Cayman Islands · Business & founder
Certificate of Direct Investment
Open
Last verified July 2026
Open. Valid for renewable 25-year periods.
This is the only Cayman route that carries the right to work, and even then only within the business you invested in. For an operating entrepreneur, rather than a passive investor, it is the right instrument. At CI$1m, it also costs half of what the CoPR does.
Qualifying routes
$1.2M
Employment-generating Cayman business
CI$1,000,000 (roughly USD 1.2m) invested in an employment-generating business, where at least 30% of employees are Caymanian. The applicant must hold substantial management control and show a demonstrable business track record.
The facts
- Minimum investment
- $1.2M
- Total landed cost
- CI$1,000,000 investment, plus a CI$1,000 application fee and a CI$20,000 issuance fee, plus annual occupation-based fees and CI$1,000 per dependant each year
- Route type
- Business & founder
- Timeline
- 4–12 months (Requires business plan review)
- Physical presence
- 90 days per calendar year. This is the only Cayman route with a hard presence requirement.
- Family
- SpouseDependent children
- Permanent residency
- Not directly. Time counts as legal residence toward a later application.
- Citizenship
- Not directly. Legal residence can support BOTC naturalisation after 5 years.
- Language test
- Not applicable
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- CI$1,000,000 invested in a Cayman business that creates jobsAt least 30% of employees must be CaymanianSubstantial control over managementA demonstrable track record in business90 days' physical presence each year
What can go wrong
- Work rights are confined to the business invested in. This is not a general work authorisation.
- The 30% Caymanian employee requirement is a real operating constraint in a small, expensive labour market. It should be modelled carefully before committing.
- 90 days' physical presence per year is required. This is the only Cayman route with a hard presence test.
- Requires substantial management control and a demonstrable track record. Passive capital does not qualify.