To work in Bermuda, you must be Bermudian, married to a Bermudian, or be a Permanent Resident’s Certificate (PRC) holder. If you are not you must have a valid work permit.
There are various types of work permits depending on the type of work and the length of time the person will be working in Bermuda.
There are nine different types of work permits:
1. Periodic Work Permit
A Periodic Work Permit is used by employers seeking to hire non-resident individuals who will make multiple visits to Bermuda over a period of time, staying no greater than 30 days for each visit. Advertising for a periodic work permit is not required.
2. Periodic Work Permit for Travelling Salespersons
Traveling salespersons are not permitted to visit Bermuda to sell products without first obtaining a Periodic Permit.
3. Short Term Work Permit
The Short Term Work Permit is used by all employers, including not-for-profit organizations, registered charities and religious institutions, to employ an individual to work for periods of up to six (6) months.
4. Global Entrepreneur Work Permit (GE Permit)
A Global Entrepreneur Work Permit is used by business service companies who have a business relationship with global investors who wish to domicile a company in Bermuda.
4. New Business Work Permit
A New Business Work Permit allows an exempted company (per the definition in the Companies Act) that is new to Bermuda to receive the automatic approval of work permits for the first six months after obtaining the first new business permit.
5. Standard Work Permit
The purpose of a Standard Work Permit is to allow all organizations in Bermuda to employ foreign nationals if they can demonstrate that a Bermudian, Spouse of a Bermudian, Belonger, Spouse of a Belonger, or PRC holder was not suitably qualified or available to be hired.
6. Intra-Company Transfer
An employer can apply for a Standard Permit for a person who is already employed by a global company in another jurisdiction to transfer to the Bermuda office without the requirement to advertise the position.
7. New Business Work Permit
A New Business Work Permit allows an exempted company (per the definition in the Companies Act 1981 (“the Companies Act”) that is new to Bermuda to receive automatic approval of work permits within the first nine (9) months of obtaining the first new business permit.
8. Fintech Business Work Permit
A Fintech Business Work Permit allows a Fintech company that is new to Bermuda to receive immediate approval of five (5) work permits within the first six (6) months of obtaining the first Fintech Business Work Permit.
8. Family Office Work Permit
A Family Office Work Permit allows a Family company that is new to Bermuda to receive automatic approval of five (5) work permits within the first six (6) months of obtaining the first Family Office Work Permit.