180-Day Policy Takes Effect On Jan 15, 2024
The Department of Immigration said they wish to “advise the public, especially guests of Bermuda, that the policy, which restricts the Allowed Length of Stay [ALOS] for those visiting the island to 180 days in any 12-month period, will come into effect on January 15, 2024.”
A Government spokesperson said, “To be clear, the unrestricted period of residence will be a cumulative maximum of 180 days in any 12-month period from the first arrival date within those 12 months.
“The ALOS for all visitors will be calculated and monitored via the Department of Immigration’s Border Management System, which has been modified to track the cumulative maximum length of stay, looking at past calendar dates to identify when the visitor has been to Bermuda.
“This information calculates the number of days, whether available or not, for that visitor to remain in Bermuda. Once the maximum 180 days has been reached, that day/date becomes the ALOS.
“The policy change clarifies the following conditions:
- If a visitor has not been in Bermuda within the past six months, they can stay in Bermuda for a consecutive 180 days without violating the 180-day policy.
- If a visitor has been in Bermuda for 180 days or more within the past six months, they cannot return to Bermuda within the next six months as they would violate the 180-day policy.
- If a visitor has yet to reach the maximum 180 days prior to their arrival, the system calculates the number of days they can remain in Bermuda before reaching their maximum ALOS.
“The policy change will mitigate visitors circumventing Immigration controls. This change prevents a visitor from arriving in Bermuda and staying for six months, then leaving for one day to return the next day and residing in Bermuda for another period of six months.
“Members of the public, especially visitors to Bermuda, are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the changes to visitor’s allowed length of stay.”
I thought we wanted people to come here and spend money. More Hayward ignorance…
Have all the people who travelled on Lawrence Scott’s charter flight got their Bermuda passports sorted yet. Need to get that done to be able to vote.
Looks like the change is being made before Bermuda joins Caricom (despite the PLP denying it) so the free movement of people required by Caricom can be controlled.
Caricom freedom of movement would allow anyone to come here, live and work here, and have access to free healthcare and education. Without any limitation.
The 180 day max would not apply to them.
That is a possibility.
Another possibility is that the PLP Government wants to limit the ability of certain people to remain in Bermuda for any length of time.
What was this before? Does anyone know?
Currently there is no limit on the number of days each year a person can stay, as long as they do not overstay any one visit (in which case they will not normally be allowed to return without special permission).
There have been people who stay for the maximum period of time, go away for a weekend and return. That was always unnecessary. I am not aware of anyone who has asked the Minister for permission to stay longer who has been denied.