Company Formation · Cayman Islands

Company Formation in Cayman Islands

Incorporate in the world's premier offshore fund jurisdiction with zero taxation, English common law, and global institutional acceptance. One team handles incorporation, registered office and agent, CIMA registration where needed, and bank introductions end to end.

Licensed CSP
50+ yrs combined experience
15+ jurisdictions

Aerial view of a Caribbean coastline and turquoise sea

Setup time: 3-5 business days (standard)
Foreign ownership: 100%
Min. capital: No minimum
Corporate tax: 0%
Annual renewal: Govt fee + registered office
Residence visa: Not available (offshore)

Why Choose Cayman Islands for Company Formation?

The Cayman Islands is one of the world's premier offshore financial centres, renowned for hedge funds, private equity, and sophisticated investment vehicles. It offers unmatched advantages for investment structures:

Zero Taxation. No corporate tax, income tax, capital gains tax, or withholding tax

Fund Industry Leader. The world's leading jurisdiction for hedge funds and investment vehicles

Institutional Acceptance. Preferred and expected by global institutional investors

English Common Law. A sophisticated legal framework with specialized commercial courts

Political Stability. A British Overseas Territory with a stable, business-friendly government

Service Infrastructure. A full ecosystem of administrators, auditors, and legal professionals

Confidentiality. Strong privacy protections through a private register of members

Regulatory Oversight. CIMA provides credible, proportionate regulation for funds and regulated entities

Cayman Company Types

Exempted Company

Min. capital: No minimum
Members: 1 minimum (can be corporate)
Best for: International business and holding; cannot trade within Cayman

Exempted Limited Partnership

Min. capital: No minimum
Members: General + limited partners
Best for: Hedge fund and private equity fund structures

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Min. capital: No minimum
Members: 1 minimum member
Best for: Flexible vehicle combining partnership and company features

Segregated Portfolio Company

Min. capital: No minimum
Members: 1 minimum
Best for: Multi-fund structures with ring-fenced portfolios of assets

Common Uses for Cayman Companies

Hedge Funds

The world's leading jurisdiction for hedge fund domiciliation, with an established regulatory framework and broad investor acceptance.

Private Equity

Flexible structures for PE funds, co-investment vehicles, and carried interest arrangements, often using exempted limited partnerships.

Investment Vehicles and Holding

SPVs, holding companies, and structured investment products for sophisticated and institutional investors.

Captive Insurance

A leading jurisdiction for captive insurance companies under a specialized regulatory regime.

Note: Costs are indicative and may change with your requirements and regulations. Contact us for a tailored quote.

How Cayman Incorporation Works

Cayman companies are incorporated through the Registrar of Companies and must act through a licensed registered agent, who also provides the registered office. The most common vehicle is the exempted company, which is incorporated under Cayman law based on English common law principles. There is no minimum capital, a single shareholder and a single director of any nationality are permitted, and the register of members is private. An exempted company cannot carry on business within the Cayman Islands. Regulated structures such as funds register with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), and companies carrying on relevant activities may fall within Economic Substance requirements.

Common Company Types

Exempted Company. The most common vehicle for international business and holding; cannot trade within Cayman.

Exempted Limited Partnership. The standard vehicle for hedge fund and private equity structures.

Limited Liability Company (LLC). A flexible vehicle combining features of partnerships and companies.

Segregated Portfolio Company. Ring-fences assets and liabilities across separate portfolios for multi-fund structures.

Core Requirements and Documents

Shareholder and director documents: passport copies and proof of address for each individual, plus bank or professional references
Licensed registered agent and office: a Cayman company must maintain a licensed registered agent who provides the registered office
Ongoing records: proper accounting records and a beneficial ownership register must be maintained; relevant activities may fall within Economic Substance requirements, and regulated funds register with CIMA

Last reviewed: June 2026. Reflects current Cayman Islands registry, CIMA, and Economic Substance requirements.

Cayman Company Formation Process

From confirming the right structure to incorporation, banking, and ongoing compliance, here is the step-by-step path.

Engage a Registered Office and Complete Due Diligence

We engage a licensed Cayman corporate services provider to act as your registered agent and provide the in-jurisdiction registered office that every exempted company must maintain. In parallel we run KYC and AML due diligence and collect beneficial-ownership information, gathering certified passport copies, proof of address, and references for each shareholder, director, and beneficial owner.

Clear the Name and Draft the Constitution

We confirm the proposed company name is available at the Cayman Islands General Registry and obtain prior approval for any restricted or sensitive words. We then prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association together with the subscriber declaration that the company will carry on its business mainly outside the Cayman Islands.

File for Incorporation with the General Registry

We file the constitutional documents and incorporation application with the Registrar of Companies at the Cayman Islands General Registry and pay the government fees. Standard incorporation is typically completed within a few working days, with an express service available at a higher government fee. The Registrar then issues the Certificate of Incorporation.

Set Up Substance Classification and Beneficial-Ownership Records

Once incorporated, we classify the company for Economic Substance purposes, confirm whether it carries on a relevant activity, and put the beneficial-ownership register in place at the registered office, maintained by the licensed corporate services provider. Where the activity is regulated, for example an investment fund, we coordinate the required registration or licensing with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

Arrange Corporate Services and Banking

We finalise corporate secretarial, director, and ongoing administration arrangements, and introduce the company to Cayman and international banks for account opening. We prepare the corporate documentation banks require for offshore structures, though account opening remains at each bank's discretion.

Total time5-7 business days to incorporate (indicative)

Have questions about the process?

Our experts are here to guide you through each step and answer your questions.

Why Choose AURNÉ for Cayman Company Formation?

Our team combines international fund expertise with efficient service delivery:

Fund Expertise. Deep experience with hedge fund and private equity structures

Established Relationships. Strong relationships with Cayman registered agents and service providers

Regulatory Knowledge. Understanding of CIMA requirements and fund regulation

Comprehensive Service. End-to-end support from formation to ongoing compliance

Multi-Jurisdiction Experience. Able to coordinate Cayman structures with UAE, British Virgin Islands, and other jurisdictions

Banking Support. Bank introduction services and documentation assistance

Cayman Company Formation - Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about forming a Cayman Islands company, fund structures, banking, and compliance requirements.

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Company Formation in Cayman Islands

Licensed CSP

50+ yrs combined experience

15+ jurisdictions