Full Country Name: Cayman Islands
Capital: George Town
Area: 100 square miles (260km2)
Population: The population is approximately 69,000 inhabitants
Major Industry: Tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

LOCATION
The Cayman Islands lie 480 miles south of Miami, in the western Caribbean.  The three islands are located just 149 miles south of their closest Caribbean neighbor Cuba, and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica.

CLIMATE
The Cayman Islands are in the northeast trade wind belt of the Caribbean and enjoy a stable climate. Cool Cayman winter nights and hot summer days are the year-round norm and influenced only occasionally by winter storms known through the Cayman Island as Nor'westers. Summer temperatures peak in July and August with daytime highs in the upper 80's to low 90's and nighttime lows in the lower 80's. High humidity in the summer months can often make the days and nights feel hotter. A favorite time to visit Cayman is December through end of April. High humidity in the summer months can often make the days and nights feel hotter. A favorite time to visit Cayman is December through the end of April.

GOVERNMENT
The Cayman Islands highest official is the Governor who is the appointed representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and serves a 4 year term. He presides over the Cabinet, the ruling body of the country which consists of three officials and five elected members, the latter being selected from the 15 elected representatives of the Legislative Assembly.

CURRENCY
Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD). With an average income of around $42,000, Caymanians enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. According to the CIA World Fact book, the Cayman Islands GDP per capita is the 12th highest in the world. The islands print their own currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD), which is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of 1 KYD = 1.25 USD.

BANKS
The Cayman Islands are a major world financial center; the island’s economy is one of the strongest in the Caribbean. From the nearly 40 thousand companies registered in the island, 600 of them are banks. Regulation and supervision of the financial services industry is the responsibility of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). The Cayman Islands are the fifth-largest banking center in the world; with $1.5 trillion in banking liabilities. One reason for the Cayman Islands’ success as an offshore financial centre has been the concentration of top-quality service providers.

LANGUAGES
English is the official language.

RELIGION
The islands are almost exclusively Christian, with large number of Presbyterians and Catholics.

SHOPPING
Whether you are looking for dazzling jewelry, beautiful local arts and crafts or designer clothes, you will be pleased with the quality and selection the stores in the Cayman Islands have to offer you. In Grand Cayman you never have to go far to shop. In addition to the shops in town, there are many small malls which have restaurants, liquor and gift shops including the new Grand Harbour Centre. Cayman is a duty-free destination which means many exciting opportunities for you to save on items such as watches, china, crystal, perfumes and fine jewelry. In addition to traditional duty free selections, varied and interesting shopping--from chic European fashions to outstanding local art--delights visitors in specialty stores, hotel boutiques and shopping plazas.
You will be surprised by the selection of interesting, unusual and local items that await your shopping experience. These include shell jewelry, thatch work, wood carvings, Caymanian-style birdhouses, crocheted items, pepper sauces, tropical fruit jams, honey, Caymanite (Cayman's semi-precious stone), and a unique selection of antique and treasure coin jewelry. 

RESTAURANTS
The local restaurant scene is very well developed as Cayman has one of the highest standards of living in the world and high-end restaurants have evolved to satisfy the most demanding of palates. Many restaurants feature live entertainment to create that special ‘evening out’ mood.

ENTERTAINMENT
At night, the Cayman Islands a hot spot. You can catch the big game on a big screen TV, play a game of pool, enjoy one of our signature rum drinks or go on a romantic sunset cruise. You may also visit museums such as Cayman Islands National Museum, Mission House, National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, National Trust, and Cayman Drama Society. Hollywood Theatres at Camana Bay is a state-of-the-art, six-screen, 900-seat cinema located at the entrance to Jasmine Court in Camana Bay. Show times vary daily but usually begin at 12 noon.

HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

International Long Distance: 011 code to dial out. +1 345 to dial in
Fire Department / Police / Ambulance: 911
Local operator assistance: 0
International operator assistance: 010
Directory Assistance: 411
Time: 844

SCHOOLS
The Cayman Islands have excellent schools, from kindergarten through to the university level. It is mandatory for children between the ages of 4-16 to attend school.  The following are some schools that can be found in the Cayman Islands:

Cayman International School - www.caymaninternationalschool.org
Cayman Prep & High School - www.cayprep.edu.ky
Grace Christian Academy - www.gca.ky

IMMIGRATION PROCESS
In order to start the process of elaborating obtaining a residency and Work Permit the following information is necessary:

1. Full name
2. Passport number
3. Nationality
4. Profession
5. Position
6. Brief role description
7. Curriculum vitae
8. Full name of spouse and/or children
9. Passport No. of spouse and/or children
10. Police Clearance Report
11. Visa (depending on country of origin)
12. Full Medical Exam (HIV included)

Time frames and additional documents vary according to:
1. Nationality
2. Type of visa requested
3. Estimated time of residence
4. Job position to be filled in hiring company
5. Type of hiring company or organization This may take between 1 to 3 months after documentation submission, depending on each applicant´s specific qualifications. Please note that business visa is also needed to enter the country. Local consulates can provide the information on requirements. Work permit is usually given for 1 year and should be renewed for extensions. This may vary according to specific qualifications.

This may take between 1 to 3 months after all necessary documentation has been submitted, depending on each applicant´s specific qualifications. Please note that a business visa is also needed to enter the country. Local consulates can provide the information on requirements. A work permit is usually given for 1 year and should be renewed for extensions. This may vary according to specific qualifications.

Important Immigration Links:
· American Consulate email - consagency@candw.ky
· Local Police - www.rcips.ky

Rental costs vary depending on the exact accommodations for each property. For example the proximity to George Town, if it is a beachfront, canal or waterfront property, the condition of the premises and facilities such as the pool, dock, and tennis court.

The rental costs for a reasonable apartment/condo are:
· 1 bed apartment: $1,200- $2000
· 2 bed/2 bath apartment: $1500 - $3,000
· 3 bed apartment: $2,500 - $4,000

HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day: January 1
National Heroes Day: January 26th
Ash Wednesday: March/ April
Good Friday: March/ April
Easter Monday: March/ April
Discovery Day: 3rd Monday in May
Queen's Birthday: June 13
Constitution Day: 1st Monday in July
August Thursday: first Thursday in August
Remembrance Day: November 14
Christmas Day: December 25
Boxing Day: December 26

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Voltage: 110 - 120 volts
Plugs: Standard, american plugs
Television systems: There is one local channel, tv cable service
Transportation: There are three airports in the cayman islands, one in each island
Telecomunications: Telephone, mobile network, radio, and internet are easily found