Working as a freelancer in the Cayman Islands

The only freelances allowed in Cayman are people who work for off-island clients - as investment advisors or in IT, for instance. Everybody else has to be an employee, with a Work Permit that's issued in the name of the employer.

nicowernli wrote:

Hi, I'm a web developer working as a freelancer already with a client in Spain. Do I need a working permit if a want to keep this client and move there?

Probably. I've never been familiar with self-employment and residency. Your best bet would be to visit here ahead of time and talk to one of the Immigration specialists. They're listed in Cayman Resident. I'm sure that our authorities would require you to prove beyond doubt that your income would be enough to support you and any family you might bring. Can you give me a bit more information about your job?

nicowernli wrote:

I'm the manager of the web development team in a Spanish company that provides BI solutions. I'm registered as a freelancer in Spain now, but I'm looking for a place with better taxes laws than Spain. Do you need to know something specific about the job?

No, not really. I just wondered if there might be something I could help you with. But I'm afraid I can',. because I don't keep up with the changes in our Immigration procedures. As I said, you're best to engage one of the experts listed in Cayman Resident. Good luck.

Has anyone solved this problem?

I am planning on moving to the Caymans as lawyer and will get a work permit through the firm employing me. My girlfriend is a freelance designer who has clients around the world (none in the Caymans), we have been told that if she was married to me she could come across on my visa as a dependant. However, she would not be able to work.

Does anyone know if she would need a work permit in those circumstances to do her online work? If she did how is the best way to get it given she is self-employed and will be there anyway?

Regards

***

Have you found out any info on this matter? Also interested to find out!

Hi

So we have been advised that since my partner will be a dependent on my visa she can come over.

She has a company in Australia and all her funds are earnt in Australia. So given her clients aren’t a Caymans and her business isn’t in the Caymans she should be fine.

If anyone has any comments I would be interested.

Willw wrote:

So we have been advised that since my partner will be a dependent on my visa she can come over. If anyone has any comments I would be interested.

I hope you're right about that, Will. As I've said, I don't bother keeping up with all the Immigration rules and changes - and I have always thought (by which I mean, this is what I remember the situation to be) that a "partner" could be a dependent only if he/she were married to the Permit-holder. After all,  girlfriends come and go, and I can scarcely believe that our Immigration Dept's staff would want to keep track of every foreigner's transient domestic companion. It used to be that a non-Caymanian "dependent" lost his or her right to reside here, the same day the divorce came through!

That's the way it used to be, and if it's changed, well and good. You might want to double-check, though, just to be sure. I hope your advice was correct, and I wish you both well.

Hi
Sorry, that is correct as far as I understand it. Yes, we will be married (a little earlier than planned) to ensure that she can get a visa.

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Gordon Barlow wrote:

The only freelances allowed in Cayman are people who work for off-island clients - as investment advisors or in IT, for instance. Everybody else has to be an employee, with a Work Permit that's issued in the name of the employer.

Can you clarify, would this mean that a person living in the Caymans as a dependant (ie a spouse) would be able to do freelance work for off-island clients without requiring to be employed in the Caymans or have a work permit?

Willw wrote:

Gordon Barlow wrote:

The only freelances allowed in Cayman are people who work for off-island clients - as investment advisors or in IT, for instance. Everybody else has to be an employee, with a Work Permit that's issued in the name of the employer.

Can you clarify, would this mean that a person living in the Caymans as a dependent (ie a spouse) would be able to do freelance work for off-island clients without requiring to be employed in the Caymans or have a work permit?

I'm pretty sure that's the case, Will. I've certainly never heard of a dependent being jumped on for doing it.