Residents’ duty-free allowance rises to $1,000 in December

Residents returning from an overseas trip can bring an extra $500 worth of personal and household goods into Cayman without paying import duty this festive season.

From 1 Dec until 5 Jan., 2024, a temporary amendment to the customs law will see the duty-free allowance rise to $1,000.

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly described the boost as a “one-time Christmas gift to our people” during a Radio Cayman interview last week.

The Customs Tariff (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order, 2023 was gazetted on Wednesday, 29 Nov., after being passed in Cabinet on Tuesday.

It slightly alters the Customs Tariff Act (2023 Revision) to allow the temporary allowance increase.

The items may not be previously consumed or used up, or re-exported at the end of the importer’s stay, according to the legislation.

They also cannot, while in Cayman, be sold, hired, lent or otherwise disposed of to other persons for a period of at least two years.

O’Connor-Connolly announced plans for the duty waiver on the For the Record show with Orrett Connor on 20 Nov.

She said: “I would advocate that as a one-time Christmas gift to our people, that instead of having a $500 waiver when you go away…for the month of December that we could take that to $1,000.”

The premier added that she would be taking the duty-change “to the table” for discussion.

In a press release on 30 Nov, Border Control Minister Dwayne Seymour welcomed the duty waiver.

“Thank you to our premier who supported this initiative which fits in the government’s broad outcome goal of improving the quality of life for Caymanians,” he said.

“By approving a temporary increase in duty allowance, it will ease the burden for individuals and families who desire to travel during the holidays who may find it a challenge to find additional funds to pay for duty as well.”

Import duty is between 22% and 27% for most goods in Cayman.