Ordinary resident company
A local Cayman company that carries on business in the Islands. Its name ends in 'Limited' or 'Ltd.' unless it is unlimited.
- Entiva fee to form
- $1,209
- Government fees to form
- CI$600
- Run plan
- $219 a month
- Steps to form
- 12
- Ongoing filings
- 8
- Ways to close
- 5
Who it suits, and what defines it.
Governed by the Companies Act (2025 Revision).
Who it suits
- Businesses that trade inside the Cayman Islands.
Key facts
- Liability
- Limited by shares, by guarantee, or unlimited
- Registered office
- In the Islands; no CIMA licensee needed
- Trading licence
- Trade and Business Licence needed
- Control licence
- Needed unless 60% Caymanian owned and directed
- Annual meeting
- At least once a year
- Annual return
- Every January, with a list of members
- Beneficial ownership
- Filed every 365 days
- Statute
- Companies Act (2025 Revision)
What the law requires.
7 rules, each in plain words.
A Trade and Business Licence
It comes from the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) and is needed to do business locally.
A Local Companies (Control) Licence or a Cabinet exemption
It is not needed if the company is Caymanian controlled, with at least 60% of shares owned by Caymanians and at least 60% of directors Caymanian.
An annual list of members every January
It is the Annual Return and List, filed with the annual fee.
A general meeting at least once a year
It is called the annual general meeting.
Beneficial ownership information every 365 days
It is filed on the Cayman Business Portal (CBP) or CAP, the Registry's online portal.
A registered office in the Islands
The rule that it must be at a licensee of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) does not apply.
A register of members kept at the registered office
How Entiva forms it.
12 steps. Entiva prepares and files each one, and collects every signature the law needs.
The steps
12 steps- 1Reserve the company nameOnly if needed
Optional; the name ends in 'Limited' or 'Ltd.' unless the company is unlimited or designated under section 80.
- 2Register the company
The memorandum, articles and notice of registered office are filed on the Cayman Business Portal or through the Registry.
- 3Notify the registered office
It must be in the Islands, and the CIMA licensee rule does not apply.
- 4Apply for a control licence or Cabinet exemption
It is needed unless the company is Caymanian controlled with at least 60% Caymanian shares and directors.
- 5Apply for a Trade and Business Licence
It is needed before the company trades locally.
- 6Issue the first shares
Shares are issued and the register of members is opened at the registered office.
- 7Appoint the first directors
At least one director.
- 8File the register of directors and officers
It goes to the Registrar within 60 days of the first appointment.
- 9Open the statutory registers
- 10Lodge the beneficial ownership register
The first filing is on CBP or CAP, and then one is due every 365 days.
- 11Register as a non-profit organisation (NPO)Only if needed
Only for non-profit fundraising.
- 12Designate the company under section 80Only if needed
Only to become a not-for-profit company without 'Limited' in its name.
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
- Memorandum and articles (the constitution), signed by each subscriber before a witness
- A consent to act from each director
- Notice of registered office, given to the Registrar and published
- 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
8 filings- File the annual return and list of members
Each January after the year of registration; fee CI$300, or CI$500 above CI$42,000 capital
- Hold an annual general meeting
At least once in every year
- Lodge the beneficial ownership register
Every 365 days, or every 90 days in liquidation; changes are notified within 30 days
- 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 only
- File the country-by-country report
Within 12 months after fiscal year end, for the parent of an in-scope group
- File a non-profit organisation's annual return
Within 6 months of year end, extendable by 2 months, for registered NPOs
- File a non-profit's independent review report
Within 9 months of year end, extendable by 3 months, for NPOs above the thresholds
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
- Apply for a Trade and Business Licence
- Apply for a control licence or Cabinet exemption
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 and fees up to date. File by 1 November to avoid 2027 fees. The trade licence and control licence must also end.
- 1
Assess the exit route
- 2
Cancel any non-profit registration
- 3
Request strike-off
- 4
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
Restoration after strike-off
For a company that was struck off and is to be revived.
- 1
Apply to the Grand Court to restore the company
- 2
File the annual return and list of members
What Entiva does for you.
From the first filing to the last.
Ordinary resident company
- Registers the company and files its memorandum, articles and registered office notice.Formation
- Applies to the Department of Commerce and Investment for the Trade and Business Licence.Formation
- Applies for the control licence or a Cabinet exemption when the company needs one.Formation
- Files the annual return and list of members and pays the annual fee.Ongoing
- Drafts the notice, agenda and minutes for the annual general meeting.Governance
- Lodges the beneficial ownership register every 365 days.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
$1,209one-off
- Government fees
- CI$600
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 annual return and list of members
- Hold an annual general meeting
- Lodge the beneficial ownership register
- Report where books of account are kept
- File a private trust company's annual declaration
- Routine changes
- Every deadline tracked
Extra, at a fixed fee
- Apply for a control licence or Cabinet exemption
- Apply for a Trade and Business Licence
- Register as a non-profit organisation (NPO)Only if needed
- Designate the company under section 80Only if needed
- 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 $1,209, 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 service costs CI$500 more.
Express filing CI$150 extra.
No fee; the CI$100 officer-change notice is filed through the officer actions.
Later filings: CI$25 per list or.
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.
An extension request costs CI$25. Penalty if late: up to CI$3,000 plus up to CI$100 a day.
Late: up to CI$3,000 plus CI$100 a day.
Changes
Routine changes are included in the Run plan.
Express adds CI$150.
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.
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.
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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