Widespread immigration reforms are being introduced in the Cayman Islands that the government hopes will ease concerns that Caymanians are being marginalised in their homeland.

New rules will remove the bifurcation policy that treats private-sector workers differently from those in the civil service.

The Cayman Compass reported that MPs widely supported reforms that will make it harder for foreigners to obtain residency.

It will also impose a 20-year residency requirement before an application for Caymanian status, or 15 years for foreign spouses of Caymanians.

Parliament debated the Immigration (Transition) (Amendment and Validation) Bill 2025 as lawmakers reflected a growing unease within their constituencies.

The measures, Parliament was told, were to address an antiquated system that had displaced, marginalised and discriminated against Caymanians.

The Compass said the Bill extended to 15 years the period guest workers had to wait to apply for naturalisation.

Just like private sector workers, non-Caymanian civil servants will now have term limits and be forced to leave after nine years for at least a year.

Non-Caymanians who have dependents will now have to earn at least $5,000 per month and an additional $1,000 for each dependent.

The new rules restricts work permit holders from changing employers for two years to prevent job-hopping.

A flurry of amendments to the Bill came in just before the debate and there were some concerns of a contingent increase in the cost of living.

The Compass also said that the government had dismissed suggestions that the Bill would undermine recruitment in sectors heavily dependent on expatriate labour, such as financial services, healthcare, construction, tourism, policing and public education.

Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, the Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, said that the Bill would enable economic growth “without sacrificing the soul of our nation”.

“Our families and our traditions matter and they are under threat when we allow unchecked immigration and we fail to prioritise our people in employment, housing, healthcare and education,” she added.