Annual Permit Grants Under a Business Staffing Plan

The following section has information on applying for a work permit under a business staffing plan

In order to help us process your application as quickly as possible, please use the checklist below to ensure that all the information we need is provided with your application. If you have any questions concerning what is required, please feel free to telephone our Business Staffing Plan Board Secretariat on 244-2076/244-2074.

All Work Permit applications must be accompanied bt the following documentation

Application Form:

Each question must be completed fully and in BLOCK LETTERS. To download a copy of the application form, please click here.

Police Clearance Certificate:

A certified and signed police clearance certificate with respect to the prospective employee and their spouse, if applicable, from their home district or last place of residence and issued within six months preceding the date of application. (Note: prospective employees and their spouses who are nationals of the United Kingdom and who were resident there prior to coming to the Cayman Islands may submit a sworn affidavit attesting to good character in lieu of a police clearance certificate. United Kingdom nationals who have been living elsewhere must submit a police clearance certificate from that country).

Fees:

At the time of application the following fees must be paid:

• non-refundable administrative filing fee (CI$50)
• work permit grant fee for the appropriate employment category (see appendix 1)
• dependant fee (per dependant). See Schedule of Fees attached.
• repatriation fee for prospective employee and each dependant, if any (CI$200 each)

Photographs:

Three full-face and one profile photograph (passport size)

Cover Letter:

The employer must provide a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Business Staffing Plan Board identifying clearly the position in the company's valid Business Staffing Plan Certificate for which the prospective employee is required.

Medical Questionnaire:

Unless the prospective employee has submitted a medical questionnaire in the six months prior to this application for the grant of a work permit, one must now be provided. Click here for a copy of the questionnaire. Part 1 must be completed by the prospective employee; Part 2 must be completed by their physician and should bear his/her signature and seal or stamp. The original lab report showing the HIV/VDRL test results must also be provided. The HIV/VDRL tests must be taken within the six months preceding your application for the grant of a work permit. Note: HIV/VDRL lab reports are not acceptable from Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Prospective workers from these regions will be required to re-take the HIV/VDRL tests once in the Cayman Islands.

Advertisments:

If the job for which the prospective employee is required is listed in the Business Staffing Plan Certificate as one which must be advertised, the prospective employer must do the following:

• advertise the position in a local newspaper for at least two issues for two consecutive weeks;
• forward all responses received from Caymanians to the Business Staffing Plan Board along with copies of their CVs when submitting the work permit application
• provide to the Business Staffing Plan Board a copy of each advertisement (full page of the newspaper showing the date) when submitting the work permit application.

Note: advertising is not required if the prospective employee is married to a Caymanian The advertisement must contain the following information:

• a full and accurate description of the job to be filled; and
• a full and accurate description of the qualifications the prospective employer considers are necessary for carrying out the job and the reason for requiring those qualifications; and
• the number of years experience required;
• the name and address of the employer or agency.
• indication of the salary range

Curriculum Vitae:

Please enclose a copy of the prospective employee's curriculum vitae

English 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 see the section on the English Language Test.

Additional supporting documentation is required if the prospective employee is to be employed in the folloiwng employment sectors/positions

Hospitality Industry

• If the prospective employee is to be employed as a diver, a copy of their PADI/NAUI certification must be provided.

Professional/Managerial Positions

• Notarised copies of the prospective employee's professional qualifications must be provided.
• In the case of health practitioners/nurses etc., please provide a certified copy of their license to practice by the Health Practitioners Board
• In the case of teachers, please provide a certified copy of their licensing from the Educational Council
• In the case of professionals within the financial services industry whose positions are regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), please provide proof of such from the CIMA.

Skilled/Supervisory Positions

• Please provide notarised copies of the prospective employee's qualifications and details of the skills they possess that are relevant and required for the position for which they are being employed.

Construction Industry

• Please provide copies of signed contracts or building permits for all ongoing construction projects and those to be undertaken.
• Plumbers: Please provide a copy of the prospective employee's current license from the Water Authority authorising them to operate as a plumber.
• Electricians: Please provide a copy of the prospective employee's current licence from the Electrical Licensing Board authorising them to operate as an electrician. The employer must also provide the ratio of electricians to electrical helpers employed within the company.

Janitorial & Gardening Services:

Please provide copies of signed contracts/agreements for provision of gardening or janitorial services that are in operation at the time of application or are to be undertaken.

Drivers:

Please provide a notarized copy of the prospective employee's license from the Public Transport Board for the appropriate category of vehicle.

What happens next?

If the application is approved, a letter will be sent to the applicant notifying them of the decision and setting out the terms and conditions upon which the worker may work.

Important: the employee is not allowed to work for any employer or perform any other occupation than that or those listed in the Work Permit. Also, the permission of the employee to remain and work in the Cayman Islands ceases in the event that the Work Permit expires (and an application for its renewal was not submitted prior to its expiry), is revoked, or if their employment is terminated.

If the application is refused, there is a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal.

Is it possible to have a dependant included on a work permit?

Yes. If a Work Permit is approved, any dependants listed on the application may, at the discretion of the Board, be included. It is also possible to apply during the currency of a Work Permit to add or remove dependants. See the section on Amending Work Permits for more information.

Is it possible to work for more than one employer on a work permit?

If it is clear on the application that the Work Permit is to be shared by two or more employers, then this will be taken into account by the Chief Immigration Officer. It is also possible to apply for an amendment to the Work Permit during its currency to add or remove an employer.

If my employer has applied for a renewal of my work permit before the expiry of my existing work permit may I continue to work whilst awaiting the outcome of the decision on the application?

Yes. Provided the employer applied for the renewal of the work permit before the expiry of the existing work permit you may continue to work for the same employer on the same terms and conditions until the outcome of the application (and any subsequent appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal) is known. But if the renewal application is submitted after the expiry of the existing Work Permit then you may not continue to work whilst awaiting the outcome of the application.

Last Updated: 2008-01-16