Cayman Islands Director Registration: What Companies Need to Know

Updated: 10 September 2025

According to the Cayman Islands Directors Registration and Licensing Act (the “Act”), a person named a director of certain entities (referred to in the Act as “covered entities”) is required to register with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”). As part of their role, such directors should understand the rules for registration. Those who may have fallen behind in compliance may be eligible for a one-time amnesty from CIMA to catch up on fees.

For the purposes of Cayman Islands regulation, covered entities are defined as a company under which certain provisions of the Securities Investment Business Law apply; or a mutual fund as regulated under the Mutual Funds Law. Depending on the prospective director’s circumstances, before being appointed to the board of a covered entity, a director must be registered or licensed with CIMA.

One-time 2025 Non-Compliant Directors’ Amnesty Scheme

In September 2025, CIMA announced its One-time Non-Compliant Directors’ Amnesty Scheme, a month-long window for certain eligible registered directors to resolve any outstanding annual fees and accumulated penalties at a temporarily lower fee.

The amnesty scheme is to run from 16 September to 15 October 2025 and is an option for registered directors overseeing 1-19 covered entities who have more than two years of unpaid annual fees. This amnesty gives registered directors the chance to conform with regulations under the Directors Registration & Licensing Act, 2014 (“DRLA”).

CIMA encourages any registered directors who may be eligible to apply for this amnesty before the deadline.

After 15 October, the regular fee and penalty schedule will resume. Applicants should note that any directors that are under investigation or subject to enforcement by CIMA or another regulatory organisation are not eligible for the amnesty.

The experienced Company Secretarial team at the Maples Group can assist with filing for this special opportunity from CIMA, as well as for the Cayman Islands director registration process in general.

How to File as a Registered Director with CIMA

Any new board appointees thus should submit any registration under the Act as soon as possible via CIMA’s dedicated webpage.  The initial fee is currently US$854, payable by credit card.  Directors need to renew their registration on an annual basis every 15 January, which entails paying a yearly fee of US $854 to CIMA as well as confirming and updating any information that has been filed with CIMA.  Throughout the year, directors must inform CIMA of any changes to director information within 21 days of the change.

Surrendering as a Director and the De-registration Process

The Act includes a provision for a surrender mechanism that allows registered / licensed directors to relinquish their official status as directors of covered entities.  The application to surrender and the accompanying de-registration fee must be filed and paid by 31 December to avoid incurring unnecessary registration fees for the following year.

Not registering, renewing, updating director information or de-registering in keeping with deadlines may result in penalties ranging from fees and fines to imprisonment.

The Benefits of Outsourced Director Registration and Licensing

Routine tasks such as director registrations and licensing, while important to business compliance and operations, can draw away from business’ core functions. Service providers can work with people to be appointed as directors to coordinate director registration and licensing submissions, including payment of any respective fees to CIMA.

Director registration services include:

• Registration: Compiling and submitting director information and arranging payment of the initial application and registration fee via the CIMA web portal;
• Annual renewal: Conducting a review of director information, submission of necessary updates through the CIMA web portal and arrangement of the annual registration fee;
• Information updates: Submission of updated director information via the CIMA web portal when notified by the director of changes; and
• De-registration: Completion of the form prescribed by CIMA to surrender registration and arrange payment of the de-registration fee through the CIMA web portal.

The Maples Group Difference

Having a proper governance framework in place is crucial for regulatory compliance and meeting investor mandates.  To this end, the Maples Group’s dedicated company secretarial team – the largest in the Cayman Islands – offers a comprehensive suite of company secretarial and board support services, including directorship and taking of minutes at meetings. Furthermore, our deep, working knowledge of CIMA requirements and regulations combined with our longstanding relationship with CIMA allows us to offer our clients a streamlined, worry-free director registration process that ensures all deadlines are met, paperwork filed. By lowering our clients’ administrative responsibilities, we help to place them at the forefront of corporate governance best practice as well as for all-around success. We offer timely filing and feedback, helping our clients have a seamless process, meeting deadlines and ensuring all proper protocols are met.

In addition, the Maples Group provides complementary fiduciary and governance solutions, including the provision of independent, non-executive directors based in the Cayman Islands with appropriate experience in investment funds, structured finance vehicles and corporate entities, all of whom are licensed as professional directors pursuant to the Act. The Maples Group distinguishes itself with a client-focused approach and by a comprehensive suite of market-leading solutions across fiduciary, fund and legal services, we provide effective support to client companies throughout their full life cycle. Contact us here to learn how the Corporate Secretary team at the Maples Group can help you.

For legal and regulatory disclosures, please visit maples.com/legal-notices.