Cayman Islands

U.S. Embassy Kingston

142 Old Hope Road
Kingston 6
Jamaica, West Indies
Telephone: +(876) 702-6000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(876) 702-6000
Fax: +(876) 702-6018
KingstonACS@state.gov

Consulates

Physical Address:

U.S. Consular Agency - Cayman Islands
202B Smith Road Center
150 Smith Road
George Town, Cyman Islands
Telephone: +(345) 945-8173
Fax: +(345) 945-8192
CaymanACS@state.gov

Mailing Address:

U.S. Consular Agency
P.O. Box 12204
George Town, Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands. BWI
KY1-1010
Telephone: +(345) 945-8173
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica: +(876) 702-6000

There is a part-time Consular Agent in the Cayman Islands. For routine assistance please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.

U.S. citizens traveling to the Cayman Islands for work must obtain a work permit from the Department of Immigration of the Cayman Islands, telephone (345) 949-8344. Visit or call the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism offices in Miami at (305) 599-9033, New York (212) 889-9009, Houston (713) 461-1317 or Chicago (630) 705-0650 for the most current visa information. 

Exit Information:

There is a departure tax for travelers age 12 and older, which is included in airfare.

Immunization Requirements: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Information for Travelers to Cayman Islands (U.K.) page for more information.

HIV/AIDS restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of the Cayman Islands.

Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction, and customs information on our websites. 

The Cayman Islands are a safe place with little criminal activity affecting tourists. 

Crime: Crime of opportunity such as pick-pocketing and purse snatchings occasionally occur. Police in the Cayman Islands enforce laws against illegal drugs, guns and ammunition.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime: Report crimes to the local police at 911 (the local equivalent of “911” in the U.S.) and contact the U.S. Embassy at +1-876-702-6000.

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

These are some of the things the Embassy can do for you as a crime victim:

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance. If you are in immediate danger, first contact the local police at 911.

Tourism: The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and the regularity and quality of safety inspections vary widely by industry and attraction.  Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only on Grand Cayman, with limited care available on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. First responders are generally unable to access the smaller islands to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands while you are here. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be deported, arrested, or imprisoned. 

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Common reasons for arrest include:

• Carrying ammunition and firearms into the Cayman Islands. (Even a single bullet inadvertently loose in a carry-on bag can lead to arrest.)
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
• Buying, selling, holding or taking illegal drugs under any circumstances.

Firearms: You are strictly forbidden to import or possess firearms in the Cayman Islands.

• A Conceal Carry Permit, employment by a police agency, or service in U.S. Armed Forces does NOT allow you to bring a firearm or ammunition into the Cayman Islands.
• If you travel with firearms, firearm components & parts and/or ammunition to the Cayman Islands, you will be arrested and referred to the local courts for prosecution which will result in a substantial fine and/or incarceration for an unspecified amount of time.

Customs: Please see the Cayman Islands Customs portal for comprehensive customs information.

Common prohibited items are as follows:

• Importing: Firearms, ammunition, spear guns, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, plants and plant cuttings, raw fruits and vegetables.
• Exporting or transshipping: sea turtle products.

Faith-Based Travelers: See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in the Cayman Islands.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: While in the Cayman Islands, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States.

• The Cayman Islands lack comprehensive disability legislation, and, while many hotels and resorts are well-equipped for disabled guests, other tourist facilities, such as the airport and the cruise ship dock, are much less so.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers: See the State Department’s travel tips for Women Travelers.

Medical Care: The quality of medical care in the Cayman Islands is generally comparable to that available in the United States, but some procedures and cases requiring critical care may require medical evacuation to the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment for health services.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. 

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance (our webpage) to cover medical evacuation.

Carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. 

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. 

Snorkeling/SCUBA Diving: Each year, U.S. citizens drown or suffer cardiac arrest while snorkeling or SCUBA diving in the Cayman Islands. Remember:

Be honest with your instructor or the dive shop if you have a pre-existing medical condition that could be exacerbated when snorkeling or diving; and

Check that a hyperbaric chamber is available for treatment of decompression illness.

Emergency Services: Emergency response services are available in the Cayman Islands.

The following diseases are prevalent: Zika Virus, Chikungunya, Dengue Fever. 

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby, as well as through sexual contact. The CDC has concluded that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects in some fetuses and babies born to infected mothers. Zika outbreaks have been reported on Curacao. For additional information about Zika, including travel advisories, visit the CDC website.

Chikunguya and Dengue are mosquito-borne illnesses that are becoming more frequent in tropical and equatorial climates around the world. Preventing mosquito bites is the most important way to prevent these illnesses. Travelers should carry and use CDC recommended insect repellents.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Road Conditions and Safety: Vehicles in the Cayman Islands travel on the left-hand side of the road.

Traffic Laws: You must obtain a temporary driver’s license at a car rental agency or police station by presenting a valid U.S. driver’s license and paying a small fee.

• Traffic circles (“roundabouts”) are often poorly marked and require traffic to move in a clockwise direction;
• Motorists entering a roundabout must yield to those already in it;
• All passengers are required to wear seat belts; and
• Laws against driving while intoxicated are strictly enforced, with a legal maximum blood alcohol level set at 100 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to a .10 blood/alcohol level in the United States).

See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the Cayman Islands National Roads Authority.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Cayman Islands’ Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the Cayman Islands’ air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.