We are often asked how many days a visitor can stay in the Cayman Islands. Under the law, a person that has no other basis to enter the Cayman Islands (i.e. a Work Permit) or no right to residence may be admitted as visitors for up to a total of six months. An extensions is permissible thereafter. However, the reality (except for residential property owners) is very different!
The norm is that someone arrives in Cayman and is given 30 days to stay. If they want to stay longer then they have to go to Customs and Border Control (CBC), located on 94A Elgin Avenue in George Town (before their time runs out), fill out an extension form and pay CI$50 for the first extension and CI$100 for all further extensions. Whether or not an extension is granted will depend on a multitude of factors including importantly whether or not the visitor is able to demonstrate an ability to support themselves without working. An extension request can be made in person or online at www.cbc.gov.ky.
However, if they are coming in for six months over the winter, like many of our returning ‘snow birds’ do, then they can and do get a six month stamp. 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 without seeking work and a hotel/condo reservation or a lease. This paperwork is looked at very discreetly and returned to the visitor. It is not kept and none of the information is recorded.
Special provisions are now in place for persons who own a home (which would include an apartment or condo) in the Cayman Islands. Through the Immigration (Landing of Persons) Directions, 2014, the Cabinet of the Cayman Islands Government have indicated that Immigration Officers are expected to land any person who is not a prohibited immigrant as a visitor for 6 months where it can be demonstrated that he or she owns a home in the Islands where they, and any other person accompanying them, will reside for the duration of the stay, provided all can support themselves without needing to work.
