The relevant Immigration Board must be satisfied that the worker has sufficient income available to adequately support any dependants. Currently, the authorities expect to see a minimum monthly household income in the region of CI$5,000 for one dependant to be included, with an increase of CI$1,000 for each additional dependant.
This is a guideline only. In every case, the character, reputation and health of your dependants is taken into consideration, as well as whether you can comfortably afford to feed, house, educate and maintain them in the Islands. There is a possibility that you are granted a work permit, but your children are not allowed to accompany you if your income is considered insufficient.
Guidelines as to the interpretation of these requirements, and their application, are hoped for in the near future. Changes in fees are expected imminently, but for now, each year, a fee of CI$250 will be collected for each dependant of a worker in the unskilled category and CI$500 for each dependant of a worker in the skilled category. It appears to be open to the employer and the employee to agree between them who will pay for this, as it does not constitute part of the Work Permit fee.
A non-refundable fee of CI$200 per person is also collected for repatriation. Either you or your employer can submit the letter applying for your spouse or children to be a dependant on your work permit, but your employer must submit a letter indicating the number of hours per week you work, your monthly income and any other benefits you receive. If each parent is working, then the employers of both must provide a letter. If your family members are not added as dependants, then they can only stay here as temporary visitors.
Note: Only the following can be dependants of a work permit holder: spouses, children (including step and adopted children), grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters (including half-brothers and half-sisters) and civil partners. This means that girlfriends, boyfriends, “common law spouses” and fiancées cannot be listed as dependants. However, the Cayman Islands now generally recognises legally married same-sex spouses as dependants, although the relationship may need to be formally registered as a Civil Partnership.
If a girlfriend or boyfriend comes to the Island without their own work permit, they will be allowed in as a visitor and likely will be given as little as 30 days to stay. It would help their case if they arrived at the airport with a letter from their ‘sponsor’ (the permit holder) that states they will be supported while they are here. If they come in with this letter, they might be given a total of three to six months to stay. Stays of longer than six months in any calendar year by any person classed as a visitor are, in normal circumstances, unlikely to be permitted.
We will update our website when revised fees (and any other requirements) are confirmed.
Children Over 18 Years as Dependants
Children who are dependants of work permit holders can only remain on a parent’s Work Permit after the age of 18 if they are, a) in full-time tertiary education or b) in special circumstances (for example, the child is unable, for medical or other exceptional reasons, to maintain themselves). Should your child turn 18 before they finish secondary school, the Immigration authorities will usually allow your child to remain in Cayman, although not formally as a dependant on your work permit, until they complete their secondary education. However, if your child chooses not to go on to university or college and they want to continue living in the Cayman Islands, then their only option may be to try and get a work permit. At this point, they are competing with every Caymanian and Permanent Resident school leaver who will have precedence over them, placing them at a distinct disadvantage in seeking job opportunities. Depending on when they moved to Cayman, they may also run afoul of the Term Limit provisions.
Dependant Children over 18 Years
Children who are dependants of work permit holders can only remain on a parent’s Work Permit after the age of 18 if they are, a) in full-time tertiary education or b) in special circumstances (for example, the child is unable, for medical or other exceptional reasons, to maintain themselves). Should your child turn 18 before they finish secondary school, the Immigration authorities will usually allow your child to remain in Cayman, although not formally as a dependant on your work permit, until they complete their secondary education. However, if your child chooses not to go on to university or college and they want to continue living in the Cayman Islands, then their only option may be to try and get a work permit. At this point, they are competing with every Caymanian and Permanent Resident school leaver who will have precedence over them, placing them at a distinct disadvantage in seeking job opportunities. Depending on when they moved to Cayman, they may also run afoul of the Term Limit provisions.
There are a number of rules around children of Permanent Residents who are over the age of 18.
Work Experience for Expat Kids
Children of work permit holders cannot accept paid work experience without having their own work permit, and an unqualified 16-20 year old is unlikely to ever be granted a work permit. However, there is nothing in the law to prevent expatriate children from accepting unpaid internships if they have been resourceful enough to go out and find work in their school holidays!
In fact all children, expat or Caymanian, should be encouraged to seek work experience as soon as they are over the age of 16. It not only keeps them busy, but it teaches them the value of money and to have a good work ethic – invaluable tools for life! If a work permit is obtained for an expatriate child, no work permit fee will be charged by the CI Government.
