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In this chapter we dicuss how the postal system works in the Cayman Islands: Where you can receive your mail, what the postage rates are, how to properly address mail to Cayman (with the correct postal code etc), and then we list the courier companies and finally how you can import general shopping into Cayman that has been purchased overseas.
POSTAL SERVICES
Local postal services in Cayman are fast and efficient, with turnaround time for local mail usually being 24 hours. There are nine post offices and many blue mailboxes located throughout the Islands for the posting of stamped mail. Most hotels offer postal services for their guests. Post office opening hours at the main branches of Airport (Called APO), Central George Town (GT) and Seven Mile Beach (SMB) are 8.15am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday 9am to 12.30pm. At the post office you can also pay bills such as your electric, garbage and telephone bills. They also offer mobile phone top up services. They currently only accept cheques and cash though at the time of going to press they are working on accepting debit and credit cards.
Please note that there is a ‘printed matter only’ rate which is available for overseas mail. It is much cheaper than regular mail but there are restrictions and they won’t offer it to you unless you request it!
Post goes to the US daily. Post to the UK and Europe only goes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but must be mailed the night before to make that day’s post.
and have it assessed for duty. In the event that a package arrives in the name of a family member such as your child or your spouse, collecting the package is more complicated: For a child you will need to take proof that you are their parent (i.e. your child’s birth certificate that has your name on it); For your spouse you will need to take proof of your marriage (i.e your marriage certificate), your photo ID and their photo ID. When friends or family send you a parcel or parcels for your birthday or Christmas you will be charged 20% duty on dutiable items after the first CI$50 has been allowed regardless of the fact that it is a gift! It is recommended is that they write ‘Gift’ on the package and put the minimum value on the item(s) enclosed to avoid being stung.
Post Office Boxes
Regular mail is not delivered to houses; instead post office boxes are used. The cost for renting a small box inside the post office is CI$30 per year. For outside boxes (which can be accessed at any time) the annual costs are: CI$75 (small), CI$100 (medium) and CI$250 (large). The only locations with post boxes available are Savannah, East End, Bodden Town, North Side and, at the time of going to press, a few are still available at the Airport Post Office. There are no post boxes available at the West Bay, Hell, George Town or Seven Mile Beach post offices but you can request to be put on a waiting list, though the wait time may well be 8 months to 2 years. Although it is not ideal, many people do use their work PO Box number to receive mail if allowed.
Post to Cayman must have a PO Box number and a postal code written on the envelope. If you see a suffix after the PO Box number (SMB, APO, GT, SAV, etc.) this is no longer correct and must now be removed and replaced with a postal code or it will delay the arrival of mail. You can look up the correct postal code at www.caymanpost.gov.ky. Mail arriving in Cayman with only a street address (and no PO Box number) will eventually be returned to the sender.
An example of the correct way to address an envelope is as follows:
Note: Use of the old suffix of B.W.I. on mail to Cayman has been discontinued. Also please do not write George Town on the envelope as there are dozens of George Towns around the world and its use has caused much confusion.
COURIER SERVICES
Overseas
The international courier services in and out of the Island are extremely good. A CI$2 government tax is charged on all packages leaving via courier. Please note that couriers cannot deliver to Post Office boxes.
PURCHASING OVERSEAS
What you will find out fairly quickly is that you cannot buy everything you need in Cayman. Your options vary: you can shop when off-Island; have one of your visitors bring you what you need; or purchase online and get the items shipped to the Island. If you take the latter route you will find that 90% of overseas companies will not ship to the Cayman Islands.
For large bulky items (like furniture), you are better off using a customs broker (who all have addresses in the US) to consolidate the items for you in Miami and then forward them to you in Cayman. They will clear the items through Cayman Customs and call you when they have arrived. Miracle Brokers (Tel: (345) 949 5989), who are known as Best Way Island Exports in Miami, offer such services. See the Shipping page for their address and other customs brokers. For smaller items (clothes, letters, magazines, etc.) US Link (Tel: (345) 949 4361) will give you your own PO Box in Miami and will then forward the items to Cayman, clear them through Customs and call you when they are ready for collection. They are located in the Cayman Center opposite the Airport Post Office.
If you choose to shop when off-Island, you must remember that you are limited to bringing back CI$350 worth of goods duty free. After that you can expect to pay about 20% duty on almost everything you bring in, with the exception of books, leather (excluding footwear and furniture), musical instruments and watches which are duty free. Make sure to keep all your receipts and when you fill out your Cayman Islands Customs form (on arrival by air) you are expected to hand over your receipts at the same time so they can cross reference what you have declared.
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