Cayman Islands Certificate of Direct Investment — Residency Program

Minimum investment $1,200,000 Business

Stay 300 months, renewable

Application fee $1,200 plus $60,000 contribution

Tax 0.0% No direct taxes

Path to staying

Residence permit300 months
Renewrenewable

Permanent residency
Citizenship
Dual citizenship allowed

Overview

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.

Investment options

Investment options
Type	Min amount	USD equivalent	Holding	Returnable	Required
Business	KYD 1,000,000	$1,200,000	—	Yes	Required

Eligibility

Criminal record check required
Health check not required
Health insurance required

Work rights

Employment allowed
Self-employment allowed
Own a business allowed
Work permit included

Family and dependents

Dependents allowed: Yes
Spouse included: Yes
Max child age: 18
Parents allowed: No

Benefits and mobility

Bank account can open
Property purchase allowed
Public healthcare no access

Tax

Tax regime: Exempt
Tax rate: 0.0%
Regime name: No direct taxes
Foreign income taxed: No
Capital gains taxed: No

How to apply

Method: mail
Apply from abroad: Yes

Notes

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 stored as an endorsement. 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 is not stored. See the notes file. 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.

Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 10, 2026 Source

Change history

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 (https://www.legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2026/2026-0020/2026-0020_SL%2020%20of%202026.pdf).