Bermuda Work Permits Explained (2026 Policy in Plain English)

Last checked 12 October 2026

This guide is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Some links may be affiliate links. See our disclosure.

If you’re not Bermudian, not the spouse of a Bermudian, and don’t hold a Permanent Resident’s Certificate (PRC), you almost certainly need a work permit before you can earn money in Bermuda. The Government’s own summary puts it bluntly: almost everyone who is not Bermudian needs a work permit before they can legally earn money on the island (gov.bm: Bermuda Work Permit Policy 2026).

This guide explains how the system works in practice, especially for people coming from the UK. It’s general information. The official policy document and the Department of Immigration are the final word.

The single most important point: the employer applies, not you

Bermuda has no self-sponsored work visa. You can’t arrive, look for work and then sort out the paperwork. In nearly all cases the route is:

1. You get a job offer from a Bermuda employer.
2. The employer applies to the Department of Immigration for a work permit for you.
3. You move once the permit is approved.

US-focused tax specialists Taxes for Expats sum it up the same way: your path runs “through an employer, not an embassy” (taxesforexpats.com). BermudaJobFinder’s relocation hub says the same: you need the job offer and the permit in hand first (bermudajobfinder.com).

Who needs a permit?

According to the Government, you need the Minister’s permission to work unless you are:

• Bermudian,
• the spouse of a Bermudian, or
• a PRC holder.

It applies whether you work full-time, part-time or on a short-term contract (gov.bm).

Being a British citizen doesn’t change this. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory, but it runs its own immigration system and gives no automatic right to work to UK nationals.

The main permit types

The Government’s 2026 explainer lists these categories (gov.bm):

The 2026 policy update also mentions Global and Intra-Company Transfer permits when listing who the English-proficiency rule applies to (gov.bm: Updates to the 2025 Work Permit Policy). If you’re being moved by a multinational, ask HR which category they’re using.

How the process works

1. The job must be advertised locally first

Before hiring from abroad, the employer must advertise the vacancy in a local newspaper and on the Government job board for at least eight days. Every Bermudian applicant who meets the stated requirements must be properly considered. In the Government’s words, “Bermudians always have priority” (gov.bm).

In practice, the employer has to be able to show that no suitably qualified Bermudian (or spouse of a Bermudian, or PRC holder) was available.

2. Check whether the job is restricted or closed

Some job categories are restricted or closed to non-Bermudians. The policy’s Appendix V sets out the list. Under the 2026 update, the list no longer changes every three months. The current listings run from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027 (gov.bm). If your role falls in a closed category, a permit is very unlikely.

3. English proficiency

Policy 1.8, Requirement for Proficiency in English Language, now applies to Short Term, Standard, Global, Intra-Company Transfer, New Business, Fintech and Family Office permit holders (gov.bm). The Government has published approved tests and minimum scores. Read Policy 1.8 in the current policy document to check any exemptions, or ask your employer’s immigration contact.

4. Supporting documents

Expect to provide, among other things, a police certificate from your home country and a medical certificate. BermudaJobFinder notes that first-time residents need police certificates from their home country and any country they’ve lived in for the last two years, plus certified marriage and birth certificates where relevant (bermudajobfinder.com). For the UK side, see our guide to police and medical certificates.

5. Processing time

Taxes for Expats reports that complete applications take about 20 working days (taxesforexpats.com). That’s their estimate, not an official service standard. Incomplete applications take longer, so build slack into your moving plans.

Rules once you’re working

A permit is tied to your employer and your role. Working without a permit, on an expired permit, or outside your permitted role is an offence. The Government lists penalties for both worker and employer, including removal from the island and a ban of at least 12 months on returning to work in Bermuda (gov.bm).

Practical consequences:

• Side hustles are risky. Freelancing for a local client on the side is outside your permitted role. Get advice before doing any paid work beyond your permitted job.
• Changing jobs means a new permit. Your new employer has to apply.
• Track your expiry date. Renewals need to be in before the permit lapses.

What about remote workers?

If you plan to keep working remotely for a UK employer, a standard work permit isn’t usually the right tool. The Work From Bermuda certificate that covered this closed on 28 February 2025. The current option is Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis, which bars you from working for Bermuda employers. See Work From Bermuda is closed: what remote workers can do now and Permission to Reside in Bermuda.

Bringing a partner or family

Dependants generally need their own permission to reside. The Government’s residence services page lists types including “Dependant re-entry letter” and “Spouse of Bermudian or Permanent Resident Certificate holder letter” (gov.bm: Residence Permit Application). A dependent partner can’t simply start working. They would need their own work permit through an employer.

More changes are coming

The Government says the Work Permit Policy “will continue to evolve”, with the next wave of amendments expected in October 2026 (gov.bm). We’ll update this guide when they’re published. Meanwhile, always check the current policy PDF attached to the Government’s page.

Once a permit is approved, see payroll tax and pensions to understand your payslip, and renting to find a home.

Checklist for UK applicants

• Signed job offer from a Bermuda employer
• Confirm the job isn’t in a closed category (Appendix V)
• Ask the employer which permit type and how long a term
• Order your ACRO police certificate early
• Book a medical for the medical certificate
• Get certified copies of your birth and marriage certificates, plus children’s birth certificates
• Check the English-proficiency requirement
• Don’t hand in your UK notice or ship belongings until the permit is approved

Contacts

Use the contact details on the Department of Immigration pages. The Government lists 246-8093 for general immigration information (gov.bm).

This guide will be updated after the October 2026 policy amendments.