Permanent Residency

The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board or the Chief Immigration Officer will score your application in accordance with the Points System contained in the Immigration Regulations.

Legal and ordinary residence is defined as:-

“A persons uninterrupted voluntary physical presence in the Islands for a period of time without legal impediment (other than a tourist visitor or transit passenger) during which period the Islands are regarded as his normal place of abode for the time being, save that absences abroad of six consecutive months´ duration or less for, inter alia, purposes of education, health, vacation, or business during such period shall count as residence in the Islands & absences abroad of more than six consecutive months but less than one year shall raise the presumption that there has been a break in residence; and absences abroad for twelve consecutive months or more shall constitute a break in residence.”

Any person who has been legally and ordinarily resident in the Cayman Islands for a period of at least eight years, other than:

• the holder of a Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means; or
• the holder of a Residency Certificate for Retirees; or
• the holder of a Certificate of Direct Investment or a Direct Investment Holder’s (Dependant’s) Certificate; or
• the holder of a Residency Certificate of (Substantial Business Presence); or
• an employee named in a Certificate for Specialist Caregivers; or
• a person who was granted permanent residence previously in circumstances similar to the above may apply to the Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board or the Chief Immigration Officer for permission for himself, his spouse and his dependants, if any, to reside permanently in the Cayman Islands. Such an application may be made while the person continues to be legally and ordinarily resident.

You have to be legally and ordinarily resident in the Islands for at least 8 years, but not more than 9 years.