KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaicans visiting the Cayman Islands will now be given special treatment under the Immigration Law, with the option to obtain a 10-year visitor visa, Cayman media is reporting.

According to the Cayman Compass, as it stands, all other nationalities which require a visa prior to visiting Cayman can obtain only single-entry permission, or permission to enter multiple times within a one-year, three-year or five-year fixed period.

The 10-year visitor visa is only being offered to Jamaicans.

Ministry of Home Affairs Chief Officer for the country, Eric Bush, said Jamaica and Cayman have a unique relationship and that the initiative is aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to adequately facilitate legitimate visitor travel for qualified Jamaican nationals, without jeopardising operations or processes relative to border control.

The change in visitor visa rules does not affect the 30-day limit in place for most visitors who do not own property in Cayman. It will also not affect requirements for any non-Caymanians, Jamaican or otherwise, to obtain work permits before they can be gainfully employed in the islands.