Nomad Watch
KY

Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means

Active Exempt

Cayman Islands · Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means · Golden visa · apply mail

Minimum investment $600,000 2 investment options
Stay 300 months, renewable
Application fee $600 plus $60,000 contribution
Tax 0.0% No direct taxes

Path to staying

  1. Residence permit300 months
  2. Renewrenewable
  • Permanent residency
  • Citizenship
  • Dual citizenship allowed

Overview

Country
Cayman Islands
Program
Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means
Local name
Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means
Type
Golden visa
Status
Active
Initial duration
300 months
Renewable
Yes
Min stay
30 days per 12 months

Twenty-five-year residence, without the right to work, for a person of independent means aged 18 or over. Grand Cayman requires CI$1 million of local investment, at least half of it in developed real estate, plus annual income of CI$120,000 or a CI$400,000 local deposit. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman use lower investment and income figures. The certificate can be renewed at the Director of WORC's discretion. It is not the ten-year Certificate of Permanent Residence.

Investment options

Investment options
Type Tier / zone Min amount USD equivalent Holding Returnable Required
Real estate Grand Cayman KYD 1,000,000 $1,200,000 — Yes Optional
Real estate Cayman Brac or Little Cayman KYD 500,000 $600,000 — Yes Optional
Grand Cayman: At least CI$500,000 in developed real estate in Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac or Little Cayman: At least CI$250,000 in developed real estate in Cayman Brac or Little Cayman.

Financial requirements

Income requirement
KYD 10,000/mo (~$12,000 USD)
Application fee
$600
Government contribution
$60,000

Eligibility

  • Minimum age 18+
  • Criminal record check required
  • Health check not required
  • Health insurance required

Work rights

  • Employment not allowed
  • Self-employment not allowed
  • Own a business not allowed
  • Work permit included no

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

Regulation 14 requires the investment and, separately, either the income or the deposit. The deposit is CI$400,000 on every island, held at a CIMA-regulated local institution with a Class A bank licence or a securities-investment-business licence. Assets for that deposit include cash and cash equivalents, fixed income, equities and listed exchange-traded funds. The deposit is an alternative to income, so it is not stored as an extra savings requirement. The income stored here is the Grand Cayman test, CI$120,000 a year, which is CI$10,000 a month. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman require CI$75,000 a year. Dollar figures use the CIMA parity of CI$1 = US$1.20. The application fee is CI$500. The issue fee is CI$50,000. Each dependant costs CI$3,000 on issue and CI$3,000 a year. The annual declaration costs CI$500. The published R41 form still prints the pre-May 2026 issue fee of CI$20,000 and dependant fee of CI$1,000. The Caymanian Protection (Fees) Regulations, 2026, in force on 1 May 2026, replace those figures. The holder must be physically present for at least 30 days in aggregate in each calendar year. A spouse or civil partner and dependant children may be included. A child's dependant right ends at 18 unless the certificate is varied for full-time tertiary education or the child remains dependent because of disability. Parents are not a listed category. The certificate cannot be varied to add the right to work. This certificate does not itself lead to permanent residence or to naturalisation. A dependant child who was on the original application may, after 18, apply for permanent residence under the ordinary points route. There is no income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, and no control on foreign ownership of land. Health insurance is required. The Act also requires good health; the checklist that was read does not list a medical examination.

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

Change history

  1. Added

    created. Twenty-five-year residence without work, Grand Cayman investment CI$1 million and income CI$120,000, sister-island investment CI$500,000, issue fee CI$50,000 from 1 May 2026 (https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2004/2004-0005/2004-0005_2025%20Revision.pdf).