North and Central America and Caribbean

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation in the Cayman Islands and the local authorities deal with all requests for consular assistance. See  Consular Assistance .
  
  
• Most visits are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance - Statistics.
  
  
• The hurricane season in the Cayman Islands normally runs from June to November. See Natural Disasters - Tropical Cyclones.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
The Cayman Islands have a relatively low crime rate. Nevertheless, take the usual sensible precautions in respect of your personal safety and belongings. Do not leave valuables lying about. Keep them in a hotel or other safety deposit box. See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
The only form of local public transport is minibuses which are safe to use but run only on the main routes. For other journeys, taxis are readily available or you can hire a car. If hiring a vehicle, remember to drive on the left, as in the UK. Observe the speed limits, wear your seat belt at all times and do not drink and drive. See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
All airlines require earlier check-in times for passengers and luggage. Both hold-loaded and carry-on luggage is subject to being hand-searched. You should allow extra time at the airport and check with the individual airline on the recommended check-in time for your flight.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Cayman Islands Country Profile

There are harsh penalties for those caught with drugs of any kind. A number of British nationals have been arrested in the past, attempting to smuggle marijuana on British Airways flights to London. As a consequence, these flights are still being closely monitored by the local customs authorities. Observe the customs regulations on the importation and exportation of agricultural products and the protection of marine and animal life. There are a number of marine and animal specimens that may not be taken from the islands. If in doubt, please check with the customs office prior to the purchase, importation or exportation of such items. For those returning to the UK, please observe the UK Customs rules on the illegal importation of meat and animal products.

See our Your trip page. 

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals do not need a tourist visa to visit the Cayman Islands. If you are not a British national, you may need a visa. For more information, you should visit the website of the UK Border Agency.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter the Cayman islands. Your passport must be valid beyond the period of intended stay in the Cayman Islands. 

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Entry requirements for other nationalities can be found on the Cayman Islands Government website.

Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

There is a relatively new and well-equipped hospital on Grand Cayman in the capital George Town and a smaller facility, Faith Hospital, on Cayman Brac, which can cope with most routine medical and dental problems. Be aware that even the most remedial treatment is expensive and that more serious cases will normally be stabilised in the Territory before being transferred to Miami. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas.

Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
The hurricane season in the Cayman Islands normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation. You can also access the US National Hurricane Centre for updates. See our Tropical Cyclones page. For more information on the British humanitarian response to Hurricane Ivan please check the following website:  British humanitarian response.  

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
The Cayman Islands has experienced a number of earthquakes in recent years. The largest, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale and with an epi centre 20miles south-southeast of the capital George Town, struck the Cayman Islands on 14 December 2004, but caused no serious damage or injuries.

There was an earthquake in Grand Cayman of 5.8 on the Richter Scale on 19 January 2010. The epicentre of the earthquake was 32 miles east south east of Bodden Town, at a depth of 33 kilometres, but caused no damage or injuries.

General - Insurance
There is no National Health Service in the Cayman Islands and even the most remedial medical treatment is expensive. Take out adequate travel and medical insurance before travelling. This must cover air ambulance and third country (USA) medical treatment.  Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Consular Assistance
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory in which there is no formal British Diplomatic or Consular Representation.

The Governor’s Office will assist British nationals in cases of genuine emergency wherever possible, but you should be aware that the full range of Consular Services offered by a Diplomatic or Consular mission cannot be provided.

General - Consular Assistance – Statistics
Most visits are trouble-free. 7 British national required consular assistance in Cayman Islands in the period 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident; 3 deaths; 1 hospitalisation; and 3 arrests, for a variety of offences.

General - Renewing or replacing your Passport
Take particular care to safeguard British passports as these cannot be renewed or replaced in the Cayman Islands. Report the theft or loss of a British passport immediately to the police (from whom a written report must be obtained). In a genuine emergency, the Cayman Islands Passport Office may be able to issue an Emergency Passport.

Persons wishing to apply for a full validity British Citizen passport, including first passport issues, should do so by sending their applications by courier or registered post to the UK Passport Service Centre in Washington D.C. This will be the new passport production centre for the Cayman Islands and the region.

Applications for a full validity British Citizen passport, including first passport issues, should be sent by courier or registered post to the UK Passport Service Centre in Washington D.C. This is the passport production centre for the Cayman Islands and the region.

The UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean

British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008
USA

Further information, guidance and copies of application forms can be obtained online at:  www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk

This change does not affect applications for British Overseas Territories Citizen passports, which will continue to be processed by the Cayman Islands Passport Office as before.

General - Money
All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and local shops. The local currency is the Cayman Islands Dollar (CI$) however the US dollar is widely accepted throughout the islands. The CI$ is fixed to the US dollar at $1.25 US Dollars equals $1.00 Cayman Island Dollar.