Destination · Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands: residence for independent means
No direct taxes, a deep financial sector and a residence route for people who do not need to work locally. We coordinate the application and the move.
Overview
Why people look at the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Government states that there are no direct taxes in the Cayman Islands. It also has a large financial services sector, with banks, fund administrators and professional firms on the island.
For people with independent means, Cayman offers residence certificates that do not require local employment. We match the application to your financial circumstances and intended stay, and coordinate the evidence and the move with the relevant professionals.
Your residence is then integrated with investment ownership, business interests, banking, asset protection and succession. Companies, trusts and accounts can stay in or move to other jurisdictions where they serve the plan better.
At a glance
The Cayman Islands in six lines
| Tax system | No direct taxes, per the Cayman Islands Government. Duties and fees make living costs high. |
|---|---|
| Residency routes | A Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means, and a separate permanent residence certificate for larger real estate investors. |
| Citizenship | A British Overseas Territory. Residence certificates do not give a passport, and naturalization is a separate, longer process. |
| Where companies, banks and trusts sit | Locally or elsewhere. Cayman has deep banking and fund infrastructure, and structures can also sit in other jurisdictions. |
| Good fit for | People with investment income who want a stable, English-speaking financial centre and are comfortable with the cost of living. |
| Watch out for | Annual declarations, minimum presence and a high cost of living. US citizens remain US-taxable. |
General information, not legal or tax advice. Immigration and tax rules, amounts and processing times change; we confirm the current requirements for your specific case during your Global Strategy.
Programme figures
Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means
From the annual declaration particulars in the Caymanian Protection (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. Amounts are in Cayman Islands dollars. As checked September 2026. The investment, government fees and professional fees are separate costs.
| Living on Grand Cayman | Annual income of at least CI$120,000 without local employment, or at least CI$400,000 on deposit with a locally licensed, CIMA-regulated institution. Plus CI$1,000,000 invested, of which at least CI$500,000 is in developed real estate on Grand Cayman. Source |
|---|---|
| Living on Cayman Brac or Little Cayman | Annual income of CI$75,000, or at least CI$400,000 on deposit as above. Plus at least CI$500,000 invested, of which at least CI$250,000 is in developed real estate on the Sister Islands. Source |
| Annual declaration | Each year you declare that you still meet the financial conditions, hold adequate health insurance and were physically present for at least 30 days in aggregate in the preceding calendar year. Source |
| Permanent residence for independent means | A separate certificate based on CI$2,000,000 in developed real estate, with its own annual declaration. Source |
General information, not legal or tax advice. Immigration and tax rules, amounts and processing times change; we confirm the current requirements for your specific case during your Global Strategy.
Done for you
How we handle your Cayman residence application
You make the decisions. We coordinate the immigration and legal professionals in each country and follow every step, so the paperwork never becomes your job.
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Eligibility
We confirm whether this route fits your income, assets, family and nationality, and compare it with the alternatives before you commit.
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Documents
We give you the exact document list for your case and coordinate certificates, apostilles, translations and local filings.
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Application
We coordinate the preparation and filing of the application with the professionals in the country and follow it through each stage.
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Follow-through
We plan what comes next: renewals, annual obligations, your tax residency and the structures that sit around your new base.
Related
Before you choose
- The Caribbean How the Cayman Islands compares with the other Caribbean options.
- Asset protection Companies, trusts and LLCs chosen for the role each one plays in your plan.
- Leaving the United States Why US citizens stay taxable at home, and what a move can still change.
- Leaving Canada Departure tax, residential ties and what to settle before you go.
- Citizenship acquisition If a second passport is part of the goal, the routes that lead to one.
Does the Cayman Islands tax income?
The Cayman Islands Government states that there are no direct taxes. Duties and fees are built into prices, so the cost of living is high.
Can I work if I hold an independent-means certificate?
The route is designed for people who do not need local employment. Working in Cayman is a separate permission. We check what you plan to do before choosing the route.
How much time do I need to spend there?
The annual declaration asks you to confirm at least 30 days of physical presence in aggregate in the preceding calendar year. Your tax position at home may need far more than that, so we plan both.
Will moving to Cayman end my taxes at home?
US citizens remain taxable in the US wherever they live; see leaving the United States. Canadians who cut residential ties can face departure tax on the way out; see leaving Canada.
Your next step
Considering Cayman?
The Global Strategy checks whether the independent-means route fits your income and assets, and plans the move with your structures.