The personal and household effects of a person entering to take up employment or residency for a period in excess of 12 months are admitted duty free. (Although they must be imported within six months of arrival otherwise duty will be applied.) These include a reasonable quantity of wearing apparel and instruments and tools of trade. Household effects must have been in use and ownership for at least six months. If not, duty can range from 10-25% depending on the commodity. It is advisable to bring with you the receipts for anything bought in the last six months. You must show proof of residency, the work permit stamp in your passport or a valid work permit ID card. Take your passport with you - without a stamp for permanent residence or a one year work permit your household items will not be imported at nil duty value. Please note that motor vehicles are never duty free - see the Transportation chapter.

 Most mail-order items are subject to a 22% duty. All dutiable gifts sent by family and friends which Customs value at over CI$50 will be charged a 22% duty fee. Books, cameras, musical instruments, leather bags and watches are duty free. A complete list of dutiable items can be found on www.caymanislandscustoms.com.

Shipping

Having your personal items shipped to or from the Cayman Islands can be done in a number of different ways, though due to price and size the usual route is by sea. You can arrange the shipping yourself through a shipping company or, in the US/Europe, a customs broker/freight forwarder can arrange export documents and delivery of the cargo to the carrier.

 You can also consolidate your personal items in Miami and have them shipped down later. The following are shipping companies or freight forwarders based in Miami who are in the business of helping people ship their goods to Cayman:

Shipping Companies that Ship to Cayman

Seaboard Marine (Full containers or less than container load (LCL) from North America, Canada, Jamaica or Panama to Cayman)

8001 NW 79 Avenue, Miami, FL 33166

Tel: (305) 863 4741, 4775 or 4731 or Fax: (305) 863 4788

Email: info@seaboardcayman.com

www.seaboardmarine.com

Thompson Line (Full containers or LCL from North America to Cayman)

9505 NW 108th Ave, Medley, FL 33178

Tel: (305) 805 6620 Fax: (305) 913 4977/78 or (345) 949 8044

Miami Based Freight Forwarders

Best Way Island Export

10943 NW 122^nd St, Medley FL 33178

Tel: (305) 393 2127 or (305) 884 8600

Email: Andrea@miraclebrokers.com

Phone: (305) 513-0156

Email: cargo@deluxefreight.com

Xpress Freight Services Inc

6306 Nth West 99 Ave, Miami, FL 33178

Tel: (305) 591 0033 Fax: (305) 591 0037

Email: richard@xpressfreight.us

Once your goods have been shipped we recommend you appoint a customs broker to clear your goods on your behalf and deliver them to your house upon arrival in the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Based Movers & Custom Brokers

Cayman Islands Customs Agency (CICA)

Tel: (345) 949 2350 Fax: (345) 949 5240

Email: cica@cicustomsagency.ky

Miracle Brokers

Tel: (345) 949 5989 Fax: (345) 949 0438

Email: miracle@candw.ky

Sta-Mar Enterprises Ltd.

Tel: (345) 949 2399 Fax: (345) 949 7003 

Email: stamar@candw.ky  

Excess Baggage, Air Cargo & Freight Consolidating

If you are only bringing your personal effects with you, other options worth considering are using your airline's excess baggage allowance or Cayman Airways Cargo (Tel: (345) 743 8547).

 Check with your airline to ascertain their excess baggage allowances. For people moving from Europe www.excess-baggage.com/baggage-shipping.php is worth checking out. Cayman Airways allows each passenger to check up to eight pieces. Two pieces are the regular allowance. Additional pieces within the dimension and weight allowances of 62 linear inches and up to 55lbs are US$100 each. Pieces over 70lbs are charged US$175 each. Please note that any bag in excess of 80 linear inches and over 99lbs in weight must be sent by air cargo. Consult your air carrier's website to clarify what their excess bag allowances are prior to your departure.

    Cayman Airways Cargo shipment services can prove to be a very cost-effective shipping option if you are moving from the US. You need to deliver the pieces, packed for shipping, to the cargo area of the airport. Once they are delivered in Cayman, you will need to either arrange collection yourself or use a customs broker. This is also a very good option to keep in mind when you go on shopping trips to the US.

Cayman Airways Cargo Export Office

6103-6105 NW 72 Avenue, Miami, FL 33166

Tel: (305) 526 3190 Fax: (305) 871 7971

Customs Clearance

If you have the time then clearing your household effects through Customs is now relatively easy but we highly recommend that you pay a customs broker to do it for you as they are very reasonably priced and they know the process inside out. The cost is usually CI$75-$100. However, if you would like to handle the process yourself here is what you need to do:

> On arrival of your shipment, collect your bill of lading from the shipping company.

> For air cargo take all paperwork to the Customs Department (Tel: (345) 949 4579) on Owen Roberts Drive near the airport. For ocean cargo take all your paperwork to the Customs Department (Tel: (345) 914 3778) on Portland Road in the Industrial Park. The paperwork must include insurance documents, export documents, a customs import entry form, a bill of lading, an itemised list of contents and value, and a copy of your passport showing your work permit stamp.

> Arrange for an inspection time for a Customs officer to inspect your items. That's when you will need to show proof of purchase of your goods.

> Go to the Port Authority (Tel: (345) 949 2055) on Portland Road in the Industrial Park to get port clearance of your goods and pay any port fees (for a 20ft container the fee is CI$384; for a 40ft container CI$768 and for less than container load (LCL) you'll have to ask.

> Pick up your goods from the warehouse. Hours: 8am to 5pm. 

Please note that on April 30th 2010 the Cayman Island's Port Authority increased their cargo dues and handling fees for less than container load (LCL) shipments. They also increased their crane fees which means that the shipping companies now charge an additional CI$100 for a 20ft container and CI$200 for a 40ft container.