Immigration Reform - Ministry of Caymanian Employment Immigration
Understanding Immigration Reform
The Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025, represents a significant reform to immigration policy and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to placing Caymanians at the centre of the nation’s immigration framework.
The Act updates and refines aspects of the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision) to ensure the immigration framework remains responsive to social and economic conditions and is administered with clarity, consistency and accountability.
This campaign hub provides official information on the purpose of the Act, what it covers, what it does not cover, and how the changes are being implemented.
Publications
Immigration (Transition)(Amendment and Validation)Act, 2026 (LG17, S1)
Summary of Amendments: Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025
Immigration (Transition) (Fees) Regulations 2026 Consultation
Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025 (LG54, S2)
Join the Conversation
The public consultation on the Immigration (Transition)(Fees) Regulations, 2026 is now open.
This consultation seeks the views of stakeholders and members of the public on the proposed new immigration fee schedule, including revisions to certain existing fees and the introduction of new fees for specific facilities and services.
Participate in the consultation by emailing immigrationconsultation@gov.ky.
- Consultation opens: 19 February 2026
- Consultation closes: 5 March 2026
Read the full proposed revisions here.
View the full consultation on our Public Consultation Hub.
Why Was the Law Updated
The Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025 supports a balanced and well-managed approach to immigration by:
- Strengthening the effective administration of the immigration system
- Reducing reliance on temporary permissions as long-term solutions
- Better aligning immigration with Caymanian employment and workforce planning
- Strengthening information sharing and coordination across Government
- Supporting long-term social and economic sustainability
The amendments enable more effective administration of immigration matters, including clearer handling of applications, compliance, and information sharing between relevant authorities.
What the Act Covers
The Act includes targeted amendments relating to:
- Work permits
- Residency and Employment Rights Certificates (RERC) and Permanent Residency
- Caymanian status, including administrative and acknowledgement processes
- Financial standing and declaration requirements
- Information sharing and administration across Government for immigration-related purposes
- Commercial Farmhand Certificates
View the fact sheet for more information.
These changes are intended to support consistent decision-making and coordinated administration across the immigration system.
What the Act Does Not Cover
The Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025 does not introduce changes to the Permanent Residency points-based framework. Any such changes will be considered as part of future legislative amendments.
Transitional Provisions and Application of the Law
The Act includes transitional provisions to provide clarity on how the law applies:
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Applications and appeals submitted before commencement will be determined under the law that applied at the time of submission.
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Work permits that are valid when the new law starts remain valid until they expire.
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Permanent Residency and Residency and Employment Rights Certificates (RERCs) that are valid when the new law starts remain valid until they are lost or cancelled.
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Caymanian status provisions do not apply to individuals who already hold relevant valid permissions or exemptions under the current law.
Latest
Government Committed to Full Readiness for Immigration Law Changes
Gov Protects Residents Who Applied for PR & Status Under Previous Rules
Public Consultation Opens on Update to Immigration Application Fees
Landmark Immigration Bill: Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2025 Published
FAQs
Review the recent Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which explain how the upcoming changes under the Immigration (Transition) (Amendment & Validation) Acts, 2025 and 2026 may affect you, helping you understand your rights and obligations before the new rules take effect on 1 May 2026.
Note: This FAQ will be updated as needed during the public consultation period.
Persons who have questions or feedback should email ImmigrationConsultation@gov.ky or visit publicconsultation.gov.ky
Any application or appeal that was submitted before the new law begins will continue to be processed under the old law. The rules that applied at the time of your submission will still govern your case.
1) Any work permitthat is valid when the new law starts will remain valid until it expires. Thereafter, the new rules will apply.
2) Any permanent residency or Residency Employment Rights Certificatethat is valid when the new law starts will remain valid until it is lost, or is cancelled.
No. The new Caymanian status provisions do not apply to people who already hold a valid permanent residency or Residency Employment RightsCertificatefacility, permission, or exemption, permission, or exemption under the current law. You may continue to apply for Caymanian status under the law that originally issued your document.
Yes. If you are employed by the Health Services Authority or the University College of the Cayman Islands, your current immigration permission or exemption will stay valid until your employment contract ends, or one year after the new law starts —whichever is later.
Yes. Individuals who already possess certain types of certificates (listed below) when the new law begins will now be required to submit a yearly declaration, as outlined in the new legislation:
- Persons granted the right to be Caymanian (married or in a civil partnership with a Caymanian) (for the first seven (7) years of being granted Caymanian Status);
- Holder of a RERC (married to or in a civil partnership with a Caymanian);
- Certificate of Direct Investment;
- Residency Certificate (Substantial Business Presence).
Your time continues to count from the date you first became a worker. Becoming a civil servant does not reset your time limit under the new law
Any work permit application that was submitted before the new law starts will be processed under the old law, not the new one.
Caymanian by entitlement relates to the child of a Caymanianwhose parents did not did not haveCaymanian status at the time of the child’s birthand that child was granted Caymanian status (by entitlement) before they turned 18.
No. This is a repeal and replace of current section 33(2)in the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision). Currently, the right to be Caymanian by entitlement can be revoked if a person hasnot been legally and ordinarily resident in the Islands for a period of seven years immediately before reaching the age of eighteen years.
The Bill has amended this provision to state that the right to be Caymanian by entitlement can be revoked –
(a) if the person has not been legally and ordinarily resident in the Islands for a period of seven years before reaching the age of eighteen; and
(b) after reaching the age of eighteen years, if the person resides outside the Islands for a period of five years, other than for medical reasons or educational purposes.
Definitions under the new Legislation Act
There are several new definitions inserted into new legislation, including:
- “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;
- “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;
- “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;
- “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;
- “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.
Work Permits
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.
Explore the answers to frequently asked questions.
Job Advertisements
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
Term Limits for Civil Servants
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
New Commercial Farmhand Certificate
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.
Specialist Caregiver Certificate
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 Residency
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.
Caymanian Status / Right to be Caymanian (CSPR)
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.
To view more MCEI news published before May 2025, visit our Archives.
