Moving to Cayman Islands: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

61,994

Population - note

Note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman

Population Growth Rate

2.19%

Urban Population

100.000000

Population in Major Urban Areas

GEORGE TOWN (capital) 28,000

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Age Structure

18.130000

Median Age

39.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

12

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

5.3

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.86

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.020000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

15.04

Ethnic Groups

Mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Nationality Noun

Caymanian(s)

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Literacy - total population

98%

Literacy - male

98%

Literacy - female

98%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over has ever attended school

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

0.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

80.910000

Infant Mortality Rate

6.350000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

6.350000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

95.600000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

96.200000

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Economic Overview

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center.

More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 mutual funds.

A stock exchange was opened in 1997.

Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported.

The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.

Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings.

The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America.

Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US.

Industries

Tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$4,780,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$43,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7%

GDP - official exchange rate

$2,250,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 55.1% Government
• Consumption: 13.1% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 20.1% Investment in
• Inventories: 0.1% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 46.4% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -34.8%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

0.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

7.2%

GDP by Sector- services

92.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

2.4%

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Inflation Rate

1.4%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

0.82

Currency Name and Code

Caymanian dollars (KYD)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

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Labor Force

3,900

Unemployment Rate

4%

Major Industries

Tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Agriculture Products

• Vegetables, fruit
• livestock
• turtle farming

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

1.9%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

19.1%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

79%

Annual Budget

$859,500,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

5.2%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

38.2%

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Full Country Name

none

Country Name

Cayman Islands

Etymology- history of name

the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

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Government Type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)
• amendments: amended 2016, 2020

Legal System:

English common law and local statutes

Executive Branch:

• head of government: Premier Juliana O'CONNOR-CONNOLLY (since 15 November 2023)
• cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier
• elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Parliament (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; elected seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; ex-officio members 2; composition as of April 2023 - men 16, women 5, percent of women 23.8%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70
• subordinate courts: Summary Court

Regions or States:

6 districts Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP [Ezzard MILLER]
• People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Roy McTAGGART]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

see United Kingdom

Capital Name

George Town (on Grand Cayman)

Capital - geographic coordinate

19 18 N, 81 23 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• Caricom (associate)
• CDB
• Interpol (subbureau)
• IOC
• UNESCO (associate)
• UPU

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• none (overseas territory of the UK)

Dependency Status

overseas territory of the UK

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Geographic Location

The Caribbean

Geographic Coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Total Area

102 Square Miles 264 Square Kilometers

Land Area

102 Square Miles 264 Square Kilometers

Coastline

99 Miles 160 Kilometers

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Terrain

Low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Highest Point

43 Meters

Highest Point Location

The Bluff 43 m

Lowest Point Location

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

Fish, climate, and beaches that foster tourism

Time Zone

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Tropical marine

warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain

Low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Location

The Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in the Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Total Area

102 Square Miles 264 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

No natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

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Exports

$47,600,000 (USD)

Imports

$585,200,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Major Imports

Foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Country Description

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory consisting of three main islands with a total area of approximately 100 square miles and located about 500 miles west of Jamaica.

There is an international airport located in Grand Cayman, and facilities for tourists are widely available.

The U.S.

Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, has consular responsibility for the Cayman Islands.

Safety & Security

Since a surge of gang-related criminal activity in 2011, the Royal Cayman Island Police have aggressively addressed gang activity and murders are down dramatically.

Guns remain a problem, however, and sentencing for people found with guns or ammunition is strict.

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Crime

The crime threat in the Cayman Islands is generally considered low, although travelers should always take normal precautions when in unfamiliar surroundings.

Petty theft, pick-pocketing, and purse snatchings occur.

A few cases involving sexual assault have been reported to the Embassy.

Police in the Cayman Islands rigorously enforce laws against illegal drugs.

U.S. citizens should avoid buying, selling, holding, or taking illegal drugs under any circumstances.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the Cayman Islands, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail for the night.

In most cases, the passport is confiscated until you appear before a Magistrate Judge and a fine is imposed.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in the Cayman Islands, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Caymanian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in the Cayman Islands are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

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Medical Facilities

The quality of medical care in the Cayman Islands is generally comparable to that available in the United States; however, some procedures and cases requiring critical care may require medical evacuation to the United States.

Several American citizens each year drown or suffer cardiac arrest while snorkeling or SCUBA diving in the Cayman Islands.

These deaths may be attributed in part to tourists attempting to do more than they are trained to do or to poor physical conditioning or preexisting medical conditions that are exacerbated when snorkeling or diving.

A hyperbaric chamber is available for the treatment of decompression illness.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment for health services.

Emergency response services in the Cayman Islands are on par with those generally available in the United States.

Traffic Safety

While in the Cayman Islands, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning the Cayman Islands is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

As in Great Britain and its other territories, vehicles in the Cayman Islands travel on the left-hand side of the road (the opposite side compared with driving in the United States).

Due to their size, the Caymans have little highway infrastructure to maintain.

Local driving standards, the risk of accidents, the availability of emergency roadside service, quality and frequency of signage, and enforcement of traffic laws, generally meet the standards of the United States.

Visitors must obtain a temporary driver's license, easily granted upon presentation of a valid state driver's license and payment of a small fee, at a car rental agency or a police station.

Laws against driving while intoxicated are strictly enforced, with a legal maximum blood alcohol level set at 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to a .10 blood/alcohol level in the United States).

Seatbelt laws are also enforced and require the driver and all passengers to wear seatbelts while in motion.

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Airports - total

3

Airports with Paved Runways

3

Roadways- total

488 Miles 785 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

485 Miles 780 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Cayman Brac, George Town

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Telephones

38,000

Cell Phones

33,800

Internet Users

22,000

Internet Country Code

.ky

Internet Hosts

21,910

Broadcast Media

• 4 TV stations
• cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming
• government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations
• 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

Telephone System

• Assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity
• Domestic: liberalization of the telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
• International: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

507,800,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

546,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

3,141

Anthem Lyrics English

O land of soft, fresh breezes And verdant trees so fair, With the Creator's glory Reflected ev'rywhere, O sea of palest em'rald, Merging to darkest blue, Whene'er my thoughts fly Godward, I always think of you.

Dear, verdant island, set in blue Caribbean Sea, I'm coming, coming very soon, O beautious isle, to thee.

Although I wandered far, My heart enshrines thee yet.

Homeland, fair Cayman Isle, I cannot thee forget.

Away from noise of cities, Their fret and carking care, With moonbeams' soft caresses, Unchecked by garish glare, Thy fruit with rarest juices, Abundant, rich and free, When sweet church bells are chiming, My fond heart yearns for thee.

When tired of all excitement And glam'rous worldly care, How sweet thy shores to reach And find a welcome there, And when comes on the season Of peace, goodwill to man, 'Tis then I love thee best of all, Beloved Isle Cayman.