Expert: Drew Wilmoth - 9/26/2009

Question
Hi there
I am a South African dentist and my wife is an Occupational Therapist. Can you offer any information on what we would need to do to be able to live and work in the Cayman Islands.
Thank you


Answer
A large portion of medical practitioners in Cayman are employed through the government's Health Services Authority. The HSA operates the George Town Hospital as well as district health clinics. There are also a variety of private dental clinics and the private Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital. All of these are places to consider when seeking work.

The Medical and Dental Council of the Health Practice Commission licenses dentists and therapists. Their offices are at the Sigma Building, PO Box 915GT George Town, Cayman Islands Tel: (345)-949-2813 Fax: (345)-946-2845

You should make inquiries with the HSA and the Health Practices Commission for details on credentialing to work in the Cayman Islands.

As with any job in any field, all positions must be advertised locally. Look for advertisements in the local newspapers, particularly in the Friday edition. You will need to secure a job offer and then your prospective employer will walk you through the steps of obtaining a work visa. You cannot seek a work visa on your own.

You and your wife cannot be physically present in the Cayman Islands while a work visa application is processed for whomever is the first to be offered a job. If one of you receives an offer and the salary is sufficient, the other spouse can be listed as a dependent on his/her work visa and you can then move to the island together. The dependent spouse can then seek work on island and does not need to leave while his/her work visa is processed.

The Cayman Islands are not unaffected by the current global economic climate. To the extent possible all businesses are deferring new hires. While there may be vacancies, I cannot say if vacancies are being filled now.