Certificate of Direct Investment

1. Residence permit300 months
2. Renewrenewable

• Permanent residency
• Citizenship
• Dual citizenship allowed

Country

Cayman Islands

Program

Certificate of Direct Investment

Local name

Certificate of Direct Investment

Type

Investor visa

Status

Active

Initial duration

300 months

Renewable

Yes

Min stay

90 days per 12 months

Twenty-five-year residence for a person who invests at least CI$1 million in a licensed Cayman business that generates employment, and who exercises substantial management control. The holder may live in the Islands and work in that business in an occupation WORC approves. A spouse or civil partner and dependant children may reside as dependants. Renewal is at the Director's discretion.

Tax regime

Exempt

Tax rate

0.0%

Regime name

No direct taxes

Foreign income taxed

No

Capital gains taxed

No

Method

mail

Apply from abroad

Yes

WORC may first issue an approval-in-principle for six months. The 25-year certificate follows once the investment is made and the licences are in place. The Director takes account of the views of the Department of Commerce and Investment. That consultation is not a separate endorsement the applicant must obtain. The applicant needs a substantial business track record or an entrepreneurial background, and the funds must be under the applicant's personal control if the investment is still proposed. An employment-generating business is one in which at least 30 percent of the employees are Caymanian, unless overriding circumstances dictate a lower percentage. There is no fixed headcount. Audited financial statements and employment details are due at the end of year two and year five, and whenever WORC asks. The holder must be physically present for at least 90 days in aggregate in each calendar year. The application fee is CI$1,000 and the issue fee is CI$50,000. Dollar conversions use CI$1 = US$1.20. The holder also pays an annual fee equal to the work-permit fee for the approved occupation. The R47 form dated June 2023 still prints an issue fee of CI$20,000 and a dependant fee of CI$1,000. The fee regulations in force from 1 May 2026 set the issue fee at CI$50,000 and the dependant fee at CI$3,000 on issue and CI$3,000 a year. Item 9.6 of the same regulations still says an annual fee of CI$1,000 per dependant. That older sentence conflicts with the CI$3,000 figures, which are the ones used here. A child's dependant right ends at 18 unless the certificate is varied for full-time tertiary education or disability. The certificate does not confer a trade and business licence by itself, and it does not by itself lead to permanent residence or naturalisation. There is no income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. Health insurance is required. The Act requires good health; the checklist that was read does not list a medical examination. No minimum age is stated.

1. Oct 10, 2026

   Added

   created. CI$1 million in a licensed employment-generating business, 25 years, 90 days a year, issue fee CI$50,000 from 1 May 2026 (legislation.gov.ky).