Immigration (Transition)(Amendment) Act, 2021: What and who this affects

The agency involved in all applications listed below is WORC.

  • People applying for work permit grants (WP) or renewing work permits, this includes temporary work permits (TWP) new applications and renewals
  • Amendments to a work permit to add dependents
  • Certificate for Specialist Caregivers
  • Permanent Residence (applicants must have been legally and ordinarily resident in the Islands for at least eight years)
  • Residence certificates for persons of independent means
  • Surviving or former spouses, civil partners and adult dependents of holders of residency certificates for persons of independent means or holders of certificates of permanent residence for persons of independent means, who are applying for such certificates in their own right
  • People applying for certificates of direct investment
  • Surviving/former spouse or civil partner of a certificate of direct investment holder applying for such a certificate in their own right
  • Holders of residency certificates (Substantial Business Presence)
  • Spouses, civil partners and dependents of people holding residency certificates for persons of independent means and certificates of Direct Investment
  • People exempted from the gainful occupation requirements of non-Caymanians

Note: the following immigration categories are unaffected by the new legislation:

  • People applying for the Right to Work (RERC) as the spouse of a Caymanian
  • Surviving spouse of a Caymanian or a Permanent Resident (PR) holder
  • People applying for variations of existing Permanent Resident Applications ( such as change in occupation or adding dependents)
  • Non-Caymanian civil servants

These changes mean that temporary work permit applicants must submit an additional form along with the other required documents, although previously no medical form was required.

Approved vaccinations are AstraZeneca, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.

40 day grace period

Those applying for work permits who are off-island and for some reason unable to access a COVID-19 vaccination can submit, along with their application, a declaration of their intent to complete an approved vaccine course within 40 days of arrival on-island. Failure to provide WORC with a vaccination certificate confirming that the applicant has completed the full course will result in revocation of the approved application.

Individuals who are already on-island when submitting their application may likewise declare their intent to complete an approved vaccine course and provide a vaccination certificate to within 40 days of approval. Failure to provide WORC with this will result in revocation of any grant and having to leave the Islands.


Exemption

Anyone seeking exemption on medical grounds must obtain a letter/certificate from a physician in the Cayman Islands if applying locally or from a physician from the country of origin if applying overseas. This document must be sent to the Health Services Authority for review and approval by the Medical Officer of Health, after which it should be submitted along with the application.

If a vaccination certificate, declaration, or medical exemption is not included at the time of the application submission, this may cause a deferral or delay in processing. The declaration form can be found on the WORC website.

To facilitate COVID-19 social distancing protocols, WORC encourages customers with queries to email: WORC@gov.ky or call 1-345-945-9672 or toll free 1 (800) 534 9672

Source: GIS