About - Moving to Cayman

Making the Move

There is a certain amount of adjustment to be made with any move to a new country and Cayman is no different in this respect. We are confident however that you will find many friendly and helpful people to ease any initial stress. One of the biggest concerns in moving to the Cayman Islands is the cost of setting up a home. Since all consumer goods are imported, and subject to duty, costs can be high. Landlords normally require two months rent up front, there are utility deposits and the purchase of a car all to be incurred in the first few weeks. Together these and other initial costs can represent a significant cash drain. We would suggest that you obtain bank and insurance references in advance of your arrival. These can help you in organising your affairs in Cayman. We also recommend bringing enough savings with you to cover your accommodation deposit, first month's rent, utility deposits, and back-up money for unforeseen problems.

Nearly all accommodation comes fully furnished, and there is rarely any need to bring items of furniture with you. In fact, for couples and those arriving on their own, you should be able to bring everything you need with you in your suitcases.

What to bring

Casual Clothing: T-shirts, shorts, loose footwear, jeans, rainproof jacket, hats (to protect your head from the sun).

Work Clothing: Suit jackets are normally not worn in any office. The normal work attire is shirt, tie (although not always required), trousers and leather shoes for men, and blouse/ shirt, trousers/ skirt/ dress and shoes for women. Sandals are not considered appropriate in the office. Most accommodation will come with a washer and dryer, and there are numerous dry cleaning stores around the island.

Electrical Goods: Cayman runs on the same electricity system as the US and Canada - 110/115v with a 2-pin plug. If your appliances run on 220v and do not have a conversion switch to change over, you should buy what you need once you get here. Generally speaking, appliances that produce heat (hairdryers, toasters, etc) will not work. Ipods, phone chargers, and some personal stereos should work as long as you bring a plug adapter. If you are planning to bring electrical items, and will require an adapter, purchase it before you arrive as these can be hard to find on island.

Documentation: Bring your drivers license, a photocopy of your passport (in case you lose it), bank reference letters, copies of your bank statements for six months, car insurance "no claims" certificates, original copies of your academic qualifications, evidence of any professional memberships, and copies of your employment contract and immigration documentation.

What not to bring

Everything else, unless you simply cannot live without certain personal items such as photos, books, CDs, and DVDs etc.

It is best to leave the rest of your belongings at home, in storage. Ensure a friend or family member can gain access to them should you decide to stay in Cayman and wish to move more of your belongings over. You can organise shipment locally in Cayman.

Bringing Pets with you

The bureaucracy of bringing a pet with you to the Cayman Islands can be daunting, but it is relatively straightforward once you strictly follow the guidelines of the Department of Agriculture.

Click here to download the guidelines and forms

There is no quarantine in Cayman. Instead, you generally have to wait 6 months to bring your pet on-island, but this has been waived for many rabies-free countries.

One of the most difficult and expensive parts of moving your pet is the organisation of their transportation. Our staff can provide you with first-hand advice on how best to organise such things.

Tips and Advice

• Your ATM card from home should work in Cayman, but bring some US$ cash just in case. US dollars are accepted throughout the island. Do not bring UK pounds/ Sterling, as you will have to exchange these in the bank, incurring exchange rate charges. Your Credit Card (Visa/ Mastercard/ Amex) should also work in Cayman, but check with your bank in advance.


• If you have a GSM 900/1800 phone, it should work in Cayman, but remember most phone providers block access for other networks on their phones. You can research this on the internet to obtain unblock codes, or you can most likely have it unblocked for CI$25 once you arrive here. If not, locally purchased mobile phones are very good value. It is recommend that you do not use your SIM card from home whilst in the Cayman Islands as the roaming charges will be very expensive. If you are coming to Cayman to work for Baraud International, we will provide you with a free mobile phone upon your arrival.


• Before you depart, confirm whether you will need a travel visa for the UK or USA, as these are the most likely locations that you will have to travel to in order to get to Cayman. If you are travelling from the Philippines, for example, you will need to obtain an original copy of your work permit approval letter before you can depart.


• You should also thoroughly research the tax implications of moving to Cayman. Most nationalities can avail of a tax free salary in Cayman without incurring a tax bill back home, but you should confirm this with your local tax office before you accept a position. Canadian citizens, for example, must commit to disassociate themselves financially from Canada for two years, otherwise they will incur tax on their Cayman income.


• Ensure you have adequate medical cover for your first 30-60 days in Cayman. Although your employer is obliged to organise medical cover for you (although they are not obliged to pay for it), it can take a number of weeks to organise. You should also take out travel insurance, ideally for a year to cover your possible return home and any other trips you may take from Cayman. It is also generally better value to take out a year's travel insurance rather than for each trip.


• If you are joining Baraud International, please enquire as to the availability of our temporary accommodation. We can provide you with subsidised accommodation, depending on availability, for 2-4 weeks to allow you sufficient time to secure your own permanent accommodation on-island. In general you should not try to secure permanent accommodation before you arrive. Organise very short- term accommodation only, as it is best to familiarise yourself with the island before deciding on where you wish to live. You will most likely be asked to commit to a one year lease, and you will have better access to property lettings once you are here, as most are only advertised locally.


• Upon arrival, you should immediately exchange your original driver's license for a local one. This will provide you with "local" identification which will prove invaluable when opening bank accounts, using your Debit and Credit cards, and availing of discounts for "locals".
  

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