VISA & PASSPORTS
VISAS
Visas for Cayman
Nationals of the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and most countries within the British Commonwealth do not require visas to enter the Cayman Islands. Various other countries are also exempted but for example, citizens of Jamaica, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Belarus currently require visas before being admitted into the Islands. Where visas are required they must be sought and obtained prior to travel. In Kingston, Jamaica there is a dedicated Cayman visa office (Tel: (876) 906 7866/5336) and in all other countries you will need to contact the British Embassy or British Consulate nearest you.
Visitor's Permits
Whether or not you require a visa you will still need to be issued with a Visitor's Permit. Persons with no other basis to enter the Cayman Islands and with no right to residence may be admitted as visitors for up to a total of six months, with extensions permissible thereafter, subject to some restrictions.
Visas for the US
If you are looking to travel to the US as a non-American passport holder then please note that as of 1st August 2008 all those on the Visa Waiver Programme (including UK passport holders) must register online at least three days before travel via The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. Once approved, you are allowed to travel to the US for up to two years without re-registering. You must have your flight details and passport at hand when registering your information. The website is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Because the US is so close to the Cayman Islands it is invariably where people are evacuated to during a hurricane or air ambulanced to in a medical emergency. In these instances, when a chartered, non-commercial flight is being used, the Visa Waiver Programme (which England and many European countries benefit from) does not apply. Therefore, we strongly advise you to get a US visa BEFORE you move to the Cayman Islands. Getting one in Cayman is a lengthy process and involves each applicant travelling to Jamaica or the Bahamas to appear at the embassy in person for an interview and to provide biometric data!
For details on this process visit the US Embassy in Jamaica's website http://kingston.usembassy.gov (Tel: (876) 702 6000), and follow the 'non-immigrant visa' instructions or use the services of a specialist such as ConsulTech Ltd.
Other Visas
If you are going on a holiday or a business trip to a country where you do not have a native passport you might need to obtain the relevant visa. Either contact the relevant embassy directly or use the services of a specialist such as ConsulTech Ltd. UK visa forms can be downloaded from www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
ConsulTech Ltd.
2nd Floor Barnett Building, Huldah Avenue
Tel: (345) 945 2223
Email: consult@candw.ky
PASSPORTS
More information on getting a passport for a child born in the Cayman Islands can be found in the Having a Baby section.
American Passports
The US Consular Agency is located at the Cayman Centre, Unit B1, 118 Dorcy Drive, across from the Airport Post Office, (Tel: (345) 945 8173). They are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am-2pm. Leave a message or go in person for inquiries. They assist with passports and any emergency services for US citizens only. They do not deal with visas. Details for registering a child (born to a US citizen) and for getting a passport are below:
Registering a Child Born in the Cayman Islands to a US Citizen Parent
Your child needs to be issued with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to prove that he or she has US citizenship. Your child must accompany you on the day of the visit to the consulate. Please note that all documents requested below must be originals and be valid at the time of the child's birth. Notarised copies are not accepted.
> Evidence of the parent(s) current US citizenship (e.g. a valid US passport).
> Your child's official Cayman Islands birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births.
> Your marriage certificate.
> If either parent was previously married then evidence of marriage dissolution must be presented.
> Proof of the parent(s) physical presence in the US for a total of 5 years, 2 of which must be when you were older than 14 (e.g. official college transcripts or employment records).
> A bank draft drawn on a US bank payable to the US Embassy for US$65.
US Passport Applications for Children Under 16
Both parents must sign the application form (Form DS-11) and appear at the time of application. Both parents must show proof of parentage and proof of identification. If the second parent is absent then a notarised signed and dated consent form (in English) must be submitted. A DS-3053 application form can be downloaded from http://travel.state.gov. A bank draft drawn on a US bank payable to the US Embassy for US$85 must accompany the application along with two identical full face photos.
US Passport Applications Over Age 16
For first time adults applicants, or children over the age of 16, in addition to your application form (Form DS-11), you must submit two identical full face colour photos 2 x 2 inches in size taken within the last 6 months; a bank draft for US$100; your official birth certificate and your most recent passport; a government issued photo ID (driver's licence or passport). For children under 18 who do not have a photo ID the accompanying parent must show proof of the relationship to the applicant (e.g. birth certificate). For regular passport renewals you will need to fill in a DS-82 form and submit a bank draft drawn on a US bank payable to the US Embassy for US$75.
British Passports
Application forms for British passports (renewals or new passports) can be downloaded from www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk along with a list of what needs to be submitted. Applications must be couriered to The UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean, British Embassy, 19 Observatory Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA along with a certified bankers cheque made payable to the British Embassy Government Account. The cost of the passport itself is: Standard passport (32 pages) - £124; Jumbo passport (48 pages) - £150; Child passport - £79. An additional charge of US$21 must be included to cover the cost of your passport being returned to you via UPS. You need to pay the correct fee in US Dollars. The processing time is about 10 working days.
The Cayman Islands Passport Office no longer handles UK passports, however, applications for British Overseas Territories Citizen passports will still be processed by the Cayman Islands Passport Office.
Caymanian Passports
Go to the Passport Office (Tel: (345) 244 2274) which is on the 2nd floor of Sussex House, Elgin Avenue (next to Immigration) on Mondays through Fridays from 9am-3pm. They will advise you on everything you need to do to complete the application.
Canadian Passports
The Canadian Consulate is located at Unit 3F, Landmark Square, 64 Earth Close, off West Bay Road near The Strand Shopping Centre (Tel: (345) 949 9400 or Email: cdncon.cayman@candw.ky). They are open Monday to Thursday 10am-1pm. They offer Consular assistance for Canadians who are travelling, working or living in the Cayman Islands. These services include assistance with obtaining Canadian citizenship for children born in the Cayman Islands to Canadian parents, passports and any emergency services. They also provide application forms for non-Canadians who wish to visit, study or work in Canada (see www.cic.gc.ca).
Registering with the Consulate as a Canadian living abroad
The Consulate offer a registration service (ROCA) for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that they can contact and assist you in an emergency, such as a hurricane, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is protected and used in accordance with the Privacy Act. You can register online at www.travel.gc.ca. There are over 5,000 Canadians living in the Cayman Islands.
Registering a child born in the Cayman Islands to a Canadian parent
The Canadian Consulate can give you an application form for Canadian citizenship or you can download it online (www.cic.gc.ca). They will then help you review your application prior to it being sent to the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, 3 West King's House Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica (Tel: 876-926-1500, Fax: 876-511-3480 or Email: kngtn-cs@international.gc.ca). The processing time is 9-12 days.
Canadian Passport Applications
Application forms can be collected from the Consulate or downloaded online from their website. The Consulate can review your application before you send it to the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Jamaica. The processing time is 15-20 business days.
Passports for Other Nationalities
The Cayman Islands Passport Office (Tel: (345) 244 2274) can advise on other nationalities. Alternatively, go online to find the nearest embassy for your country.
Australian Passports
To obtain an Australian passport for a child born in the Cayman Islands to at least one Australian national the process is long and complicated. The steps are as follows:
1) The first thing you need to do is obtain an Australian Citizenship certificate for your child. Fill out form #118 on http://www.citizenship.gov.au/citizenshipwizard and courier it to the High Commission in Ottawa. The address for the High Commission can be found on http://www.canada.embassy.gov.au/otwa/contact.html. This process should take 10 days.
2) Once you have the Australian Citizenship certificate you need to fill out an Australian Passport Overseas Application. Details on the process can be read on and then the application form can be filled in online and then printed.
NB: a) Make sure the application is printed on A4 sized paper.
b) The Australian passport office will contact you regarding your application prior to processing so make sure all relevant contact information is correct.
3) Once you have filled out the Australian Overseas Passport Application form, and have all the accompanying documents and signed photographs, you need to lodge the application in person. There is no other way to lodge the application other than by the Australian parent delivering it in person!
To do this you must contact the Atlanta Consulate-General and ask for Sally Nicolls. The Atlanta Consulate-General arranges to be in Miami for one day each month where they will receive applications in person. They wait until they have been contacted by enough people then they nominate a day.
Unfortunately it is very difficult, if not impossible to travel with your child to lodge this application. Your baby would need to have a travel document called a Document of Identity. However, US Customs and Border Protection stipulate that to travel through the US you need a visa and to obtain a visa you need a passort!
NB: When looking for information on the internet it will tell you that the High Commission in Ottawa is the main point of contact for Australian nationals overseas. The "local" Australian mission is in Trinidad & Tobago. It is possible to travel to Canada without a visa, and you can probably to Trinidad via Jamaica. However, although it is not obvious, the Australian missions in the US seem to be the most helpful.
You can lodge the application at any of the Australian missions on the following list (check as they are not all missions and always call before you plan to go as some have different requirements - for example Trinidad they asked for extra paperwork).
Finally, please note this is the process for your child's FIRST passport only. Subsequent passport applications can be couriered for renewal and you do not have to appear in person.
