Bermuda Visa & Immigration Laws

Tickets

A return or onward ticket is required for entry into Bermuda. Persons arriving with a one-way ticket will not be admitted into Bermuda unless prior approval from the Bermuda Department of Immigration has been obtained.

Passports

Note: From January 23 2007 (previously January 8) the first stage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative kicks in. This requires those travelling betwen the US and Bermuda to have a valid passport, regardless of citizenship. This is a US requirement.

Visitors from all countries, with the exception of the US and Canada, must present a valid passport to ensure entry into Bermuda.

Bermuda Visas

The Bermuda Department of Immigration states that nationals of the following countries require visas:

'Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China*, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Soviet Union (former), Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen and Yugoslavia.'

* Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports or British National (Overseas) Passports do not need a visa to enter Bermuda.

Exceptions to the visa rules above will be made for visitors to Bermuda having a valid passport and proof of right of abode in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. This means for:

US Residents: a Permanent Resident Card
Canada Residents: a Permanent Resident Card
UK Residents: must be able to show no limit has been placed on their stay in the UK

Visitors travelling on to another country after Bermuda and requiring a visa for that country must be in possession of the relevant visa before entry into Bermuda.

Visas to enter Bermuda may be obtained from any British Embassy or Consulate overseas.

Length of Stay

Visitors are permitted to stay for up to 21 days (giving you 1 day to explore each square mile of the island). Extensions are only granted by the Bermuda Department of Immigration and are the exception rather than the rule.

Warning: Like all immigration regulations these days, the rules above are subject to change. We try to keep as up to date as possible but recommend that you download the Department of Tourism's latest guidelines. Now you can blame them and not us if you're put straight back on the plane.

Download Immigration Regulations

Reader Comments and Additional Information

Hello :

Editor is correct. Owing to the fact that the UK has the most complicated immigrations law in the world (there are 5 classes of British Nationality) not even normal British citizens have the right of abode in any overseas territory. Right to live/work in a British Overseas Territory without a visa is based on having a status known as belonger status. This can only be acquired if you were born there or have lived there for a long time as a visa national (usually 10 years). So no.

Editor :

Heather. The short answer is no. Even British citizens need a work permit and don't have any advantages over any other nationality.

Heather Pert :

What if I have British patriality? Does that give me any special permission to work in Bermuda?

Editor :

Angel. You are wrong. The information is not outdated. Bermuda doesn't have any embassies abroad. It is represented by Britain. If you need a visa (see the list) you need to go to a British embassy. You won't find a Bermudian one.

Angel :

"Visas to enter Bermuda may be obtained from any British Embassy or Consulate overseas."
This information is obviously outdated.

Tom Parry :

It's worth emphasizing that US citizens arriving by air now need a passport. Cruise passengers still have until 2008.