Legislation / Regulation Changes FAQ

There are several new definitions inserted into new legislation, including:

1. “Developed real estate” means one strata lot, one parcel; or one set of contiguous parcels that have undergone a physical improvement to land in the nature of buildings, structures or other improvements that enhance the value of the land for industrial, agricultural, commercial or residential purposes, and in the case of real estate for industrial, commercial or residential purposes, a certificate of occupancy has been issued, where applicable;
2. “Civil Servant” means a person employed by the government, but does not include a person employed by a government company or statutory authority or a Member of the Parliament other than an Official Member, and is a public officer for the purposes of the Constitution;
3. “Commercial farmhand” means a farmer, livestock farmer, general farmhand, farmer helper or a person who otherwise cares for a farm or who cultivates land; and who is employed with an agricultural enterprise that is registered with the Department of Agriculture as a commercial agricultural producer;
4. “Paid-up amount”, in relation to an investment in developed real estate, means the amount that has been paid toward the purchase price, mortgage principal or development cost by an applicant at the time of a relevant application, and which is free from any outstanding financing obligations;
5. “Worker” means a person, including an employee of a statutory authority or a government company, in respect of whom a work permit has been or may be granted or renewed under Part 7.

Existing permissions remain valid; however, new compliance, declaration, and enforcement provisions apply going forward.

Yes, work permit holders can change jobs. However, first-time work permit holders who are granted their work permit on or after 1 May 2026 must stay with their employer (the one who sponsored their permit) for at least two (2) years.

If you leave your job before completing those two years, you will be required to leave the Cayman Islands for one year. In some cases, the Director of WORC may allow an exception under specific conditions which are prescribed in the Regulations.

Note: There is also a special exception for Domestic Helpers. If you want to continue working as a domestic helper but for a different employer (in the same type of job), you may be allowed to do so without having to leave the Islands.

If a work permit holder wants to apply for an exemption from the one (1) year departure requirement, they must submit an application to the Director of WORC within three (3) working days after leaving their job.

The application must include proof that the situation was reported to a relevant authority. This could include agencies such as the Department of Labour and Pensions, Health Services Authority, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, or any other appropriate investigative body.

The Director of WORC thereafter has 30 working days within which to notify the person in writing of the determination made in respect of their application.

If the person does not apply for an exemption, they must make arrangements to leave the Cayman Islands for one (1) year.

Prescribed circumstances include unpaid or uncompensated overtime; being required to perform work outside the job description without compensation; discrimination; retaliation for raising complaints; harassment (including sexual harassment or bullying); or any other situation that the Director of WORC determines justifies an exemption.

Employers must provide written notice of the termination of employment to the Director of WORC within seven (7) days after a work holder’s employment ends. To do so, the employer should complete the appropriate cancellation form.

Failure to comply with this requirement constitutes an offence. On summary conviction, the employer is liable to a fine of CI$20,000, imprisonment for a term of two (2) years, or both.

To add one dependent, a minimum gross monthly income of CI$5,000 (before deductions) is required. For each additional dependant, an additional CI$1,000 in monthly income must be shown. This applies to any applications submitted on or after 1 May 2026.

If an application is submitted under Section 66(10A), where two work permit holders marry, should one of the persons opt to apply to be granted a work permit or renew a work permit (based on the term limit of their spouse) (i.e., align their term limits), then the term limit for both individuals will align with the permit holder who has the lesser time remaining.

However, should the two work permit holders marry and not opt to align their term limits, they can continue to have different term limit expiration dates and the legal requirement for each of them to not be allowed to hold a work permit for at least one year after they have left the Islands will remain in place, with different start and end dates.

Where two work permit holders are married and were previously allowed to align their permits to the longer term limit, the following applies: when the permit of the holder with the longer term limit comes up for renewal, their spouse—who has already reached their own term limit but was permitted to remain in the Islands—must then leave and begin the required one-year period during which they are not permitted to hold a work permit.

14 working days.

No. After 1 May 2026, persons who marry and opt to apply to be attached to their spouses work permit or renew a work permit (based on the term limit of their spouse) (i.e., align their term limits), then the term limit for both individuals will align with the permit holder who has the lesser time remaining.

Work permit applications may be refused. Employers must advertise vacancies for 21 days on the WORC electronic jobs portal and in a local newspaper (or prescribed media) prior to submitting a work permit application.

The fee is not required when you re-submit; however, if you do not go ahead with the job submission you will not get a refund. It is a 1-time non-refundable fee.

Under WORC’s current policy, a job advertisement is valid for up to three (3) months before a work permit application is submitted, unless a Business Staffing Plan Board condition states otherwise.

For example: if a position is advertised on April 30, 2026, the advertisement would be considered valid for use in support of a work permit application submitted on or before July 30, 2026.

Applications filed on/after the commencement date of 1 May 2026 are required to have 21-day advertisements. Applications filed before the commencement are required to have at least 14-day advertisements.

Yes, term limits apply to non-Caymanian civil servants. (Limited statutory exemptions exist). All civil servants’, who were previously already employed with the civil service, term limits will begin on 1 May 2026.

On 1 May 2026, your 8+ year term limit starts

No. Term limits continue and do not reset when a Work Permit holder transitions into Government employment after 1 May 2026.

No

A Certificate for a Commercial Farmhand takes effect when:

• the employee’s final work permit (or permission granted under section 66(4)) expires; or
• if the work permit has already expired, on the date the Board or the Director of WORC makes a decision.

To apply, the applicant must:

• pay the required fee; and
• provide proof of employment with an agri-business that is registered with the Department of Agriculture as a Commercial Agricultural Producer.

Once approved, the certificate is valid for five (5) years. It can be renewed up to two (2) times, or until the applicant reaches age 65—whichever comes first.

The Certificate for Specialist Caregiver has been amended to introduce limits on both the number of times it may be issued and its duration.

The Certificate may be issued a maximum of two (2) times, for a total period of up to ten (10) years, or until the applicant reaches the age of 65, whichever occurs first.

Individuals currently holding a Specialist Caregiver Certificate will be permitted only one renewal, for a period of five (5) years, after 1 May 2026.

Permanent Residence may be revoked where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a marriage or civil partnership of convenience, or if a Permanent Residence holder fails to financially support or positively contribute to the life of a Caymanian child relied upon for continuation of their facility.

No. This will be dealt with in a future amendment to the legislation.

Yes. Failure to submit required annual declarations constitutes an offence and is a ground for revocation.

Yes. If you hold a valid RERC issued prior to the commencement of the new legislation on 1 May 2026, you will be required to submit an annual declaration on the anniversary of the date the certificate was issued. The declaration must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of CI$100.00 and must be submitted each year for as long as you continue to hold the RERC.

Your application will be considered under the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision). If approved, the RERC will be granted indefinitely, meaning it will not have an expiry date.

Under the new legislation, the RERC will be issued for a maximum period of 15 years. After holding the certificate for at least 14 years, the holder may apply for it to be renewed indefinitely. Once the RERC has been renewed indefinitely and held for at least one additional year, the individual may apply for a certificate of naturalisation or registration under the British Nationality Act 1981.

The Director of WORC may now formally confirm Caymanian as of Right based on proven connectivity, without requiring a separate individual application in all cases.

Yes. You are deemed to be Caymanian as of Right, and require no formal acknowledgement from the Director of WORC.

After being legally and ordinarily resident for at least 20 years, or legally and ordinarily resident for at least 10 years after obtaining a certificate of naturalisation or registration.

Yes. Failure to submit required annual declarations constitutes an offence and is a ground for revocation.

Yes, where the holder has ordinarily resided outside the islands for a period of five (5) years without notifying the Director of WORC and can no longer be said to be settled in the Islands.

Individuals granted the Right to be Caymanian on the grounds of marriage on/before 30 April 2023 will NOT be required to submit annual declarations.

Individuals granted this facility on/after 2 May 2023 will be required to submit annual declarations each year until they have held the Right to be Caymanian for three (3) years. Filing of annual declarations will now require a prescribed fee of $100.00 on the anniversary of the date of issue.

You will be required to submit annual declarations, together with the prescribed fee of $100.00, on each anniversary of the grant, until you have held the Right to be Caymanian for three (3) years.