Bermuda : Formalities

Clearance

All vessels must proceed to St. George’s Harbour for clearance.

St George's is entered through the Town Cut channel. Yachts stopping elsewhere will be escorted to St George's and may be fined by Customs. After clearance yachts may then proceed to Hamilton or elsewhere in the archipelago.

All yachts must contact Bermuda Harbour Radio prior to arrival on VHF Channel 16 giving approximate time of arrival and any special requirements. The first contact should be attempted when 30 miles from the Island. The station is on call 24 hours on 2182 KHz, 4125 KHz, and VHF Channels 16 and 27.

A 24-hour radar watch is also kept and unidentified vessels are called up, especially if they approach too close to the reef. The radio station will direct a yacht where to berth and how to proceed for clearance.

The Q flag must be flown. Yachts entering between the hours of 24:00 and 08:00 will be directed by Bermuda Harbour Radio to anchor in Powder Hole, in the south-eastern section of St. George’s Harbour. Vessels must remain within this quarantine zone until 08:00, and are then required to proceed to the clearance facility for the completion of formalities.

The captain should have ready two crew lists and two store lists showing details of consumable stores. The customs boarding officer normally carries out immigration and health formalities as well. Customs normally monitor VHF Channel 68.

Last updated December 2008.

St. George Yacht Reporting Center
Tel:+1 441-297-1247, Fax:+1 441-297-1226

Immigration

All visitors must hold a valid passport (including US nationals).

Nationals of the following countries require visas: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China (People’s Republic of), Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Repulic*, Georgia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Soviet Union (former), Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam (North and South), Yugoslavia (former) and Yugoslavia (Serbian Federal Republic of) and are obtainable from a British embassy or consulate. Visas are valid three months from date of issue.

Visas are not required if any of the above are permanent residents of the UK, USA or Canada.

The initial period of stay is usually 21 days. Extension applications can be made at the Immigration Department in Hamilton (Tel. +1 441 295 5151). This extension is for individuals, HM Customs must be applied to for the yacht itself to remain. During the hurricane season, visiting yachtsmen may be given permission to stay for up to 5 months as long as they undertake to not take up emplyment, have the means to support themselves and have health insurance.

Persons who require visas to enter other countries they are sailing to after Bermuda must already have them. This applies particularly to yachts leaving Bermuda for the USA.

All visitors arriving by air are required to show a return air ticket. To avoid this for crew members arriving or leaving by air on one-way tickets, the captain or owner of a yacht must write to the Chief Immigration Officer, Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, POB HM 1364, Hamilton HM-FX (Tel. 295-5151) well in advance giving the name, address and nationality of any crew member, also details of the airline, flight number and date of arrival plus $15 (US or Bermuda $) for the landing permit. The latter will be sent to the captain and it permits the purchase of a one-way ticket (otherwise travel agents or airlines will not issue one). The permit must be shown on entry. If time is short, the captain can telephone with the crew details. In such cases the crew may have to buy a return ticket, but once the permit is issued, one can get a validation from the Chief Immigration Officer to allow a refund to be obtained.

When arriving by yacht and leaving by air, crew must have written proof from the owner or captain of their means of departure. The responsibility to ensure that such crew leave the island rests with the captain.

Last updated December 2008.

Customs

All firearms and ammunition must be declared on arrival to the customs officer, who will either impound them until departure or seal them on board. Firearms include spear guns, Verey pistols and flare guns.

One should contact the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection as far in advance as possible to learn of the import requirements for his or her pet. However, the actual application for an Import Permit and the supporting health documents should be submitted (via fax or courier) to the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection no more than 10 days prior to arrival into the Island. An Import Permit will be faxed back which along with the originals of the supporting health documents must accompany the animal and be available for inspection upon arrival. Yachts with animals arriving without proper documentation will be made to anchor in deep water. The animals will be restricted to the interior of the vessel and will not be permitted to come onto shore at all pending a final decision from the Department of Environmental Protection on the animal’s eligibility to enter Bermuda or any protective measures they may order.

Director, Department of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box HM 834, Hamilton HM CX, Bermuda, Tel: (441) 236-4201, Fax: (441) 232-0046, animals@gov.bm

All medically prescribed drugs and medications must be declared on arrival.

Fruit and vegetables from other countries are prohibited imports.

Yachts can stay up to six months, after which time customs will impose a duty of 33.5 per cent on the yacht's value. However, under special circumstances, the Collector of Customs may grant limited extensions if, for example, the yacht required or was undergoing repairs, if there were weather delays, injured or sick crew members or, indeed, for any other reason that the Collector of Customs considered valid.

During the Hurricane Season, from 1st June to 30th November, visiting yachtsmen may be given permission to stay in Bermuda for up to five months so as to provide safe haven. In this case, one would need to submit to the Department of Immigration, proof of citizenship; of the means to repatriate oneself by air, should the need arise;health insurance; a written undertaking not to seek or take up employment in Bermuda.

Bermuda Customs
Tel:+1 441 297 1226, VHF Channel 16

Fees

An arrivals tax of $35 per person is charged, including children.

Last updated November 2008.

Restrictions

Berthing for yachts is prohibited at all commercial docks in Hamilton and St. George’s, except in an emergency.

No spearfishing is permitted within one mile of any shore. Outside the one-mile area, only Hawaiian sling-type devices may be used when free diving. Spear fishing with scuba gear is not permitted. Spear guns may not be used in Bermuda or imported at any time.

All firearms must be declared and will be stored ashore until departure.

All yachts should be fitted with either holding tanks to contain sewage for discharge in waters outside the outer reef edge or have U.S. Coast Guard-approved marine sanitation devices aboard. However, wherever possible, onshore sanitation facilities should be utilized. The discharge overboard of sewage, or any other pollutant within the 12 mile Bermuda Territorial Limit, is an offence, and offenders will be prosecuted.

Yachts must adhere strictly to berthing instructions on arrival and should not proceed to any berth or anchorage unless directed to do so by Harbour Radio or the Harbour Master. Boats wishing to shift berth or sail must receive prior clearance as above.

Fishing Permits
Contact John Edmunds, Head Fisheries Warden
Tel:+1 441-535-4615
fishwardens@bermudagov.bm

Pets

PET REGULATIONS All animals (this includes birds and fish) arriving in Bermuda are required to be accompanied by health documents as well as an Import Permit issued by the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection in advance. Application forms are also available from any Bermuda tourist office. Animals arriving without proper documentation will be refused entry and will be returned to the point of origin at the owner’s expense, as there are no quarantine facilities in Bermuda. For further information see www.rccbermuda.bm/shipboard.html or www.aphis.asda.gov/guidance/regulations/animals/international.bd_cn.pdf. Further details from Bermuda Department of Environment Protection, PO Box HM 834 Hamilton HM CX, Bermuda - Tel: 441 236 4201, Fax 441 232 0046 - agfish@ibl.bm

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