Promote:
Invest in the Cayman Islands
A short guide for companies expanding into the Cayman Islands: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Cayman Islands at a glance
PopulationEstimate
75,844
The World Bank reports a population of 75,844 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, population, Cayman Islands, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$7.77 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$7,765,336,505 in 2024, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP in current United States dollars, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
GDP per person
US$104,293
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$104,292.90 in 2024, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP per person, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Real GDP growth
3.8%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 3.8 percent in 2024.
Source: World Bank WDI, real GDP growth, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Inflation
2.8%
The Economics and Statistics Office reports twelve-month inflation of 2.8 percent for March 2026, its latest quarterly report.
Source: Economics and Statistics Office, consumer price index report, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$35.8 billion
The Cayman Islands received US$35,783.203 million of inward foreign direct investment in 2025, UNCTADstat reports.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment, Cayman Islands, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Cayman Islands dollar.
Source: Economics and Statistics Office, first quarter economic report, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
No current investment promotion agency was found: the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce lists eleven related entities, and none is an investment promotion agency.
Source: Cayman Islands Government, Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
The pages checked from the General Registry and the Department of Commerce and Investment describe no one-stop shop for investors; each body handles its own step.
Source: Cayman Islands General Registry, incorporation page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
The Trade and Business Licensing Act (2026 Revision) lets Cabinet reserve businesses for Caymanians by regulation; the pages checked name no reserved list. Check the regulations with the Department of Commerce and Investment.
Source: Cayman Islands, Trade and Business Licensing Act, 2026 Revision (opens in a new tab) · as of February 12, 2026
The Special Economic Zones (Cayman Enterprise City) Order, 2024 declares one special economic zone with seven business parks, and Cayman Enterprise City Limited as its developer.
Source: Cayman Islands, Special Economic Zones (Cayman Enterprise City) Order, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 11, 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Cayman Islands
- Reserve the company name, complete the incorporation application and return the signed consent forms.Cayman Islands General RegistryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands General Registry, incorporation page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Apply for a trade and business license; a company must first be registered with the Registrar of Companies.Department of Commerce & InvestmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands Centre For Business Development, licenses and permits page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Apply for a Local Companies (Control) license if the company is not at least 60 percent Caymanian owned and controlled.Trade and Business Licensing BoardOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands, Local Companies (Control) Act, 2025 Revision (opens in a new tab) · as of February 4, 2025
- Where the business is regulated, such as financial services, apply to the sector regulator for a license.Cayman Islands Monetary AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, home page, read November 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Apply for work permits for non-Caymanian staff, after advertising each job for 21 days on the jobs portal and in a local newspaper.Workforce Opportunities & Residency CaymanOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands, immigration reform guidebook, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 29, 2026
- To set up in the special economic zone, apply for a trade certificate from the Special Economic Zone Authority.Special Economic Zone AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Cayman Islands, Special Economic Zones Act, 2023 Revision (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2023
- Pay stamp duty when a property transfers, at 7.5 percent, or 10 percent from CI$2 million.Stamp Duty Commissioner7.5 percent; 10 percent from CI$2 millionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Radio Cayman, stamp duty rise on CI$2 million properties, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 5, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with DCI and CBC. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- The Cayman Islands has 75,844 residents, so this guide lists every national body found with evidence dated 2025 or later; it has 12 organizations. Source (opens in a new tab)
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Business licensing department
DCI
Department of Commerce & Investment
Administers trade and business licenses, and the licensing of local companies and special economic zones.
Visit DCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Islands Government, multi-year licenses release, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 28, 2026
Government ministry
MFSC
Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce
Sets policy for financial services and commerce, including reform of business licensing.
Show 4 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Zone licensing authority
SEZ Authority
Special Economic Zone Authority
Oversees special economic zones and processes trade certificates for zone businesses.
Visit SEZ Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Islands, Special Economic Zones Act, 2023 Revision (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2023
- Meet requirements
Company registry
General Registry
Cayman Islands General Registry
Registers companies and keeps the companies register.
Visit General Registry (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Islands General Registry, incorporation page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Work permit and residency agency
WORC
Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman
Processes work permits and residency applications and runs the jobs portal employers must advertise on.
Visit WORC (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Islands, immigration reform guidebook, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 29, 2026
- Get advice
Small business development agency
CICBD
Cayman Islands Centre For Business Development
Coaches and trains micro and small business owners at each stage of a business.
Visit CICBD (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Islands Centre For Business Development, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
CBC
Customs and Border Control
Takes export entries, enforces import and export rules, and handles duty drawback.
Visit CBC (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs and Border Control, exports page, read November 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Financial services association
Cayman Finance
Promotes the financial services industry abroad and speaks for its member companies.
Visit Cayman Finance (opens in a new tab)Source: Cayman Finance, organization page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Chamber of Commerce
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce
Runs a training calendar and business events, and is the business community body the Department of Commerce and Investment points to.
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The Cayman Islands dollar is pegged to the United States dollar under a currency board, and United States dollar deposits are about 65 percent of liquidity.
What to do: Confirm with your bank which currency you will invoice and settle in before you set prices.
Source: Economics and Statistics Office, annual economic report, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 1, 2025
Local ownership rule
A local company needs 60 percent Caymanian ownership and control or a license, and an Act letting Cabinet pause new licenses was enacted in October 2026, not yet in force.
What to do: Ask the Department of Commerce and Investment whether your project needs a Local Companies (Control) license before you commit capital.
Sources: Cayman Islands Government, local companies control amendment Act, October 2026 (opens in a new tab); Cayman Islands, Local Companies (Control) Act, 2025 Revision (opens in a new tab) · as of October 28, 2026
Work permit rules
Since May 1, 2026, permits need 21 days of advertising, holders cannot change employer for two years, and a first dependant needs CI$5,000 monthly income.
What to do: Check current requirements with WORC before you staff a project.
Source: Cayman Islands, immigration reform guidebook, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 29, 2026
License renewal delays
The Department of Commerce and Investment reported delays in trade and business license renewals on October 30, 2026 and runs a backlog reduction effort.
What to do: File renewals at least three months before expiry, with pension and health evidence where it applies.
Source: Cayman Islands Government, license renewal delays notice, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more
Property stamp duty
Stamp duty on property transfers of CI$2 million or more rose from 7.5 percent to 10 percent from January 1, 2026.
What to do: Confirm the duty on your purchase with the Lands and Survey Department before you sign.
Sources: Radio Cayman, stamp duty rise on CI$2 million properties, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Cayman Islands Government, stamp duty regulations release, February 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 1, 2026
Plant protection rules
The Plant Protection Act, 2023 came into force on November 1, 2026, and import permits for regulated articles such as used equipment and untreated wood start on January 1, 2027.
What to do: Check the Department of Agriculture's list of regulated articles before you import used equipment or untreated wood.
Sources: Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Act briefings, October 2026 (opens in a new tab); Cayman Islands Government, Plant Protection Act commencement order, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the Cayman Islands with other countriesSet the Cayman Islands beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Cayman Islands is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.