surviving Spouse of a Caymanian
• Caymanian and their status will expire at the age of eighteen or has expired upon having reached age eighteen  

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:

• Without Immigration Control for one (1) year
• The Spouse of a Caymanian who has been granted the Right to be Caymanian

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:

• Under the age of eighteen and has been granted Permanent Residency or acknowledged as a Caymanian
• Born in the Cayman Islands and has been resident for the first ten (10) years of the their life

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:

• Granted Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen on or after May 21, 2002
• Granted Registration as a British Overseas Territories Citizen on or after May 21, 2002

Cayman Islands Passport

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

• Born in the Cayman Islands prior January 1, 1983
• Naturalised or Registered as a British Overseas Territories Citizen
• The child of a Parent who was settled in the Cayman Islands at the time of their birth

United Kingdom Passport

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

• Born in the Cayman Islands prior January 1, 1983
• Naturalised or Registered as a British Overseas Territories Citizen
• The child of a Parent who was settled in the Cayman Islands at the time of their birth