Bermuda - Immigration
Immigration Procedure:
All visitors must hold a valid, machine-readable passport (including US nationals).
Bermuda does not issue its own visas, however, the following requirements must be met:
- All travelers who require a multi re-entry visa (MRV) must present this visa-type upon arrival in Bermuda;
- The MRV for the UK, US or Canada must be valid for 45 days after the expiration of a visitor stay and/or of the work permit; and
- All travelers must possess a passport that is valid for 45 days past the expiration of travel and/or of the work permit (Note: US Passport Cards are not permitted for use for travel to Bermuda by air).
Other Visa Information:
Nationals of the following countries require Bermuda Entry Visas:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China (Peoples’ Republic of), Columbia, Congo (Brazaville), Congo (Kinsasha), Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus (northern part), Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea (Republic of), Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Malawi, Moldova (Republic of), Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authorities, Panama, Philippines,
Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia (Republic of), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Soviet Union (former), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkish Republic of N. Cyprus, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (former Soc. Fed. Rep. of), Zimbabwe.
Visas to enter Bermuda may be obtained from the Visa Section of a British Embassy, the British High Commission or the British Consulate in the national’s country. You may apply for a Visa waiver prior to your arrival in Bermuda via the Compliance Section, Bermuda Department of Immigration by including a copy of your Passport data to slambert@gov.bm or knswan@gov.bm. More details are on the Government Website.
All bona fide visitors are allowed to remain in Bermuda for an initial period of 90 days.
Visas are not required for stays up to 90 days for nationals of the USA, Britain, Australia, Canada and EU countries.
For extensions of visits beyond that granted by the Immigration officials on arrival, an application form has to be submitted before the initial expiration date together with the following documents:
- The valid passport or other travel document on which the visitor was landed in Bermuda must be valid for 45 days past the intended departure date in accordance with the Visas and Visa Controlled Nationals Policy
- Evidence of a return passage (for a destination to which the applicant has the right of entry)
- Valid visa for the United States, Canada or United Kingdom (if required)
- Signature and identification for local host/sponsor (i.e. driver’s licence, passport or voter’s registration card) Or In cases where there is no host, written confirmation of accommodations by hotel or guest house must be provided
- Extension Fee
Full details are on the Government of Bermuda website.
Extensions for up to a further 90 days (for during the hurricane season for example) will also be permitted on application to the Department of Immigration in Hamilton (Tel. +1 441 295 5151). For extensions, crew members will not only need to provide proof of citizenship but also the means to repatriate themselves by air. They will also need to prove they are covered by health insurance and make a declaration that they will not seek or take up employment in Bermuda.
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.
Incoming Crew and Guests:
When arriving by yacht and leaving by air, the 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.
In addition, 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.
- Details of the airline, flight number and date of arrival.
- Fees 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 the 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.
Last updated: October 2019
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We arrived May 1, 2019. I was surprised that at 1:00 AM Bermuda Harbor Radio would arrange for someone from immigration to be there to check us in. It was a calm night, so sorting out the Ordnance Island dockage was not too confusing. We then anchored in Powder Hole and we were able to secure a spot on the quay the next morning through Bermuda Yacht Services. ($1 foot). Gotta love Bermuda.
November 2018
St George’s
Head tax is 35USD
We docked at the cruise terminal — same rate as the town dock. Use a batter board! Seems like this is kosher as long as there is no cruise ship in port. Cruise ships are relatively rare in St George. (Meanwhile the ferry terminal is quite busy).
There is a duty-free fuel option which is supposedly available if you get a group of boats together to achieve the minimum amount required. You can also try to flag down the duty-free fuel truck if you see them.
We were told that Dowling’s sold water at 0.25USD/gal…which is only valid if you buy fuel, too. If you buy water (and NO fuel), the rate is increased to 0.35USD/gal.
It is easy to get around the island on the bus. You can buy a book of bus tickets at the post office. You can also buy bus tokens at the tourism office (? unsure).
As of November 2017, we were not asked to provide a consumable stores list or crew list. All food is ok so long as it stays on the boat. Do bring the completed Declaration of Health form with you (or complete it in the office). All crew need to come into the office and complete a customs form and present their passport.
Normally most countries require an outgoing clearance document from last port of call. If you leave the Bahamas bound for Bermuda Customs and immigration in i.e. Nassau charged us 75 USD for an outgoing clearance. When we arrived in St Georges harbour on Bermuda for clearance the officers said the Cruising Permit from the Bahamas had been good enough as an outgoing document from the Bahamas. So lesson learned is to skip a special outgoing document from Customs and immigration in Nassau and save 75 USD.
The cost for clearing into Bermuda is $35 per person. It’s possible Martyn was incorrectly charged last year as he had 4 people on board then, however, the cost this year is correct.
The cost of clearing into Bermuda is now $140 for a sailing yacht with 4 people on board.
(Last year it was $35!)
The Yacht Centre on Ordnance Island now offers free wifi to all yachtsmen in or outside their office.
You can get a 5% discount at the supermarket by stating that you are on a boat.