IT’S OFFICIAL, CAYMAN’S BORDERS ARE OPEN … Terms and conditions apply!

The day has finally arrived, after almost 8 months, Cayman’s borders officially reopened today, Thursday 1st October 2020.

In order to ensure that the islands open up in a safe and sustainable fashion, the Cayman Islands Government have put in place a clear set of control measures for those wishing to travel to the islands. These include a series of COVID-19 tests, a period of quarantine and in some cases the use of geofencing devices.

As with virtually every measure that the Cayman Islands Government has taken since mid-March, this considered and controlled re-opening only serves to reinforce confidence in the jurisdiction and make it more attractive to individuals located in regions that are still trying to get to grips with the spread of the virus.

Here is everything you need to know: (Source: Cayman Compass; https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/09/30/govt-expands-categories-of-visitors-ahead-of-reopening/)

• Government has widened its safety bubble to allow additional categories of people to enter Cayman. Previously only Caymanians, permanent residents, work-permit holders and their families were allowed to enter Cayman under the phased reopening. Now, residential property owners, those on student visas and relatives of residents (spouses, fiances, parents, grandparents, siblings) will be allowed entry.
• Until borders are fully opened, only private charters and repatriation flights operated by Cayman Airways and British Airways are allowed to enter the Cayman Islands. CAL currently provides repatriation service to Miami, Kingston, Jamaica and Le Ceiba, Honduras, while British Airways continues to operate between Grand Cayman and London, Heathrow every two weeks.
• Those wishing to travel must register their inbound travel request with Travel Time and complete the online form. Anyone with questions or concerns about inbound travel should email Travel Time at traveltime@gov.ky or call 649-6913 between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
• All travellers (ages 5 and over) will be tested at the airport for COVID-19.
• At this point, inbound travellers must quarantine for approximately two weeks. There are two quarantine options: 1) You can quarantine at a residence. Travellers wishing to quarantine at a residence must meet government-established criteria, agree to wear a geofencing device and the residence in question must be pre-approved by Public Health. Anyone else residing in the household would also be subject to the same quarantine requirements. During October, travellers approved to quarantine at residences will not be charged a fee for the iMSafe electronic monitoring wristband or for the PCR tests which they undergo, the Tourism Ministry said.
• Those not approved or who do not wish to isolate at a residence will be required to quarantine either at a government or privately run facility at their own expense.In both cases, the quarantine period is 14 days followed by a PCR test on the 15th day. A negative result signed off by the Medical Officer of Health is required for the quarantine period to end.

Any member of the household who does not comply with the quarantine-at-residence conditions could be in breach of the Prevention, Control and Suppression of Covid-19 (Partial Lifting of Restrictions) (No.4) (Amendment) Regulations. Fines for breaches may soon increase.

Travellers will be required to state which quarantine option they wish to use on the Travel Time application. Permission to quarantine at a residence is not guaranteed.

• While a household is in quarantine, food, medication and essential supplies should be ordered from suppliers who accept contactless payment and offer delivery service. Delivery personnel, relatives and friends are not allowed to enter the home or have physical contact with the occupants while they are in quarantine.
• All inbound travellers will be required to attest to a statement which confirms that they possess health insurance which includes COVID-19 coverage, or that they understand the financial risks they are taking and that they have independent means to cover their medical costs.

The re-opening will have come as welcome news for many would-be travelers, including an increasing audience of high-net-worth individuals who have been waiting eagerly to visit the islands with a view to relocating on a longer-term basis.

The subject of relocating to the Cayman Islands has featured heavily in recent months, as a result of the Islands’ successful testing and control process measures and the resulting low infection rate.  Several of the Cayman Islands’ luxury real estate brands have reported seeing an increase in demand from prospective investors hoping to make the most of the available residency by investment pathways, particularly as temperatures drop and we head into cold & flu season.

IRG and International Relocation Consultants (IRC), our white-glove relocation company, have already initiated several projects to assist clients with their relocation processes.

If you are interested in finding out more about relocating to Cayman or the residency by investment opportunities that are available, contact us today:

info@irg.ky or +1(345)926-1053