At Cayman Resident we are often asked how many days one can stay in the Cayman Islands as a visitor. By law, a person who has no basis to reside (i.e. as a work permit holder or dependant), may be admitted into Cayman as a visitor for up to six months in total, in any period of 365 days. Further visits within the same 12 months are only permissible in rare circumstances thereafter.
The authorities will generally accommodate travel plans, and anyone who demonstrates that they own and will be staying in their own property, have sufficient funds to maintain themselves for the duration of their stay, and have adequate health insurance, will generally be admitted for up to six months. However, many people arriving in Cayman will be permitted entry for an initial 30 days, or possibly less. If a person is admitted as a visitor, wants to stay longer than the period initially approved then they must apply to Customs and Border Control (CBC) located on 94A Elgin Avenue in George Town before their permission to be in the Islands expires. An extension request can be made in person or online at www.cbc.gov.ky. Fees of CI$50 are payable for the first extension and CI$100 for each further extension. If you plan well in advance and come prepared with a letter showing you can support yourself, have health insurance and have somewhere to live, you may request and be given a longer period to stay upon landing.
If a visitor is arriving for a significant period, like many of our returning ‘snow birds’ do over the winter, they will generally be admitted for up to six months. For this, they must show the entry officer their return ticket, a very recent bank or investment statement showing that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and a hotel/condo reservation or a lease. This paperwork is looked at very discreetly and returned to the visitor. If the visitor owns a home in the Cayman Islands and can show the Land Register, then a six-month permission will be granted to them and other visitors accompanying them.
Please however note that in principle, no one should expect to be permitted to remain in the Cayman Islands for more that 182 nights (in total) in any year as a tourist visitor.
Any person wishing to spend more than six months a year in the Islands is recommended to seek formal residence. There are many avenues to choose from.
Having said that, if you are very keen to stay, and you have your own business or income from overseas, then one option might be setting something up in Cayman Enterprise City.
