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Is Cayman Islands high risk?

As a technical result of being placed on the grey list, the Cayman Islands was added to the European Union's (EU) list of high risk third countries for AML/CFT purposes (the EU AML list) on 13 March 2022.



In 2026, the Cayman Islands is generally not considered "high risk" by major international financial watchdogs. While it was previously on the FATF "Grey List," the jurisdiction successfully implemented rigorous Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) reforms to be removed. As of 2026, it is recognized as a sophisticated, well-regulated "tax neutral" hub rather than a "tax haven" of the past. From a safety perspective for travelers, the islands have one of the lowest crime rates in the Caribbean. However, in 2026, there is a "seasonal risk" regarding climate and hurricanes; being a low-lying territory, it is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and major storms. Financially, while it is no longer high risk for "illicit activity," it remains a "high cost" destination, where inflation and the strength of the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) can make travel significantly more expensive than neighboring islands.

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Violent crime in the Cayman Islands is very low compared to other Caribbean islands. Virgin Islands (U.S.) It is important to note that all of the homicides in the Cayman Islands are committed between locals, and not towards tourists.

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