Cayman Duty and Customs considerations, what to bring

You need to consider what to bring and what not to bring, particularly if you do not know in what type of house or apartment you will be living. Below are some basic guidelines to assist you in making these decisions.

Clothing
The perception is that there are not a lot of shopping options on Grand Cayman. The reality is there is a reasonable selection of stores but certainly not as many as in any large city and the prices will likely be a more than you are used to. Your best bet is to bring a lot of clothes and shoes with you. Wool and cashmere can be too much when the temperature is 80 degrees, however most places of business do get chilly from air conditioning so a light sweater is useful. The weather in Cayman does not change much throughout the four seasons; the winters are warm with low humidity and the summers are hot with frequent tropical downpours. Generally the dress code is tidy and casual but there are quite a few black-tie functions, mostly for fundraising purposes, at which men will want to wear a dinner jacket and women will want a long cocktail or evening dress. There are several really nice boutiques on-Island where you can find designer formal wear and occasionally bridal wear.

Computers
Laptops are dutiable if they are considered recently purchased. However, if you travel with one as part of your hand luggage, you will most likely not be asked for a proof of purchase receipt on arrival into Cayman. Many people ship their computers but buy a monitor once they reach Cayman. There are several very good office supply stores in Grand Cayman. See the Running a Business chapter for more information.

Electrical Appliances
Cayman runs on the same electricity system as the US and Canada (110/115v), but uses a 3-pin plug. However, the US 2-pin plug will work in Cayman (see example in the Settling In chapter). If your appliances run on 220v and they do not have dual capability, they will not work in Cayman and you should buy what you need once you get here. Some small electronic items (mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras) can be run and charged using a travel adapter.

Entertainment Systems
You will probably pay duty if you import an entertainment system, especially if it looks new, so have your receipts on hand. You can get most components for an entertainment system on Island. The prices may be higher than some countries (the US for example), but not more than you would pay by buying the equipment there and then paying duty on it here.

Importing Food
Small quantities of meat and seafood can be imported into the Cayman Islands as long as it is for personal consumption only. Seafood from all countries may be imported but anything in excess of 20lbs must be accompanied with a Certificate of Wholesomeness, which can only be obtained by a prior application for an Import Permit from the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture. Small quantities of meats (up to 25lbs) can be brought in by passengers in their luggage as long as the meat is from an approved country (see below) and is pre-wrapped under a brand name and has the Official Seal of Inspection of the country’s Meat Inspection Authority. Meats allowed: 1) Only swine products are allowed from the UK and Ireland 2) All types of approved meats are allowed from the USA, Canada, CARICOM States, Australia and New Zealand.

No fruit or vegetables can be imported into the Cayman Islands. No plants, fresh cut flowers or plant cuttings can be brought in unless a proper import permit has been obtained prior to shipping.

Furniture & Appliances
Although most rented condos and homes have all the furnishings, appliances and accessories needed to make a comfortable new ‘nest’, it is always nice to surround yourself with accessories from home. Our advice is to bring pictures, pillows and mementos that are relatively small but will help make your new home feel more like your own. DO NOT BRING FURNITURE! Almost without exception, every rental property comes furnished. If you are buying, most houses and apartments come fully furnished unless they have newly been built. There are some very good furniture stores if you want to buy furniture once you have moved to Cayman.

Guns
The Cayman Islands has very strict laws on the possession of guns and if you are found to possess a gun that does not have a Firearms Permit specifically authorised by the Commissioner of Police, then it is illegal and there is a minimum of 10 years imprisonment attached with its discovery. It is possible however, to import a gun (or your gun collection in some cases) but you need to write to the Commissioner of Police, PO Box 909, Grand Cayman KY1-1103, stating what calibre of weapon it is, what purpose you would import it for and how you would store it.

Please note that any gun with a rim over .22 will almost certainly not be given a licence. Every gun must be stored in a locked box and the Royal Cayman Islands Police will check to ensure that this is enforced. There is an active gun club on the Island. You can contact Stuart Bostock at The Security Centre on (345) 949 0004 for more information.

Items with High Customs Duty
Alcohol - Duty starts at CI$11.55 per litre of spirits and is CI$3.30 per litre of wine. Tobacco Products - Duty on cigarettes is CI$21 per carton and 102% duty on cigars. Motor vehicles - Duty ranges from 29.5% to 42% depending on the value of the vehicle, plus shipping and insurance. A recent exception is legislation (currently in the works) to significantly reduce the duty on environmentally responsible hybrid and 100% electric cars.

Kitchen Appliances
Most rental apartments come with major appliances such as a washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator and stove. Do not bring these with you! A fully furnished apartment should also come with a toaster, kettle and coffee maker but if they don’t then the local home centres stock these at reasonable prices.

Lamps & Light Fixtures
We don’t recommend you bring lamps or shades as they are bulky and easily broken in transit and there are a number of very good places to buy lamps in Cayman. Most of the large home stores such as A.L. Thompsons and Kirk Home Centre, as well as lighting specialty stores, carry a good selection of lamps and light fixtures. Supermarkets will also carry a wide variety of light bulbs. Regular domestic GLS light bulb sales are not restricted as they are in the UK.

Medication
Most medicines are available on Grand Cayman, although they may be sold under another brand name. Ask your general practitioner for the generic names of drugs. There are many well qualified pharmacists who can help you sort out any differences (see the Health Chapter for a list of pharmacies). You may also find that many prescriptions are less expensive here than in many other countries.

Pets
The process of importing pets to Cayman is complicated, but not impossible. All dogs and cats must first have an Import Permit issued by the Department of Agriculture (DOA). See the Pets chapter for more information on the process of importing your animals.

TV
Cayman uses the American NTSC system. The British PAL system will not work here. However, you can buy multi-region DVD players on the Island which will play European DVDs. Most apartments or homes will come with a television and either cable or satellite feed. The cable system (WestStar) features mostly US based programming but includes a few other international channels. A limited number of HDTV channels are available through the cable system and the satellite companies that offer service on the Island.

Wine
The Cayman Islands Customs Law states that an individual can import a maximum of 4 litres of wine at any one time. Therefore, if you want to import your wine collection from home it is possible but you must bring it in through a company that has a liquor licence. The good news is that regardless of the value of your wine on the open market, the Cayman Islands government charges a consistent CI$3.30 duty on each litre of wine. Therefore Cayman has some of the best cellared wine collections in the world. One company which has imported numerous wine collections for residents is Vino Veritas (Tel: (345) 526 8466 or email: info@vino.ky). They can organise a wine shipment from anywhere in the world to Grand Cayman and they ensure that your wine is shipped in a safe climate controlled manner. They can also store your wine in Cayman until you are ready to move it to your home, or drink it.