Work permits for Cayman

To protect the local Islanders from what is viewed as undue competition from unqualified overseas applicants seeking to work in the Cayman Islands, the Immigration Board has developed a policy of work permits and criteria by which potential expatriate workers are assessed.

Temporary/Short-term permits

These are issued for one or six months and are primarily used to fill a position that is not permanent (e.g. for a waitress during the New Year period). In some instances, one-month permits can be issued to allow you to start working if you are waiting for your long-term permit to be approved by Immigration – effectively a ‘fast-track’ solution.

Six-month permits are designed to fill seasonal positions (e.g. a diving instructor working through the tourist season). No newspaper advertising is required for temporary permit applications.

Gainful occupation licences/Long-term permits

G.O.L. permits are generally issued for a period of one year (it’s possible for two- to five-year permits to be granted on occasion) and must be submitted for annual renewal thereafter by your employer.

In order to have a long-term permit issued or renewed, your employer has to advertise the “vacancy” in the offshore press for a minimum of two weeks to see whether there is a suitable local Caymanian available for the position. Subsequent renewals are hence not automatic but in practice they are usually granted. Also, note that with a valid G.O.L you can bring personal items into the Islands “duty-free”.

Documentation

You will need the following documentation to accompany your work permit application:

A completed Immigration application form
Certified copies of your qualifications and passport
A police clearance form (non-UK) / Sworn affidavit* (UK applicants)
A medical certificate of good health in the prescribed format
Three references of good character (from non-relatives)
Four passport-sized photographs (one must be in profile)

The completed information should be couriered back as a single package.

If this sounds complicated, you can be assured that once you have secured employment in advance of your arrival in Grand Cayman, both Hamilton Recruitment and your new employer will be pleased to guide you through the whole process.

Customs duty

Persons entering the Cayman Islands to reside and work for at least 12 months are allowed to bring in a reasonable quantity of personal effects (excluding motor vehicles) duty-free, provided these have been owned and used abroad for at least six months. Prohibited goods include drugs, certain publications, gambling materials, and spear guns and ammunition (unless licensed in advance).

A resident returning from overseas can import personal and household effects to the value of CI$350. Visitors can bring in unsolicited gifts to a value of CI$150 per gift. Note that there is also a departure tax of CI$10 for all persons leaving the Islands.

Cayman Islands Government

*Must be by a notary public, justice of the peace or commissioner of oaths