New Customs Traveller Declaration Takes Effect
The Customs Department advised the public that the new Customs Traveller Declaration [Customs Form 98 [3/26] is now in effect, as of October 1st, 2026.
A Government spokesperson said, “The revised Form 98 updates Bermuda’s customs declaration process for persons arriving in and departing from Bermuda and introduces enhanced requirements for the declaration of certain goods and high-value items.
“Under the new requirements, all travellers departing from Bermuda must declare precious metals and precious stones with a cumulative value exceeding BDA $10,000, or the equivalent value in foreign currency. This requirement applies to travellers departing Bermuda by air or by sea.
“The new declaration requirement strengthens Bermuda’s customs controls by ensuring that high-value precious metals and precious stones are subject to declaration requirements similar to those that apply to significant amounts of currency and negotiable instruments.
“The existing requirement to declare currency and negotiable instruments with a cumulative value exceeding BDA $10,000 remains unchanged.
“The revised Form 98 also incorporates the BDA $300 duty-free allowance for Bermuda residents and updates the categories of goods and information required when making a customs declaration.
“Travellers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the revised declaration requirements before travelling and to ensure that all required information is declared accurately.
“As a transitional measure, the superseded Customs Form 98 [4/16] will continue to be accepted by Customs until 31 October 2026. Travellers are encouraged to use the revised Form 98 [3/26]. The Revenue [Customs Traveller Declaration] Amendment Notice 2026 came into operation on 1 October 2026.”
The new Customs Form is here [PDF].
The form says; ““Under the new requirements, all travellers departing from Bermuda ”
Is this form for arriving or departing travellers?
It doesn’t say that anywhere on the form. The government spokesman said ‘there are new requirements for departing travelers.’
There’s a missing comma on the back page tho, and I guess the system uses ‘l’ character instead of a ’1′which looks weird e.g. $l0,000 and l)2)3)
Other then that it’s absolutely fabulous
The form doesn’t say that.
It does have a missing comma on the back page tho.
The form says “This form should only be completed if you have goods in excess of your duty-free allowances, if you are claiming transfer of residence allowance, if you have prohibited or restricted goods, if you have cash or negotiable instruments, or if you have precious metals or stones, to declare”
Look at the form. It is obvious it is for arriving or departing travellers.
So if my wife wears her diamond engagement ring, she has to declare it?
Reading the form, jewellery is excluded: “Precious metals and stones” includes precious or semi-precious
stones, precious metals and metals clad with precious metals but does not include articles of jewellery or coin.
What about all the bling worn by visitors on superyachts? Asking for a friend.
I see it on the form: Precious metals and stones of a value greater than BDA $10,000, or the equivalent amount in foreign currency, must be declared to Customs. “Precious metals and stones” includes precious or semi-precious
stones, precious metals and metals clad with precious metals but does not include articles of jewellery or coin.
I guess traveling with gold bars and loose diamonds and such falls under that declaration. So we can wear 1 oz gold bars on a gold chain, and that is classified as an article of jewellery. A diamond-encrusted gold bar on a gold chain also passes muster.
Wait for it….
I wonder if a Faberge egg on a necklace would qualify as jewellery.
Where do we go through Bermuda Customs when departing the island? To whom do we present this form upon departure? Is there now going to be a whole new search area for Bermuda customs in the departure area of the airport? I have never experienced an interaction with a country’s customs officers when leaving, only airport security. Therefore, why is there an option at the top of the first page to tick Arriving or Departing?