Guide: Relocating to Grand Cayman
07 Nov 2018
07 Nov 2018
You have decided to make the big move to relocate to the Cayman Islands with your family. Moving abroad can be challenging but it is also a new and exciting venture. It’s essential to prepare for your move before taking a flight to your new island home. Here are five tips for relocating to Grand Cayman with your family.
Most people who first move to the island initially choose to rent. Renting gives you the opportunity to check out the best areas to live on Grand Cayman based on the location of your place of employment and proximity to schools (if you have children). If you decide to immediately purchase a home, you can do so as there are no restrictions on foreign property ownership in the Cayman Islands and there is an abundance of in-land and waterfront homes for sale. This is appealing to expatriates who may plan to live on Grand Cayman for a limited period of time or who intend on making the islands their long-term home. International buyers are eligible for residency if real estate is purchased at a value of US$1.25 million or more. The real estate experts at Provenance Properties Cayman Islands can not only present to you a wide range of luxury properties, but can also introduce you to professional legal and immigration advisors who can guide you through the process of buying Grand Cayman condos, townhouses or homes for residency purposes.
There are several private schools on Grand Cayman that offer American or British curricula with options from kindergarten to grade 13. It is imperative to not only choose the right school for your children but to also get them registered as soon as possible, as there are waiting lists at most private schools. Cayman International School (CIS), located in the Town Centre of Camana Bay, is managed and governed by International Schools Services.
Healthcare is a priority wherever you move. Employers in the Cayman Islands are required by law to provide each employee with basic health insurance and employees may choose to include their spouse and/or dependent(s). With three full-service hospitals on Grand Cayman and healthcare provided by more than 1,000 healthcare professionals you are sure to find a family doctor that is right for you. The town of Camana Bay is home to several healthcare providers, including TrinCay Medical Centre & Urgent Care, a state-of-the-art clinic with a team of internationally outstanding physicians; Cayman Dental and Cayman Orthodontics for your biannual dental consultations and cleaning; and VisionWear Cayman for your annual vision check-up.
Life in the Cayman Islands should be easy breezy to match the tropical setting, and so should banking. The Cayman Islands is a leading offshore financial centre with approximately 600 banks and trust companies registered here. Banking services include options to set up a new account, transferring offshore funds to a Cayman Islands account (there are no foreign exchange controls), personal lending, business loans, mortgages and credit application. Two popular commercial banks, Cayman National Bank and Scotiabank, are located in Camana Bay.
While the island is small, owning a car is essential to get to and from work, transport children to school, do your weekend shopping or take a Sunday drive to Rum Point. There are a number of new and used car dealerships selling a range of car brands including American, European and Japanese manufacturers. Electric cars have recently become popular with residents due to being environmentally friendly. The Residences at Seafire is currently the only residential building on Grand Cayman that has electric car charging stations in its underground parking garage and Camana Bay has several electric car charging stations for use while in the town, as well as an Audi showroom to browse the latest models.
If you have any other questions about living in the Cayman Islands or want help navigating the Cayman Islands realty scene, contact the sales specialists at Provenance Properties Cayman Islands.
