Cayman Islands · Residency by investment
Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means
Open. Governed by the Immigration Regulations (2025 Revision). Valid for a renewable 25-year period.
Half the entry cost of the CoPR and it delivers the same practical outcome for most families — lawful, long-term, zero-tax residence in Cayman. What it does not deliver is the British endgame or work rights. Choose it if the tax result is the objective and the passport is not.
Qualifying routes
CI$1,000,000 invested in Grand Cayman (roughly USD 1.2m), of which at least CI$500,000 must be in developed residential real estate. PLUS either continuous annual income of CI$120,000 without needing to work in Cayman, OR a minimum CI$400,000 deposit maintained with a CIMA-regulated locally licensed institution.
CI$500,000 invested (roughly USD 600k), of which at least CI$250,000 in developed real estate. PLUS annual income of CI$75,000, or CI$400,000 in local deposits.
The facts
- Minimum investment
- $1.2M
- Total landed cost
- CI$1,000,000 investment on Grand Cayman (roughly USD 1.2m), plus a CI$500 application fee and a CI$20,000 fee on grant (roughly USD 24,000), plus CI$1,000 per approved dependant. Plus 7.5% stamp duty on the property element.
- Timeline
- 3–9 months — Decided by the Chief Immigration Officer / relevant Board
- Physical presence
- None prescribed
- Family
- spousedependent children
- Permanent residency
- None directly — this is a 25-year renewable certificate, not permanent residence. It does not convert into the CoPR; that requires the separate CI$2m investment.
- Citizenship
- Not directly. Time on this certificate is legal residence and can support a later naturalisation application, but the certificate itself confers no status.
- Language test
- n/a
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- CI$1,000,000 invested in Grand Cayman with at least CI$500,000 in developed residential real estate (CI$500,000 / CI$250,000 for the Sister Islands)annual income of CI$120,000 (CI$75,000 for the Sister Islands) OR CI$400,000 on deposit with a CIMA-regulated institutiongood character and clean police recordhealth insurance
- It does NOT permit employment in the Cayman Islands. Not variable, unlike the CoPR — if you need to work, this is the wrong certificate.
- It is a 25-year renewable certificate, not permanent residence, and it does not convert into the CoPR. Do not let a client believe they are on a path to the British passport via this route.
- The income test is a continuing requirement — CI$120,000 per year on Grand Cayman — not a one-off proof at application.
- The CI$500,000 developed-real-estate component within the CI$1m is a specific requirement; a CI$1m investment structured the wrong way will not qualify.
- Same cost-of-living, hurricane and CRS points as the CoPR.