Bermuda - Immigration
Bermuda Immigration Procedures for Yacht Crew
Bermuda Immigration Procedure:
The maximum length of stay for all tourists was extended by the Bermuda government to 180 days – as of August 2020. After that time, visitors are expected to leave Bermuda. Further details can be found on the Government of Bermuda website.
Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, do not need a visa to enter Bermuda if their visit is for tourism purposes and can stay for up to 180 days in any 12-month period.
Travelers from this list of countries, do require a visa.
Notes:
- All visitors must hold a valid, machine-readable passport (including US nationals).
- US Passport Cards are not permitted for use for travel by air to Bermuda
For more information, visit the webpage of the Government of Bermuda – London office.
Visa Information:
Bermuda does not issue its own visas. Instead, travellers requiring visas must obtain an multiple re-entry visa (MRV) for one of Bermuda’s three gateways: the United Kingdom, the United States, or Canada.
Effective August 2023, travelers requiring visas must obtain a multi-re-entry visa (MRV) for the UK, US, or Canada, in order to enter Bermuda.
Applications for MRVs can be made at the British embassy/consulate/high commission in the national’s country. Processing times will vary.
The multi re-entry visa (MRV) and traveler’s passport must be valid for 45 days after the expiration of a visitor stay.
For more details on Bermuda entry visas see the Government of Bermuda Info. and the Government of Bermuda London Office.
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.
Extending your stay:
Visitors wishing to remain in Bermuda beyond the maximum period allowed must submit an application requesting permission to reside on an annual basis to the Department of Immigration Headquarters.
For more information, see the new guidelines for visitor extensions on the Government of Bermuda website.
Visiting yachtsmen may be permitted to remain in Bermuda for a maximum of five (5) months during Hurricane Season (June to November 30) to provide a safe refuge. The following documents must be provided:
- Proof of citizenship
- Financial means to repatriate themselves by air (if required)
- Proof of health insurance
- A declaration not to seek or take up employment in Bermuda
An application to extend the length of stay for a yachtsman must be made in person, by appointment, at Immigration Headquarters in Hamilton.
More details are on the Bermuda Tourism Authority website.
The Bermuda Tourism Authority’s handbook provides additional information.
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 as well as the name of the vessel he or she will be joining.
- 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: June 2024
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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.