Work Permits
Useful Links
This section has information to help you if you want to find out more about applying for a work permit.
Exemptions
Apart from the persons listed below, anyone wishing to work in the Cayman Islands must first obtain a work permit. The following persons do not require a work permit:
- Caymanians
- holders of permanent residence with the right to work
- holders of a Residency & Employment Rights Certificate
- persons employed by the Cayman Islands Government
- a person who is the beneficial owner of up to two units of property whose lawful presence in the Islands is to facilitate rental or lease arrangements in respect of those units and whose spouse does not own, operate or have an interest in those units.
- persons coming to the Islands to engage in certain activities for a period not exceeding seven days.
Categories of Work Permit
A work permit may be issued for any occupation for periods of up to six months (Temporary Work Permit), or longer (Annual Work Permit). Temporary work permits are issued by the Chief Immigration Officer; annual work permits are issued by either the Work Permit Board or the Business Staffing Plan Board depending on whether the employer in question is required to possess a Business Staffing Plan. For further information on Business Staffing Plans, click here. The maximum period that a person who is not designated as a key employee may remain in the Cayman Islands on a work permit is seven years. Persons designated as key employees may remain for a maximum of nine years. Please follow the links for specific information on the rules for term limits and designation as a key employee.
For information on the requirements for applying for a Temporary Work Permit and to download an application form, click here.
For information on the requirements for applying for the grant of an Annual Work Permit and to download application forms, click here.
For information on the renewal of an Annual Work Permit click here
Language Requirements
If a prospective employee is not a national of an English speaking country and they are already in the Cayman Islands they will be required to come to the Department of Immigration Headquarters to take an English test. Where such an employee is not yet in the Cayman Islands they will be required to take an English test upon arrival at the airport. If they are found not to possess a sufficient knowledge of the English language, they will be refused entry or, if they are resident here, may have their permission to remain or work permit revoked. For further information on the English language test, click here.
Medical Requirements
Where the person concerned will be working in the Cayman Islands for more than three months they will be required to undertake a medical examination (including HIV/VDRL tests) and submit a medical questionnaire at the time of applying for a work permit. To download the medical questionnaire, click here.
Amending Work Permits
Work permits can be amended if to add or remove dependants, share the permit with another employer, change job titles or alter the commencement date. Click here for more details
Last Updated: 2010-01-18
