In appropriate circumstances and upon suitable application, the Director of WORC or her designate, may grant a Temporary Work Permit to an individual permitting them to engage in gainful employment in the Cayman Islands.
Such permits, if granted, range from terms of one month up to a maximum of six months and generally cannot be extended or renewed. An eight-month permit, “A Seasonal Work Permit”, which can span the high season in the Tourism Industry, is also available. These cannot be extended or renewed.
While Temporary Permits are often used as a bridge between the arrival of an expatriate worker and the issuance of their Full Work Permit, their use (save in exceptional circumstances) for persons who are not genuinely intended to be temporary employees is discouraged. Nevertheless, where urgency is required in the granting of a work permit, seeking and gaining of permissions, the authorities will tolerate the use of the Temporary Work Permit Regime to achieve expedition.
Notes on a TWP:
- A medical questionnaire is only required if the permit is being sought for more than three months
- There is no prohibition on applicants for TWPs having dependants
- TWP applications can be expedited on payment of an ‘express fee’ which can guarantee initial processing within 48 hours. See the WORC website for necessary forms needed
Anticipated changes in the system, which are expected to reduce the application time for Full Work Permits to two weeks, will likely significantly reduce the ability of employers to rely on Temporary Work Permits for Full Time positions.