Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Returning Home
Upon leaving the Cayman Islands, there is a departure tax of US $12.50
for every person 12 years or older. The fee, which includes a $2.50 environ-
mental protection fee, is not payable by credit card. Some airlines include
the cost of the departure tax in your ticket. There is no departure tax for
inter-island travel within the Cayman Islands.
United States Customs
When you leave the US, then return home, you will pass through US Cus-
toms at your point of entry. You'll complete a Customs declaration form,
one per household, identifying the total amount of your expenditures
while out of the country. Each returning Cayman visitor has an exemption
of $400. Families may pool their exemptions; a husband and wife can take
an exemption of $800; a family of four, $1,600. Cayman crafts are exempt
from this allowance, as are works of art, foreign language books, caviar,
and truffles.
Each visitor can also return with one carton of cigarettes and two liters of
alcohol (only visitors age 21 and over). Additional liquor purchases result
in a duty approximately 15% above the duty-free cost.
Your duty-free allowance includes any items purchased in duty-free shops,
gifts presented to you, gifts you bought in the islands for other people, and
purchases you might be wearing, such as clothing or jewelry. The US De-
partment of Agriculture also allows you to bring back up to one ounce of
decorative beach sand.
To make your passage through Customs a little easier, you should keep
your sales slips and pack so your purchases can be easily reached. Get a
copy of the
Know Before You Go
brochure (Publication 512) from the US
Customs Service at your airport or by writing the US Customs Service, PO
Box 7407, Washington DC 20044, www.customs.ustreas.gov.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Books, cassettes or CDs made without authorized copyright
(“pirated” copies)
Any type of drug paraphernalia
Firearms
Fruits, vegetables and meats or meat by-products (such as
pâtés)
Plants, cuttings
Tortoiseshell jewelry or any other tortoiseshell items
Turtle products - shells, steaks, lotion, and shell jewelry - sold
on the island cannot be brought back into the US or through the
US in transit to other countries.
