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The Application Process

Your guide to setting up a Cayman Islands company of your own.

Moving to the Cayman Islands HERO Image

How it Works

CEC's expedited business licensing regime can have companies fully established within 4–6 weeks.

Cayman Enterprise City offers renewable five-year work/residency visas for staff which can be processed in as little as five days. A minimum capital investment is not required and permits, visas, trade certificates, and turn-key office solutions are conveniently bundled into streamlined serviced packages.  

As soon as your application is approved, you will become the owner and operator of your own Special Economic Zone Company (SEZC).

After your business has established a physical presence, our team remains in a supportive role and is in constant contact to help companies thrive. Packages are fully scalable, which means staff and office space can be added at any time without limitations or penalty fees.

What we'll need to know to get started:

  • Your company’s intended activities, so we can assess whether the business qualifies for licensing under the Special Economic Zones Act.
  • How many team members you expect to have working from your Cayman Islands office.
  • Your company's technology requirements.

Get Started

From Application to Operation in Five Steps

1. Evaluate Fit

At this initial stage, you will be introduced to a Global Mobility Manager who will discuss the benefits of establishing a genuine physical presence and outline the application process. Your CEC contact will help to answer any questions you may have and evaluate whether your business is eligible to operate within Cayman's Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Once you have decided to proceed, your lead contact will outline the next steps in detail and introduce you to local service providers such as law firms, banks, real estate agents, and other key business contacts to help you to establish your SEZ business.

At this step, you may also wish to visit Cayman, meet with CEC community members who have gone through the process, tour our facilities, learn about our outreach and workforce development initiatives, and review your options for long-term growth.

2. Incorporate your Cayman Company

This is typically done through a local attorney or corporate services provider, which you may or may not already have. We work with all local firms and are pleased to make introductions as needed. Once you have set up your Cayman Islands exempted entity you will be able to apply for a Zone Trade Certificate (ZTC), which will allow your entity to conduct business in the Cayman Islands, and apply for Zone Employment Certificates (ZECs), which will allow you and your team members to work in the Cayman Islands.

3. Approve your Licence Agreement

When details of your Special Economic Zone (SEZ) business have been confirmed, including company name, registered office address, chosen workspace solution, the term of your agreement, and your chosen start date, our team will create an account for you in CEC’s online portal. You can then review and approve your CEC Licence Agreement and receive your onboarding guide.  

4. Apply for Zone Trade & Employment Certificates

To operate your CEC business, you will need to apply for a Zone Trade Certificate (ZTC) for your Special Economic Zone (SEZ) company. The CEC Global Mobility team will assist you with the preparation of your application documents, with gathering all required due diligence documentation, and will review and file your application on your behalf. Once your ZTC application has been submitted to the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) it will take just under two weeks for your application to be processed. 

5. Move In. Plug In. Join the Community.

Throughout the application process, the CEC team will be in touch to get your chosen workspace solution ready for you. As soon as your ZTC and ZEC(s) are approved, you will be ready to move in and join the CEC community. Our serviced offices are fully furnished and thoughtfully designed so that you can plug in and begin working as soon as you arrive. Each new community member is welcomed into the zone by way of an onboarding session. You’ll meet the team, get acquainted with the campus, and receive access to our community website, which offers opportunities to connect with the wider CEC community and provides helpful resources.

Get Started

Credibility by Design
What does SEZC mean?

Get Started

Each company registered in Cayman Enterprise City’s special economic zone is required to include this designation, as in for example “ABC Trading SEZC”. The letters ‘SEZC’ in your company’s name designate it as a ‘Special Economic Zone Company’.

The SEZC designation confirms that your company has met the stringent licensing and due diligence screening requirements of the Special Economic Zones Act, maintains a genuine physical presence in the Cayman Islands within CEC’s award winning, globally recognised special economic zone, and is subject to ongoing regulatory oversight by the Cayman Islands Government’s Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA).


What Does SEZC Mean HERO Option

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