Country Code Will Change From GBR To BMU
The Ministry of Economy and Labour announced “the restoration of the Country Authority Code in the Bermuda passports,” stating that “effective April 30, 2024, the country code will change from GBR to BMU.”
During a special Handover Ceremony in Montreal Canada, which was hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO], the return of the BMU code became official. “The Montreal event was attended by Governor Rena Lalgie and Premier David Burt.
Following the handover ceremony, Premier Burt – who signed official documentation on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda – said, “As I previously shared, I know that this occasion will bring great relief to many Bermudians, and I am proud that we have delivered this for them so that they can return to travelling without added obstacles that are no fault of their own.
“It was a pleasure to see this reach fruition following years of hard work. And we are thankful for the hard work by Minister Hayward and his team, including the Chief Immigration Officer and by so many other dedicated persons both within and outside of Government.”
And at the completion of the ICAO Ceremony, Governor Lalgie said, “I was delighted to participate in today’s ceremony. This was possible thanks to the positive and collaborative work undertaken by colleagues at the Department for Immigration, UK Government departments and staff at Government House. Whilst this has taken longer than we would have hoped, it is an undeniably positive day for Bermudians who travel and shows what we can achieve when we work together with a common purpose.”
Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward said, “This change is an important feature as it determines the citizenship of the passport holder.
“The Country Authority Code GBR code has caused difficulties for BOTC [Bermuda] passports holders when travelling to the United States from a country other than Bermuda. This is due to some airlines mistakenly interpreting the GBR code to mean the holder is a citizen of the United Kingdom, which would require an ESTA or visa to travel to the United States.
“To address this issue, the BMU code will be printed on all Bermuda variant passports from April 30, 2024. Any passports printed before this date will have the GBR code applied. The Government of Bermuda will ensure that appropriate notices are sent out through International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO] system, to ensure that immigration authorities and carriers globally are aware of the changes.
“It is important to note that Bermudians who apply directly to HM Passport Office will continue to receive a standard British passport, and the code applied will be GBR. Only those who qualify for a BOTC [Bermuda] passport should apply through the Department of Immigration to receive the BMU code.
“This change is a significant step forward in ensuring that Bermudians are able to travel internationally with ease and without unnecessary restrictions.”
The Government spokesperson said, “The public should note that a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ fact sheet that provides information regarding the Reinstatement of BMU Code will be shared on the Immigration gov.bm webpage and will be circulated to key stakeholders in the coming days.
“And as indicated, appropriate notices are being issued via the ICAO system so that immigration authorities and carriers globally are aware of the changes. For further information, regarding the changes, the public should contact the Department of Immigration on 246-8093.”
You can view the BMU Frequently Asked Questions here [PDF].
Burt PLP Talked to Boris Johnson a few years ago, and we lost the identification on our passports.
Now it is being put back….
THIS ISNT A WIN
What should be being talked about is why the UK took away Bermuda’s vetting and printing of Bermuda Passports in the first place?? (Clue: it wasn’t efficiency).
You say that the “UK took away” something. I am not sure that is an accurate statement, but I accept that it is your view of matters.
The fact of the matter is that the UK ceased delegating authority for the printing of British passports because of corruption that had nothing to do with Bermuda. Other overseas territories were issuing British Overseas passports to people who did not qualify and should not have had any British passport.
In order to protect the integrity of the British passport, the UK withdrew all delegated authority for the printing of British passports, not only from islands in this part of the world, but also from Crown Dependencies such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.
Two words: The Uyghurs