Visitor's Work Visa

Please submit all required documentation, including the Visitor's Work Visa Online Form (BC5 Form), in English only to imm-vwv@gov.ky 

Visitor’s Work Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Visitor’s Work Visa an applicant must -

• Be employed full time by a company, individual or institution outside the Cayman Islands.
• Be coming to the Islands for up to five (5) calendar days for the purpose of engaging in commercial activity with one (1) or more persons or entities licensed to trade in the Islands under the Trade and Business Licensing Act or any other Act.
• Be proposing to engage in a commercial activity that would otherwise require a work permit.
• Be eligible for the grant of a work permit (in other words, not be barred from the grant of a work permit on the basis of an expired term limit)
• Possess a valid visa for the Cayman Islands if required
• Not be a ‘professional employee’ as defined in the Immigration (Transition) Act (definition below).
• Not have held a Visitor’s Work Visa for the same sponsor or sponsors in the same calendar month.

Professional employee is defined as meaning a person qualified as a lawyer, accountant, medical professional, architect, surveyor, teacher, minister of religion or a person qualified in any other occupation that may be prescribed. Note – no other occupations are currently prescribed.

Application Process

Applications for a Visitor’s Work Visa should be submitted 24 hours prior to an applicant’s arrival (applications pertaining to Entertainers, Performers or Artist must be submitted no less than five (5) days prior to arrival). The submission of an application along with its non-refundable administrative filing fee does not guarantee approval.

In addition to completing the application form, each application must be accompanied by a signed Cover Letter from the sponsor addressed to “The Director, Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control. PO Box 898, Grand Cayman KY1-1103” confirming their sponsorship along with stating the exact work activities that the applicant will be conducting for their sponsor. The application must also be accompanied by a copy of the Bio-data page (picture page) of the applicant’s passport along with a copy of the sponsor’s valid Trade and Business License or Operating License, a copy of the applicant’s travel itinerary (arrival and departure) and if required, a Police Clearance/Record.

Upon submission of an application, a receipt for the payment of the non-refundable administrative filing fee will be issued. If the fee is paid prior to travel, the applicant must present this receipt to the Customs and Border Control Officer upon their arrival to the islands.

The submission of an application does not represent an application made for an immigration facility. The submission of application will serve as an invitation and introduction with regards to a prospective applicant who wishes to utilize the Visitor’s Work Visa facility. The second phase leading to any decisions regarding the grant of this facility will be subsequent to the applicant’s arrival and the applicant would still be required to meet all the necessary requirements of the Customs and Border Control Act, Regulations and/or any other relevant legislation.

If granted, a Visitor’s Work Visa is initially only issued for a period of five (5) calendar days and may not be extended or renewed unless the Director of Customs and Border Control is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances and only then for a further five (5) calendar days after which the holder must leave the Islands (unless authorized to remain under any other section of the relevant Act).

Requests for an extension of a Visitor’s Work Visa must be made in writing to the Director of Customs and Border Control prior to the expiration of the applicant’s first Visitor’s Work Visa and the request must be accompanied by a non-fundable administrative filing fee of CI$100.

Further information pertaining to the requirements and limitations of the Visitor’s Work Visa facility are provided for at section 12 of the Customs and Border Control (Visas, Entry and Landing) Regulations.

Entitlements

An applicant granted a Visitor’s Work Visa is entitled to engage in commercial activity only with their sponsor or sponsors.

The holder of a Visitor’s Work Visa or a prospective employer is not permitted to apply for a work permit whilst the applicant is in the Islands.

Refusal of a Visitor’s Work Visa

An application for a Visitor’s Work Visa may be refused if –

• The applicant is required to have and does not possess a valid entry visa.
• No letter or letters of sponsorship in the required form has or have been received by Customs and Border Control in respect of the applicant.
• The applicant is a prohibited immigrant.
• In the opinion of a Customs and Border Control Officer, the sponsorship of the applicant is not genuine.
• In the opinion of a Customs and Border Control Officer, the applicant’s presence in the Islands is not conducive to the public good.

General inquiries regarding the Visitor’s Work Visa facility can be submitted to imm-vwv@gov.ky.