Bermuda: Public Feedback Period Open for Revised Work Permit Policy

The Bermuda Department of Immigration has released a revised draft of its Work Permit Policy 2025 for public consultation. The revisions are intended to create a more transparent and efficient work permit system that supports Bermuda’s dual goals of prioritizing employment for Bermudians while facilitating access to qualified international talent.

The updated policy includes a range of changes intended to clarify existing procedures, introduce new permit categories, and establish more realistic processing timelines. Notably, the standard processing time for work permits will be extended from 20 to 30 working days to better align with operational capacity. The revised policy also emphasizes the requirement for employers to give hiring priority to Bermudians and expands the English language proficiency requirement to all foreign nationals, not just Portuguese citizens.

Several new provisions have been introduced, including a Family Office Permit in line with Bermuda’s emerging investment framework, clearer guidance for job title changes and advertisements, and updates to how dependents are defined and supported. Additionally, the rules for short-term work permits have been tightened to prevent their use as a stopgap while awaiting standard permits, and the definition of business visitors has been broadened to include roles within nonprofits and religious institutions.

As part of a broader effort to modernize immigration services, the Department has also begun a phased digitalization project. The first phase will focus on work permit applications, with the goal of streamlining submissions and enabling clients to track application status online.

The public consultation period will close on July 4, 2025 with the final version of the Work Permit Policy expected to take effect on September 1, 2025.