Customs and Border Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Government bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Border Control, Labour and Culture (BCLC)

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Gazetted
Published in the Gazette
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Introduced
31 January 2025
First appeared on the order paper
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Passed
6 February 2025
Third reading
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Enacted
19 February 2025
Act 2/2025
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In force
1 October 2025

What this law does

This bill amends the Cayman Islands' Customs and Border Control Act to set a 2% duty on goods temporarily imported for later re-export, and to add new offences and administrative fines for issues such as failing to register a child's birth, transporting passengers without valid documents, and helping people stay in the Islands illegally. It also makes application fees non-refundable unless the law says otherwise.

  • Goods temporarily imported and meant for re-export will be subject to a 2% duty, with an exemption for certain goods already at zero-rated duty; goods not re-exported in time become liable for full duty.
  • Parents who fail to report a child's birth (for children not automatically entitled to Caymanian status) within three months face escalating administrative fines of up to $10,000, and the bill sets fines for vessel operators carrying passengers without valid documents at $5,000 per person.
  • Knowingly helping, conniving in, or preparing to help a person remain or reside in the Islands unlawfully becomes a criminal offence, with a fine of up to $50,000 and up to seven years' imprisonment, while lower-level administrative fines apply for overstays of up to 60 days.
  • Application fees prescribed under the Act are non-refundable unless otherwise specified.

Who it affects: temporary importers and businesses bringing goods into the Islands, parents of children born in the Islands who do not automatically acquire Caymanian status, vessel masters and captains, employers and natural and legal persons who may assist or house people staying unlawfully, migrants and visitors overstaying or lacking valid entry documents, applicants for Customs and Border Control permits and services

This summary is AI-generated from the official document and may contain errors; it is not legal advice. Always consult the source text below.

Official documents

Debated in Parliament

Hansard sittings whose records mention this law:

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