Ordinary non-resident company
An ordinary company, not exempted, that does not carry on business in the Islands. It pays higher fees than a resident company and can re-register as an exempted company by special resolution.
- Entiva fee to form
- $2,729
- Government fees to form
- CI$1,200
- Run plan
- $219 a month
- Steps to form
- 11
- Ongoing filings
- 10
- Ways to close
- 5
Who it suits, and what defines it.
Governed by the Companies Act (2025 Revision).
Who it suits
- Companies that do not carry on business in the Cayman Islands and are not exempted companies.
Key facts
- Business
- Not carried on in the Islands
- Registered office
- With a company manager licensed by CIMA
- Annual meeting
- At least once a year
- Annual return
- Every January, with a list of members
- Beneficial ownership
- Filed at least monthly
- Fees
- Higher than a resident company
- Exempted status
- Can re-register as exempted (s.210)
- Statute
- Companies Act (2025 Revision)
What the law requires.
5 rules, each in plain words.
A registered office with a CIMA-licensed company manager
It sits at the address of the person licensed by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) to provide company management services.
An annual return and list of members every January
A general meeting at least once a year
A register of members kept at the registered office
Beneficial ownership filings at least monthly
The company also files the economic substance notification.
How Entiva forms it.
11 steps. Entiva prepares and files each one, and collects every signature the law needs.
The steps
11 steps- 1Reserve the company nameOnly if needed
Optional.
- 2Appoint a registered office
It must be at a CIMA-licensed company manager.
- 3Register the company
The memorandum, articles and registered office notice are filed for a company designated as non-resident by the Financial Secretary.
- 4Issue the first shares
The register of members is kept at the registered office.
- 5Appoint the first directors
At least one director.
- 6File the register of directors and officers
It goes to the Registrar within 60 days of the first appointment.
- 7Open the statutory registers
- 8Lodge the beneficial ownership register
The first upload is followed by uploads at least monthly.
- 9Set how the registered office handles mail
This covers notices and mail the registered office receives.
- 10File the economic substance notification
It is due by 31 January each year.
- 11Designate anti-money-laundering officersOnly if needed
Only if the company carries on relevant financial business.
Documents
8- Passport or photo ID for every verified person
- Proof of residential address dated within 3 months
- Declaration of where the funds come from
- Financial Secretary designation as a non-resident company
- Memorandum and articles (the constitution), signed by each subscriber before a witness
- A consent to act from each director
- First board written resolution, signed after incorporation
- Certificate of incorporation, issued by the Registrar
Who takes part
8- Every director verifies their identity and address
- A corporate director is verified, with each person who acts for it
- Every individual subscriber or shareholder is verified
- A corporate shareholder is verified, with the owners behind it
- Anyone who owns or controls 10% or more is verified
- Any secretary or other officer is verified
- Anyone who gives instructions or signs for the company is verified
- Senior public figures, their family and close associates get enhanced checks
What has to be filed, and when.
Entiva tracks every deadline from the day it is formed, and files before each one.
Every year, and as things happen
10 filings- File the economic substance notification
By 31 January
- File the annual return and list of members
Each January after the year of registration
- Hold an annual general meeting
At least once in every year
- File the economic substance return
Within 12 months after financial year end, if a relevant activity is carried on
- File a Tax Resident Outside the Islands (TRO) form
Within 12 months after financial year end, if claiming tax residence abroad
- Lodge the beneficial ownership register
At least monthly, or every 90 days in liquidation
- Report where books of account are kept
Annually or as the regulations set, only if books are kept outside the Islands
- File a private trust company's annual declaration
On or before 31 January, for private trust companies
- File the securities investment annual declaration and fee
Every year, for securities investment business registered persons only
- File the country-by-country report
Within 12 months after fiscal year end, for the parent of an in-scope group
The changes Entiva handles.
Each change is prepared, approved, signed and filed.
The most common changes
10 changes- Appoint a director or alternate director
- Remove a director or alternate director
- Issue new shares
- Transfer shares
- Increase authorised share capital
- Change the company name
- Change the registered office
- Amend the memorandum or articles
- Record a change of beneficial owner
- Order a certificate of good standing
How it closes.
5 routes. The right one depends on whether it can pay its debts, and who starts it.
Voluntary strike-off
For a company with no assets or liabilities. File by 1 November to save on 2027 fees.
- 1
Assess the exit route
- 2
Request strike-off
- 3
The company is struck off the register
Solvent voluntary liquidation
For a company that can pay its debts and still has assets.
- 1
Pass a members' resolution to wind up
- 2
Start the liquidation and make the 28-day filings
- 3
Hold the year-end meeting
- 4
Hold the final meeting and dissolve the company
Supervised or official liquidation
For a company that cannot pay its debts.
- 1
Apply for a court supervision order
- 2
Petition the Grand Court to wind up the company
Merger
The company combines with another company.
- 1
Merge with another company
Conversion to an exempted company
For a cheaper or more suitable status, by special resolution and a director's declaration (s.210).
- 1
Re-register as an exempted company
What Entiva does for you.
From the first filing to the last.
Ordinary non-resident company
- Registers the non-resident company and files its memorandum and articles.Formation
- Provides a licensed registered office and files on CAP, the Registry's online portal.Formation
- Files the annual return and list of members and pays the annual fee.Ongoing
- Files the economic substance notification each year.Ongoing
- Drafts the notice, agenda and minutes for the annual general meeting.Governance
- Keeps the beneficial ownership register and uploads it to CAP.Ongoing
Build it with the API.
Every step on this page is an action in the Entiva API, with its documents, signatures and filing.
What it costs, item by item.
Every Entiva fee and every government fee, from forming it to closing it.
Forming it
$2,729one-off
- Government fees
- CI$1,200
Steps marked only if needed are not counted.
Closing it
From $2,159
- Entiva fee
- Fixed, quoted first
- Government fees
- At cost
Included in the Run plan
- Registered office in the Cayman Islands
- File the economic substance notification
- File the annual return and list of members
- Hold an annual general meeting
- File the economic substance return
- File a Tax Resident Outside the Islands (TRO) form
- Routine changes
- Every deadline tracked
Extra, at a fixed fee
- File the country-by-country report
Each extra is quoted before it starts, and nothing is done until you approve it.
Forming it
Entiva's formation fee is $2,729, one-off. Government fees are passed through at cost.
By period: 1 week CI$40; 1 month CI$60; 2 months CI$80; 3 months CI$120; 4 months CI$160.
Express filing CI$150 extra. Penalties: company CI$10 a day capped CI$500; LLC CI$200 a day capped CI$5,000; ELP CI$200 a day per GP.
Express service costs CI$500 more.
No fee; the CI$100 officer-change notice is filed through the officer actions.
Excludes steps marked only if needed.
Every year
The Run plan costs $219 a month ($2,628 a year).
Resident: CI$300 or CI$500, unchanged for 2027. Non-resident: CI$900 or CI$1,140 for 2026; CI$1,000 or CI$1,240 for 2027.
Changes
Routine changes are included in the Run plan.
Express name change adds CI$150.
Express service adds CI$150.
Express adds CI$150.
Closing it
Closing is a fixed-fee project, quoted before it starts.
January 2027 annual fees: exempted company or LDC CI$1,025 to 2,893 by capital band, SPC from 3,025, SEZC 925, non-resident 1,000 or 1,240, resident 300 or 500, LLC 1,200, ELP 1,400 regulated or 2,200.
Certificate of strike-off CI$150.
No fee; CI$100 on the child filing.
Express CI$150 each.
Pre-clearance CI$400 if requested. Express CI$500.
LDC and SEZC routes CI$400 (ss.181, 182C). Express CI$500 on the LDC, SEZC and non-resident routes; none listed for ss.233A-233B.
Entiva fees are in US dollars. Government fees are in the currency each authority charges, passed through at cost when the filing is made. Taxes are separate.
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