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CIMA The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) was established on 1 January 1997 and licenses banks, trust companies, insurers, funds, money services businesses, virtual asset service providers and securities investment business firms in or from the Cayman Islands. Two facts matter most before trusting a firm here: the public register separates full licensees from registered persons, who are exempt from holding a licence because they deal only with sophisticated or high net worth clients, and CIMA states it is not empowered to compel an entity to pay compensation to a customer. A complaint must normally reach CIMA within one year, and must be raised with the firm first.

Country
Cayman Islands
Jurisdiction
Government Reg.
Established in
1997
47
Overall Rating
17
Licensed Brokers
Medium
Transparency Index
Tier 3
Global Tier
IOSCO Member
FATF Member
The regulator
Updated

About CIMA

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) was established on 1 January 1997 and licenses banks, trust companies, insurers, funds, money services businesses, virtual asset service providers and securities investment business firms in or from the Cayman Islands. Two facts matter most before trusting a firm here: the public register separates full licensees from registered persons, who are exempt from holding a licence because they deal only with sophisticated or high net worth clients, and CIMA states it is not empowered to compel an entity to pay compensation to a customer. A complaint must normally reach CIMA within one year, and must be raised with the firm first.

Tier 3
Brokers on the record
17
Compensation cap
None
Retail leverage cap
1:500
Cost of a licence
USD 30,000–50,000

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) was established on 1 January 1997, as a body corporate under the Monetary Authority Law. It was built from two existing parts of government: the Financial Services Supervision Department and the Cayman Islands Currency Board. It took on the work of both, which is why one body issues the currency and regulates the financial sector.

CIMA is the only regulator for financial services entities based in, or operating from, the Cayman Islands.

Four functions

Monetary. Issuing and redeeming Cayman Islands currency, and managing the islands' currency reserves.

Regulatory. Regulating and supervising financial institutions, and monitoring compliance with the islands' anti-money-laundering legislation. CIMA publishes a regulatory handbook — policies, procedures, rules and statements of principle — and guides firms on it, so the same standard is applied the same way to each of them.

Co-operative. Helping regulators in other countries under memoranda of understanding, so a firm supervised in several jurisdictions can be seen whole by each of them.

Advisory. Advising the Cayman Islands Government on monetary, regulatory and co-operative matters.

Its stated mission

To protect and enhance the integrity of the Cayman Islands financial services industry, and to see that it operates soundly and transparently. The vision set alongside it is a financial system that is well regulated, open to new ideas, and meets international standards.

Its stated values

Teamwork, accountability, excellence, collaboration, integrity and respect.

On the record

Established
1997
Country
Cayman Islands flagCayman Islands
Oversight
Government body
Membership
IOSCO and FATF member
Transparency
Medium
Public register
Open the register
Website
cima.ky
Phone
345 2441679
Email
contactinvestments@cimoney.com.ky
Online contact
cima.ky
Protection check

What a licence from CIMA protects

No compensation scheme is recorded for firms licensed by CIMA; a dispute a firm will not settle can go to CIMA Complaints.

4 facts on record
  • No compensation scheme
  • Client money kept separate
  • Complaints routeCIMA Complaints
  • Maximum leverage1:500

What is protected

The protection documented for securities clients is insurance carried by the licensee. CIMA states that all licensees must hold and maintain adequate insurance covering professional indemnity, professional liability of senior officers and corporate secretaries, and business interruption, under section 4(1) of the Securities Investment Business (Conduct of Business) Regulations. The professional indemnity limit should be at least CI$1,000,000 (US$1,219,512.20) for any one claim and CI$1,500,000 (US$1,829,268.29) in aggregate, with an insurer licensed to carry on domestic business in the Cayman Islands. Licensees also face base financial resource requirements of CI$100,000 for broker dealers, market makers and securities managers, and CI$15,000 for other licensees. On redress, CIMA states it is not empowered to compel an entity to pay compensation, and that it does not provide assistance with the recovery of funds. See limitationsNote for what could not be confirmed.

How to verify a licence

Use CIMA's own search page at https://www.cima.ky/search-entities-cima, which the Authority describes as a search for entities that are currently licensed or registered by it. The steps CIMA sets out: type the full name, or part of the name, of the entity in the text box; choose the sector from the drop-down box or choose All; then click Submit or press Enter. The form also requires completing the I am not a robot check before it will run. Read the sector value in the result carefully: the drop-down separates Securities - Full, Securities - Restricted and Securities - Registered Person, and a registered person is exempt from holding a securities licence. For a securities licensee, CIMA states that after issuing the certificate it updates the list to include the licensee's name, business address and details of permitted activities, so ask the firm to point at that entry.

Open the registerOfficial website

How to complain

Raise the complaint with the firm first. CIMA's Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities states that the matter should first be raised with the entity and that the Authority will request proof the complainant took reasonable steps to resolve it there. Complaints must be in writing with the complainant's name and contact details; anonymous complaints are not accepted. The deadline is one year from the date the complainant became aware, or ought reasonably to have become aware, of the cause for complaint. Submit through the online form on CIMA's website (marked recommended), by post to the Deputy Managing Director - Supervision, P.O. Box 10052, Grand Cayman KY1-1001, or by hand at Pavilion East, Cricket Square, George Town. CIMA acknowledges receipt within five business days, states it is not empowered to arbitrate or to compel compensation, and states its findings generally cannot be disclosed to the complainant.

These are the rules CIMA sets for the firms it licenses, read from its own record. They say nothing about how any one broker applies them, or which of its companies would hold your account; that is checked on each broker's own page.
Licensing terms

Getting licensed by CIMA

A licence from CIMA costs USD 30,000–50,000 to obtain on the record and covers 8 instrument types.

USD 30,000–50,000
Licence types
Securities Investment Business Licence
Business models allowed
Retail Agency (STP); Market Maker (Principal); Provide Liquidity (PoP)
Cost to obtain
USD 30000-50000
Coverage
Most countries worldwide (exceptions apply)
Not served
North Korea - UN-sanctioned countries

8 instruments regulated

  • Forex
  • Bond
  • Stocks
  • Options
  • Derivatives
  • Commodity
  • Securities
  • Futures
From the documents
Reviewed

What CIMA's own documents say

23 facts read from 28 official documents published by CIMA, each quoted and linked to its source.

23 facts

Jurisdiction and scope

The Securities Investment Business Act reaches two classes of person: any Cayman Islands company or partnership, wherever it conducts securities investment business, and any person with an established place of business in the Cayman Islands through which that business is carried on. The four regulated activities are dealing in securities, arranging deals in securities, managing securities and advising on securities, and only where carried on in the course of business. Schedule 1 defines securities to include options, futures and rights under contracts for differences. Schedule 3 excluded activities and Schedule 4 registered persons sit outside the licence requirement. Separately, credit unions and building societies are not licensed by CIMA: they register with the General Registry and are subject to CIMA oversight under the Cooperative Societies Act and the Building Societies Act.

Using this regulator

Check the sector label on the register result, not just the presence of a name: Securities - Registered Person means the firm is registered and exempt from holding a licence, on the basis that it deals exclusively with the persons or institutions in Schedule 4. If a firm shows that status and is onboarding you as a retail client, ask which Schedule 4 category it relies on. Ask a licensed firm for its permitted activities, since CIMA records those. Diarise the one year complaint window from the moment you become aware of a problem, keep your written exchanges with the firm because CIMA requires proof you tried there first, and expect an acknowledgement within five business days rather than a compensation award. A licence whose renewal fee is unpaid by 31 March lapses, so a status checked in January is worth rechecking later in the year. Read the Decision Notices and Warning Notices pages for cancellations and named firms.

Good to know

Three gaps. First, no investor compensation or deposit guarantee scheme document was found among CIMA's published documents, so nothing is stated here about the existence or size of any such scheme in either direction; the protection facts reported are the professional indemnity insurance requirements CIMA publishes for licensees. Second, the Securities Investment Business (Conduct of Business) Regulations (2026 Revision) PDF is not covered in this review, so client money and client asset segregation rules are not quoted; the insurance requirement in section 4(1) of those Regulations is quoted from CIMA's own Securities FAQs page instead. Third, the register search requires an I am not a robot check, so the layout of a result row and any status wording shown next to a firm are not described. No archived copies of prior versions were available, so no version comparison was possible. Beyond the fees page and the notices cited here, the sector fee pages, the industry, consumer and general notices pages, and the annual reports page are not covered in this review.

Key facts

KeyVerifying a licence

Search CIMA's register by entity name and sector

This settles whether a firm's claim to be Cayman regulated is real, in under a minute. CIMA's own public notice of 13 February 2025 points the public to this same page.

CIMA's search page covers entities that are currently licensed or registered by it. Type the full name or part of the name of the firm, choose the sector from the drop-down box or choose All, then click Submit.

In the text box, type the full name, or part of the name, of the entity you wish to find. Choose the appropriate sector from the drop-down box, or choose "All" to search for the entity in all sectors. Click "Submit" or hit the Enter/Return key on your keyboard.
Quoted in Search Here For Entities Which Are Currently Registered With CIMA, How To SearchRead the source
In addition to staying cautious, it’s important to verify the legitimacy of any financial institution you engage with. To ensure an entity is regulated or licensed by CIMA, please visit: https://www.cima.ky/search-entities-cima.
Quoted in Public Cautioned Against Crypto Scams and Financial FraudRead the source

Where in the document: Search Entities page, How To Search

  • public register
  • license verification
  • retail clients
KeyScope of authorisation

Registered persons are exempt from holding a securities licence

A firm can accurately say it is registered with CIMA and still hold no licence. The Schedule 4 basis limits who it may deal with, so a retail client should ask which category it relies on.

CIMA states that entities registered as Registered Persons are exempted from the requirement to obtain a licence for securities investment business, because they deal exclusively with the persons or institutions set out in Schedule 4 of the Act, and are instead registered by the Authority.

Please note that entities registered as Registered Persons are exempted from the requirement to obtain a licence to conduct securities investment business as they conduct business exclusively with persons or institutions as set out in Schedule 4 of the SIBA. however they are to be registered by the Authority.
Quoted in Securities Licensing Requirements, Licensing vs. RegistrationRead the source
In accordance with the Securities Investment Business Act (SIBA), persons engaging, ‘in the course of business’, in securities investment business, as defined in the SIBA, must be licenced unless exempted pursuant to Schedule 3 - Excluded Activities or Schedule 4 - Registered Persons. Registered Persons must be registered by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Quoted in Securities Licensing Requirements, Licensing vs. RegistrationRead the source

Where in the document: Securities Licensing Requirements, Licensing vs. Registration

  • public register
  • retail clients
  • scope of authorisation
KeyHow to complain

Complaints reaching CIMA after one year are generally not considered

The clock starts when you should have noticed the problem, not when you finish with the firm. Since CIMA also requires proof you tried the firm first, letting that stage run long can consume the window.

CIMA will generally not consider a complaint received more than one year after the date the complainant became aware, or ought reasonably to have become aware, of the cause for complaint. Past that point it weighs the nature of the complaint and the reason for delay.

The Authority will generally not consider a complaint if it is received after one (1) year from the date on which the complainant became aware or ought reasonably to have become aware, that he/she had cause for complaint. Where a complaint is submitted after the one (1) year timeframe has elapsed, the Authority will consider the nature of the complaint and reason for the delay in assessing whether to investigate.
Quoted in Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities, How to File a ComplaintRead the source

Where in the document: Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, How to File a Complaint

  • retail clients
  • complaint deadline
KeyHow to complain

CIMA cannot arbitrate or order a firm to pay compensation

Filing with CIMA is a supervisory referral, not a route to getting money back, and you may not be told the outcome. Redress has to come from the firm, the courts, or police where the matter is criminal.

The policy states the Authority is not empowered to arbitrate in complaints about supervised entities, or to compel an entity to pay compensation to a customer in relation to an individual complaint. Findings generally cannot be disclosed to the complainant, as those communications are treated as confidential.

The Authority is not empowered to arbitrate in complaints about supervised entities, or to compel an entity to pay compensation to a customer in relation to an individual complaint.
Quoted in Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities, General ConsiderationsRead the source
If the Authority decides to raise a matter with a supervised entity, generally any findings or actions taken cannot be disclosed to the complainant, as communications between the Authority and all supervised entities are considered confidential.
Quoted in Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities, General ConsiderationsRead the source

Where in the document: Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, General Considerations

  • retail clients
  • compensation
  • complaint route
KeyWhat is protected

Licensees must carry 1,000,000 professional indemnity cover per claim

KYD 1,000,000

This insurance is the documented backstop behind a Cayman securities licence, and it responds to claims rather than paying out automatically. The aggregate figure is a ceiling shared across a firm's claims in a period.

Securities licensees must hold insurance covering professional indemnity, professional liability of senior officers and corporate secretaries, and business interruption. The professional indemnity limit should be at least CI$1,000,000 (US$1,219,512.20) for any one claim and CI$1,500,000 (US$1,829,268.29) in aggregate, with an insurer licensed for domestic business in the Cayman Islands.

All Securities Investment Businesses licensed under the Securities Investment Business Law (the “SIBL”) must have and maintain adequate insurance coverage. The licensee must have insurance to cover i) Professional Indemnity, ii) Professional Liability of Senior Officers and Corporate Secretaries, and iii) Business Interruption, as required by Section 4(1) of the Securities Investment Business (Conduct of Business) Regulations.
Clause Conduct of Business Regulations s.4(1) in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, Licence - SecuritiesRead the source
Coverage must be held with an insurer licensed to carry on domestic business in the Cayman Islands. Securities Investment Business licensees must have insurance to cover claims of i) The licensee, ii) Current or former officers or employees iii) any third party agents, service providers or consultants working for the licensee. The Professional Indemnity insurance should have a limit of at least CI$1,000,000/US$1,219,512.20 for any one claim and CI$1,500,000/US$1,829,268.29 in aggregate.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, Licence - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, Licence - Securities, insurance policy

  • retail clients
  • protection scope
  • insurance
KeyJurisdiction and limits

Two classes of person fall within the Act's geographical scope

2

This is where a Cayman licence reaches and where it stops. A Cayman incorporated firm is in scope wherever it operates, while a foreign firm with no place of business in the Islands is a separate question in CIMA's own text.

Section 4(1) brings two classes within the Act's geographical scope, subject to the Schedule 4 exclusions: any Cayman Islands company or partnership wherever it conducts securities investment business, and any person with an established place of business in the Islands through which that business is conducted.

Section 4(1) of the Securities Investment Business Law (SIBL) identifies two classes of person as having sufficient nexus with the Cayman Islands to bring them within the geographical scope of the SIBL (subject to the Schedule 4 exclusions):
Clause SIBL s.4(1) in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source
any Cayman Islands company or partnership, wherever it may be conducting securities investment business as defined by the Law; or
Quoted in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, General - Securities, geographical scope

  • scope of authorisation
  • jurisdiction

More facts, by topic

Thirty six sector categories, three of them for securities firmsThe register's drop-down carries 36 categories, and securities firms sit in three of them: Full, Restricted and Registered Person. For licensees, CIMA records the name, business address and permitted activities, so a licence can be matched to what the firm is actually allowed to do.2 facts
KeyPublic register

Register splits securities firms into three separate categories

36

The category next to a firm's name is the fact that matters, because the three securities entries do not carry the same permissions. Reading only the name leaves the check unfinished.

The register's sector drop-down lists 36 categories. Securities firms appear under three of them: Securities - Full, Securities - Registered Person and Securities - Restricted.

Search here for entities that are currently licensed or registered by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
Quoted in Search Here For Entities Which Are Currently Registered With CIMARead the source
Securities - Full Securities - Registered Person Securities - Restricted
Quoted in Search Here For Entities Which Are Currently Registered With CIMA, sector drop-downRead the source

Where in the document: Search Entities page, sector drop-down

  • public register
  • scope of authorisation
UsefulPublic register

Securities licensee list records permitted activities and address

A licence is only as wide as the activities on it, so a trader can ask a firm to point at its entry rather than accept a general claim of being licensed.

Once CIMA issues a certificate for a new securities licence, the Securities Supervision Division updates the website list to include the licensee's name, business address and details of permitted activities.

After the Authority has issued the certificate for the new SIBA licence, the SSD will then update the SIB list of licensees on the website to include the new licensee’s name, business address and details of permitted activities.
Quoted in Securities Licensing Requirements, Recording, Publication and NotificationRead the source

Where in the document: Securities Licensing Requirements, Recording, Publication and Notification

  • public register
  • scope of authorisation
Professional indemnity cover of at least 1,000,000 per claimCI$1,000,000 per claim and CI$1,500,000 in aggregate is the professional indemnity limit CIMA sets for securities licensees, held with an insurer licensed for domestic business in the Islands. It responds to claims rather than paying out automatically, and CIMA states it does not assist with recovery of funds.1 fact
UsefulWhat is protected

CIMA states it does not assist with recovery of funds

It rules out two things at once: CIMA is not a recovery service, and anyone contacting you in CIMA's name asking for a payment is not CIMA. The notice directs the public to law enforcement.

In a public notice dated 13 February 2025, CIMA states it does not provide assistance with recovery of losses, asset recovery, or any financial transactions, and that it does not collect fees, taxes or any other payments from the public.

Please be advised that the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) does not provide assistance with the recovery of crypto scams, asset recovery, or any financial transactions. Additionally, CIMA does not collect fees, taxes, or any other payments from the public, nor do we facilitate the collection or transfer of crypto assets.
Quoted in Public Cautioned Against Crypto Scams and Financial FraudRead the source

Where in the document: General Public Notice, 13 February 2025

  • retail clients
  • protection scope
  • fraud notice
One year to complain, and CIMA cannot order compensationOne year from the date you became aware of the cause is the working deadline, and the firm has to be approached first with proof kept. CIMA acknowledges within five business days, states it is not empowered to arbitrate or compel compensation, and generally will not disclose its findings to you.1 fact
UsefulHow to complain

Raise it with the firm first, then expect five business days

5 working days

Keep the paper trail of your exchanges with the firm, because it is a precondition CIMA applies rather than a suggestion. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.

CIMA states the matter should first be raised with the entity, and that it will request proof of reasonable steps taken there before considering the complaint. Complaints must be in writing with the complainant's name and contact details. Receipt is acknowledged within five business days.

The Authority will request proof from the complainant that they have taken reasonable steps to resolve the complaint with the supervised entity before considering any complaint submitted to the Authority.
Quoted in Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities, General ConsiderationsRead the source
Once a complaint has been submitted, the Authority will acknowledge receipt within five (5) business days.
Quoted in Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, Registrants and Other Supervised Entities, Complaints Handling ProcessRead the source
Any person directly affected by the way in which CIMA or its licensees has carried out its functions may file a complaint. CIMA will not accept anonymous complaints.
Quoted in ComplaintsRead the source

Where in the document: Policy on Complaints Against Licensees, General Considerations and Complaints Handling Process

  • retail clients
  • complaint route
Registered persons hold no licence, by design of Schedule 4Six Schedule 4 categories may conduct securities investment business without a licence, and CIMA registers rather than licenses those firms. One category covers firms dealing exclusively with sophisticated or high net worth persons. A retail client should ask which category a registered firm relies on.1 fact
UsefulScope of authorisation

Six Schedule 4 categories may operate without a licence

6

These categories explain why a Cayman firm may hold no CIMA licence at all. Where the exemption rests on client type, a retail client should ask the firm directly which one applies.

Schedule 4 sets out six categories of person who may conduct securities investment business without a licence. One is a person carrying on that business exclusively for sophisticated or high net worth persons, with a registered office in the Islands supplied by a CIMA licensed provider.

Schedule 4 of the SIBL specifies persons who may conduct securities investment business without a licence. There are six categories of such person:
Quoted in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source
A person carrying on securities investment business exclusively for sophisticated persons or high net worth persons, provided that the person carrying on the business has a registered office in the Islands that is provided by an entity that is licensed to provide such service by the Authority;
Quoted in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, General - Securities

  • retail clients
  • scope of authorisation
Broker dealers must hold 100,000 in base financial resourcesCI$100,000 is the base financial resource requirement for broker dealers, market makers and securities managers, and CI$15,000 for other licensees. A licence also lapses if the renewal fee is unpaid by 31 March, so authorised status can change mid year without enforcement action.2 facts
UsefulLicensing requirements

Broker dealers need 100,000 in base financial resources

KYD 100,000

It is the capital floor behind a Cayman securities licence, set per activity type, and it gives a trader a concrete measure of how thin a licensed firm is allowed to be.

Under the Securities Investment Business (Financial Requirements and Standards) Regulations, the base financial resource requirement is CI$100,000 for broker dealers, market makers and securities managers, and CI$15,000 for all other licensees.

Under the Securities Investment Business (Financial Requirements and Standards) Regulations, Securities Investment Business licensees are required to have base financial resource requirements. In the case of broker dealers, market makers and securities managers, the base financial resource requirement is CI$100,000 and in the case of all other licensees, the requirement is CI$15,000.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, Licence - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, Licence - Securities, minimum net worth

  • licensing requirements
  • capital
UsefulLicensing requirements

A licence lapses if the renewal fee is unpaid by 31 March

10%

A firm's status can change during the year through non payment alone, with no enforcement action. That is a reason to recheck the register after March rather than rely on a January check.

A licence whose prescribed renewal fee remains unpaid by 31 March lapses forthwith, and may be renewed for the full calendar year if, within one month, the former holder pays the renewal fee, the surcharges due and an administration fee of ten per cent. Late filing by a securities licensee costs fifty dollars a day.

A licence in respect of which the prescribed renewal fee remains unpaid by the 31st March in any year shall lapse forthwith but if, within a period of one month, the person who held the licence prior to its lapse pays (a) the prescribed renewal fee;(b) the surcharges due under subsection (2); and (c) an administration fee of ten per cent of the prescribed renewal fee, the licence may be renewed for the period from the 1st January to the 31st December, inclusive, of the year in question.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.10Read the source
Any licensee who fails to comply with subsection (2) within the prescribed period or any extension to such granted by the Authority for good cause shown, is liable to a late filin fee of fifty dollars for each day or part thereof that compliance remains outstanding.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.11Read the source

Where in the document: Fee Schedule, pages 6, 7 and 10, lapse and renewal note

  • public register
  • licence fee
  • licensing requirements
Two classes of person fall inside the Act's geographical scopeAny Cayman company or partnership is in scope wherever it operates, as is any person with an established place of business in the Islands. Credit unions and building societies sit outside CIMA licensing entirely while remaining under its oversight.1 fact
ContextJurisdiction and limits

Credit unions and building societies are not licensed by CIMA

Oversight and licensing are not the same thing here. A firm in these sectors can be supervised by CIMA while holding no CIMA licence, so the register is not where its authorisation is recorded.

CIMA states that credit unions are not required to be licensed by it and must instead register with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and that there are no legal requirements for building societies to be licensed by CIMA. Both remain subject to CIMA oversight under their respective Acts.

Although credit unions are not required to be licensed by CIMA, they have to be registered with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (General Registry Department of the Cayman Islands Government) and they are subject to regulatory oversight in accordance with Section 40 of the Cooperative Societies Act.
Quoted in Cooperative and Building Societies Licensing Requirements, Credit UnionsRead the source
There are no legal requirements for building societies to be licensed by CIMA.
Quoted in Cooperative and Building Societies Licensing Requirements, Building SocietiesRead the source

Where in the document: Cooperative and Building Societies Licensing Requirements

  • public register
  • scope of authorisation
  • jurisdiction
A securities licence costs up to 10,000 a year to keepCI$10,000 on first grant plus CI$10,000 a year is the top of the nine securities licence categories, with the lowest at CI$3,000. Registered persons pay CI$6,000 to register and CI$6,000 a year. All annual fees fall due by 15 January.3 facts
UsefulCost to get licensed

Securities licence annual fees run from 3,000 to 10,000

KYD 10,000

It sets the scale of the financial commitment behind a Cayman securities licence. Unpaid annual fees carry a penalty of one twelfth of the fee for each month outstanding.

The Fee Schedule updated 01 January 2026 lists nine securities investment business licence categories on page 10. The highest carries a CI$1,000 (US$1,219.51) application fee, CI$10,000 (US$12,195.12) payable on first grant and a CI$10,000 annual renewal fee. The lowest carries CI$500, CI$3,000 and CI$3,000.

Application fee $1,000.00 $1,219.51 Fee payable on first grant $10,000.00 $12,195.12 Annual renewal fee $10,000.00 $12,195.12 One twelfth of the renewal fee due for each month the payment remains outstanding.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.10Read the source
Application fee $500.00 $609.76 Fee payable on first grant $3,000.00 $3,658.54 Annual renewal fee $3,000.00 $3,658.54 One twelfth of the renewal fee due for each month the payment remains outstanding.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.10Read the source

Where in the document: Fee Schedule, page 10, Securities Investment Business

  • licence fee
  • cost to obtain
UsefulCost to get licensed

Securities registered persons pay 6,000 to register and 6,000 yearly

KYD 6,000

Registration under Schedule 4 costs less than most licence categories and involves an annual declaration rather than a licence application, which is part of why the two statuses are not interchangeable.

The Fee Schedule sets a registration fee of CI$6,000 (US$7,317.07) and an annual fee of CI$6,000 for Securities Registered Persons, on page 11. CIMA's fees page states all annual fees are payable by 15 January each year, converting at US$1.00 = CI$0.82.

Registration fee $6,000.00 $7,317.07 Annual fee $6,000.00 $7,317.07 One twelfth of the renewal fee due for each month the payment remains outstanding.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.11Read the source
All annual fees are payable by 15 January each year.
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Regulated Sectors FeesRead the source
Note: All fees quoted are in Cayman Islands dollars (CI$). The conversion rate to be used for payment in United States dollars (US$) is 0.82 (US$1.00 = CI$ 0.82).
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Regulated Sectors FeesRead the source

Where in the document: Fee Schedule, page 11, Securities Registered Persons

  • public register
  • licence fee
  • cost to obtain
UsefulCost to get licensed

A written confirmation of licensed status costs 1,000

KYD 1,000

A formal written confirmation of both status and filing standing exists at a set price, so a client dealing with a large sum can ask a firm to obtain one instead of relying on a screenshot.

The Fee Schedule's administrative fees, on page 15, include a non refundable fee of CI$1,000 (US$1,219.51) for a letter confirming the registration or licensed status of a CIMA regulated entity and the status of its regulatory filings.

Letter confirming registration or licensed status of CIMA regulated entity and status of regulatory filings, fee for which is non-refundable $1,000.00 $1,219.51
Quoted in Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Fee Schedule, p.15Read the source

Where in the document: Fee Schedule, page 15, CIMA Administrative Fees

  • license verification
  • cost to obtain
CIMA sits in IOSCO and eight other international bodiesNine bodies are listed, including IOSCO and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. That participation is the route by which CIMA exchanges information with regulators abroad, which matters when a firm's clients and assets are in different countries.1 fact
ContextMembership and standing

CIMA is represented in IOSCO and eight other international bodies

9

IOSCO participation is the channel through which a securities regulator exchanges information with counterparts abroad, which matters when a firm's clients, assets and management sit in different countries.

CIMA lists nine international bodies in which it is represented, including the International Organization of Securities Commissions, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors and the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors.

In its efforts to fulfill its regulatory and supervisory mandate, CIMA is represented in various international bodies: Caribbean Financial Action Task Force Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors Working Group on Cross Border Banking Caribbean Group of Banking Supervisors Association of Supervisors of Banks of the Americas Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors International Association of Insurance Supervisors Offshore Group of Collective Investment Scheme Supervisors International Organization of Securities Commissions
Quoted, Participation in International BodiesRead the source

Where in the document: International Cooperation page, Participation in International Bodies

  • iosco
  • membership standing
  • international cooperation
High net worth means 800,000 net worth or 4 million in assetsThe 800,000 threshold decides who a Schedule 4 firm may serve without a licence. Separately, Schedule 1 counts rights under contracts for differences as securities, so CFD and derivatives activity falls inside the Act's four regulated activities.2 facts
UsefulKey definitions

High net worth person means 800,000 net worth or 4 million assets

KYD 800,000

This threshold decides who a Schedule 4 firm may serve without a licence. A trader below it who is being onboarded by such a firm sits outside the client group the exemption describes.

Section 2 of the Securities Investment Business Law defines a high net worth person as an individual whose net worth is at least $800,000, or any person with total assets of not less than $4,000,000.

Section 2 of the Securities Investment Business Law (SIBL) defines "high net worth person" as an individual whose net worth is at least $800,000 or any person that has total assets of not less than $4,000,000.
Clause SIBL s.2 in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, General - Securities

  • retail clients
  • scope of authorisation
  • definitions
UsefulKey definitions

Contracts for differences count as securities under Schedule 1

CFD and derivatives trading falls inside the definition of securities here, so a firm offering it from the Cayman Islands needs either a licence or a Schedule 4 basis for operating without one.

Schedule 1 defines securities to include options, futures and rights under contracts for differences, with cash settled derivatives given as examples. Schedule 2 sets four regulated activities: dealing, arranging, managing and advising on securities.

7.Rights under contracts for differences (e.g. cash-settled derivatives such as interest rate and stock index futures, forward rate agreements and swaps)
Clause SIBL Schedule 1 in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source
1. Dealing in securities: Buying, selling, subscribing for or underwriting securities as agent or principal, including market maker activity.
Clause SIBL Schedule 2 in Cayman Islands Securities FAQs, General - SecuritiesRead the source

Where in the document: Securities FAQs, General - Securities

  • scope of authorisation
  • definitions
  • derivatives
CIMA names firms that claim Cayman regulation without holding itPublic notices identify entities that are not authorised, including one stating Gate.io and Gate Global Corp have never been registered or licensed.3 facts
UsefulOther useful facts

CIMA names entities that claim Cayman regulation without it

A claim of Cayman regulation is sometimes made by firms that hold nothing, and CIMA answers those claims in writing. Searching the notices pages alongside the register catches cases the register alone cannot show.

CIMA publishes public notices identifying entities it has not authorised. Its notice of 11 April 2025 states that Gate.io and Gate Global Corp are not, and have never been, registered, licensed, regulated, or otherwise authorised by the Authority for virtual asset service provider business.

The Authority wishes to clarify that Gate.io and Gate Global Corp are not, and have never been, registered, licensed, regulated, or otherwise authorised by the Authority to conduct virtual asset service provider (VASP) business in or from within the Cayman Islands.
Quoted in Gate.io and Gate Global Corp Not Registered With CIMARead the source
CIMA has also become aware of entities that have falsely given their contact addresses as being in the Cayman Islands. These entities are included on the list of fraudulent websites and are not licensed or registered to carry on activities regulated by CIMA.
Quoted in Enforcement, Fraudulent WebsitesRead the source

Where in the document: General Public Notice, 11 April 2025, and Enforcement page, Fraudulent Websites

  • public register
  • license verification
  • fraud notice
ContextOther useful facts

Cancellations and revocations appear as published Decision Notices

The archive lets a trader check whether a name they were given has already lost its status. Entries are titled by firm, such as Banking Licence Revoked for Trade and Commerce Bank.

CIMA publishes Decision Notices naming entities and individuals whose licence or registration it has cancelled or revoked, with dates and downloadable notices. Its listed enforcement options include suspension and revocation of a licence, appointing a person to assume control of a licensee's affairs, and imposing administrative fines.

Banking Licence Revoked for Trade and Commerce Bank
Quoted in Decision NoticesRead the source
Enforcement options available to CIMA include: Suspension of the licence of a licensee and preservation of its records Revocation of the licence of a licensee
Quoted in EnforcementRead the source

Where in the document: Decision Notices page and Enforcement page

  • public register
  • enforcement
ContextOther useful facts

CIMA was established on 1 January 1997 with four functions

4

It frames what a Cayman licence is issued by: a single authority that is both the currency issuer and the financial services supervisor, rather than a securities specific commission.

CIMA states it was established on 1 January 1997 and is the primary regulator responsible for the regulation and supervision of financial services entities operating in and from the Cayman Islands, with four principal functions: monetary, regulatory, cooperative and advisory.

Established on 1 January 1997, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) is the primary regulator responsible for the regulation and supervision of financial services entities operating in and from the Cayman Islands.
QuotedRead the source
Our responsibilities fall under four principal functions:
Quoted, What We DoRead the source

Where in the document: About Us page

  • scope of authorisation
  • regulator profile

28 documents examined

Show 22 more documents
Read by Wikilix from CIMA's published documents; every fact links to the page or file it came from.Last reviewed
Licensed brokers

Brokers licensed by CIMA

17 brokers on the Wikilix record hold a licence from CIMA; the 10 highest-scored are below, and the finder searches them all.

17 brokers

  1. Rank 1Capital Markets Elite Group logo

    Capital Markets Elite Group

    Offshore    Cayman Islands flagCayman Islands    Wikilix score 75.0
  2. Rank 2FOREX.com logo

    FOREX.com

    Regulated    United States flagUnited States · since 2006    Wikilix score 70.0
  3. Rank 3MiTRADE logo

    MiTRADE

    Regulated    Australia flagAustralia · since 2011    Wikilix score 64.0
  4. Rank 4EBC logo

    EBC

    Suspicious Clone    United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · since 2020    Wikilix score 55.0
  5. Rank 5Butterfield logo

    Butterfield

    Regulated    Bermuda flagBermuda · since 1904    Wikilix score 54.0
  6. Rank 6LOM logo

    LOM

    No Regulation    Bermuda flagBermuda · since 1996    Wikilix score 51.0
  7. Rank 7TRADEVIEW MARKETS logo

    TRADEVIEW MARKETS

    Offshore    Cayman Islands flagCayman Islands · since 2004    Wikilix score 51.0
  8. Rank 8Bank of Scotland logo

    Bank of Scotland

    Regulated    United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom · since 1695    Wikilix score 51.0
  9. Rank 9Vantage logo

    Vantage

    Regulated    Australia flagAustralia · since 2009    Wikilix score 51.0
  10. Rank 10MultiBank Group logo

    MultiBank Group

    Regulated    Hong Kong flagHong Kong · since 2010    Wikilix score 51.0

About this information

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