Visiting Bermuda Before You Move: A Practical Recce Trip Plan
This guide is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Some links may be affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A short scouting trip before you move can save you from signing a lease in the wrong parish or underestimating costs. This guide covers the entry rules, how to get there from the UK, and a day-by-day plan for making the trip count.
Entry rules for British visitors
From the FCDO’s Bermuda travel advice (gov.uk):
- On a full British citizen passport you can visit without a visa for up to 180 days in any 12-month period.
- You must have a return or onward ticket, and you may be asked for proof of accommodation.
- Your passport must be valid for the whole stay.
- Visitors must complete a Bermuda arrival card. You can do it online and download it, or fill in a paper copy on arrival.
- If you want to work in Bermuda, you must get a job offer and work permit before you enter. You “must not look for work while visiting as a tourist”.
That last point matters. A recce trip is for viewing areas and meeting people you already have arrangements with, such as your future employer, agents or schools. It isn’t for job hunting. See work permits.
Customs: declare cash over BMD 10,000, carry medication in its original packaging with the prescription (gov.uk), and note that fresh fruit, vegetables and plants need import permits (Customs).
Getting there from the UK
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to L.F. Wade International (BDA), according to schedule data on FlightsFrom (flightsfrom.com). Check BA for current days and times. To compare fares across airlines and routes, including connections via the US, you can search on Aviasales (affiliate link). Otherwise, connect via US East Coast airports. Bermuda’s tourism site says the island is about 90 minutes from New York and two to three hours from cities such as Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Philadelphia (gotobermuda.com).
Where to stay
For a recce, stay somewhere central enough to reach several parishes. Paget and Pembroke are close to Hamilton. If you’re considering the West End, spend a night or two in Sandys. Compare hotels and short lets on Booking.com or Expedia, and read where to live in Bermuda first.
Getting around on your trip
- No ordinary rental cars for visitors. Non-residents can’t rent four-wheeled vehicles, except licensed two-seater minicars (US Consulate, gov.bm).
- Buses and ferries are a good test of what commuting will be like. National Geographic notes a transport pass offering unlimited ferry rides for one to seven days (National Geographic).
- Taxis: about $6.50 to start and $4.81 a mile, by Numbeo’s crowd-sourced averages (numbeo.com).
- Scooters: the US Consulate warns they’re the island’s “greatest road peril” (US Consulate).
More in getting around Bermuda.
Staying connected
Buy a One Communications Tourist eSIM: $20 for 7 days/5GB, with a local number (onecomm.bm). Or use an international eSIM such as Airalo (affiliate link). See phones and eSIMs.
Travel insurance
The NHS won’t cover a holiday in Bermuda. Buy travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover before you go. EKTA (affiliate link) is one option to compare against other insurers. Bear in mind that this is short-trip travel insurance, not resident health cover. It won’t satisfy the private health insurance requirement for Permission to Reside, and it doesn’t replace an employer plan. Check the policy covers anything you plan to do, such as riding a scooter.
A five-day recce plan
Day 1: arrive and get your bearings
- Activate your eSIM. Take a taxi to your accommodation.
- Walk Front Street in Hamilton and find the ferry terminal.
Day 2: test the commute
- Do the journey from your likeliest parishes to your future office at 8am, by bus, ferry or taxi.
- Meet your employer or HR if that’s been arranged. Ask about housing support and health insurance.
Day 3: housing
- Meet two or three letting agents, booked in advance.
- View properties. Use the questions in renting in Bermuda: utilities, parking, whether a car is already registered, damp.
Day 4: everyday costs
- Go round a supermarket and note prices against our cost of living guide.
- Visit the bank you plan to use and ask what it needs from new residents (banking guide).
- If you have children, visit schools by appointment (schools guide).
Day 5: the west or east end
- Take the ferry to Dockyard, or head to St George’s, to see the other end of the island.
What to bring home
- A shortlist of two or three parishes
- Contacts for agents who understand your budget and dates
- Real grocery and transport prices
- Notes from your employer about start date, housing and insurance
- A feel for whether you can manage with one car per household
Then plan the move
When you get back, use our moving checklist and the complete UK guide to plan the move itself.
Sources checked 12 October 2026.
Related: first-time visitor guide to Bermuda
FAQ
Can I look for a job while visiting Bermuda?
No. FCDO advice is that you must not look for work while visiting as a tourist. If you want to work, you need a job offer and work permit before you enter.
How long can British citizens stay as visitors?
Up to 180 days in any 12-month period without a visa, with a return or onward ticket and a passport valid for the whole stay.
What should I do on a recce trip?
Test the commute at 8am from your likeliest parishes, meet letting agents and view properties, compare supermarket prices, visit your planned bank and, if you have children, visit schools by appointment.
Will travel insurance cover my Permission to Reside application?
No. Short-trip travel insurance is right for a recce trip but won't satisfy the private health insurance requirement for Permission to Reside.
How do I stay connected on the trip?
One Communications' Tourist eSIM costs $20 for 7 days/5GB with a local number, or you can use an international eSIM.