What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?
The New Business Work Permit permits work for the approved new business in any job category except entry-level, graduate, trainee, closed or restricted positions; required statutory-council consultation still applies. Exempted companies newly in Bermuda have the policy’s initial automatic-approval period; 114B companies are limited to five permits in that period. Work must remain within the issued permit’s scope. Under section 1.10, holders may seek alternative employment without Ministerial permission after two years with the initial employer; job changes/job seeking are restricted during the first six months of a new permit and three months of a renewed permit. A written Ministerial waiver may be sought for redundancy, an established bona fide labour grievance or employer death; accountants have the stated18-month exception. Seeking another job does not itself grant permission to perform it. New Business holders fall within section 5’s sponsored-dependent scheme: spouse/domestic partner, qualifying unmarried partner and children may apply; children are generally under 18, or in full-time college/university up to 25 with annual proof, with exceptional extensions requiring permission. Parents/other relatives require separate residence permission and independent income. Medical coverage and financial proof apply; base-income thresholds are $60,000/$100,000/$125,000/$150,000 for 1/2/3/4+ dependent households, The holder, spouse and one child count as a one-dependent household; the holder and unmarried partner count as one, rising to two with one child. Base salary excludes allowances, bonuses and the other listed extras; the Minister may waive the minimum for dependent partners/children. Spouses/partners may receive permission to reside and seek work, while children receive residence only; paid work requires an employer to obtain a work permit through the normal procedure. Unpaid charity/religious volunteering is expressly allowed.
See recorded sources
- https://www2.gov.bm/files/media-library/20260511/eadf7caf-work_permit_policy_may_1_2026.pdf — section3.5 New Business
3.5 New Business Work Permit
Purpose and Specifications
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. The first New Business Work Permit must be applied for within the first 12 months
of the business registration or incorporation. There is no need to advertise the positions
(which is normally the requirement of the Standard Work Permit). New 114B companies
to Bermuda (per the definition in the Companies Act) will automatically be granted New
Business Work Permits – however these will be limited to five (5) New Business Work
Permits within the first nine (9) months of obtaining the first New Business Work Permit.
New Business Work Permit holders may be employed in any job category provided that their
position is not an entry level position, a graduate position or a trainee position or specified
in a closed or restricted category (see sections below). However, if the New Business Work
Permit holder falls within a job category where a statutory council must be consulted that
must still be done (see section 3.12).
Although the number of permits that can be issued under this Policy is not capped, new
businesses that anticipate requiring more than five (5) work permits within the first nine (9)
months of operation (e.g. due to relocating an existing business from another jurisdiction)
will be required to present additional information to the Minister. Such information
includes their Bermuda office staffing plan, including their projections for hiring and
developing Bermudians, as well as plans for engaging local service providers to support
their organization. When considering 114B New Business Work Permits the Minister shall
consider such plans as aforementioned.
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New Business Work Permits will be issued for one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) or five
(5) years. At the end of the New Business Work Permit term, if the employer wishes the
incumbent to remain in Bermuda, they must apply for a Standard Work Permit.
Eligibility
To qualify for a New Business Work Permit, employers must provide a certificate of
incorporation of a Bermuda exempted company or section 114B certificate and, in cases
where the first day of operation is not the same as the date of incorporation, state the date
that the company has or will commence operating in Bermuda.
Application Process
To apply for a New Business Work Permit employers must complete the New Business Work
Permit Application Form. It is for the Minister to determine what constitutes a new business.
3.6 Fintech Business Work Permit
- https://www2.gov.bm/files/media-library/20260511/eadf7caf-work_permit_policy_may_1_2026.pdf — section1.4 work restricted to permit scope
Section 71A of the Act empowers the Chief Immigration Officer to impose civil penalties
of up to $10,000 on employers who abuse immigration policy. For example, violation of
any part of section 4.1 of this Policy may result in civil penalties being imposed and/or a
restriction on future employment. Civil penalties can be incurred if a person continues to
work after their work permit has expired, and without specific permission from the Minister
of Economy and Labour to do so. Civil penalties can also be incurred if a person works
outside of the scope allowed in their work permit.
The most common complaints
- https://www2.gov.bm/files/media-library/20260511/eadf7caf-work_permit_policy_may_1_2026.pdf — section1.10 job seeking/changes
1.10 Seeking Employment
A non-Bermudian resident may not look for a job without first obtaining permission from the
Department of Immigration, unless exempted from work permit control by law. Persons who
wish to seek alternative employment may request permission from the Department to do so
within 14 days after the last date of employment. Those non-Bermudians who are exempt
from work permit control are Belongers, Spouses of Belongers, PRC holders and Extension
of Spouse’s Employment Rights (ESER) holders, spouses of Bermudians and Job Makers.
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A non-Bermudian work permit holder, who is no longer employed and, therefore, no longer
possesses a valid work permit, may not seek employment, apply for employment, or engage
in work without the permission of the Department of Immigration.
Permission to Seek Employment and Job Changes During the First Two (2) Years
Any Short Term , Standard, Global, Intra-Company Transfer, New Business, Fintech, and
Family Office Work Permit holder may seek alternative employment without obtaining
permission from the Minister, provided they have completed two (2) years of employment
with the initial employer. In addition, for new work permits, job changes will not be considered
in the first six (6) months after issuance. For renewed work permits, job changes will not be
considered within the first three (3) months after issuance. Work permit holders cannot
seek employment during the restricted periods of six (6) or three (3) months.
Although there is no limitation on the number of job changes that such a work permit holder
may have, job changes within the above specified periods will be restricted. Exceptions may
be made in circumstances where: the work permit holder has been made redundant; the
work permit holder has lodged a complaint against their employer with the Department
of Labour (and it has been determined that the applicant has a bona fide grievance with
the employer); or with the death of an employer. In those circumstances, the work permit
holder may make a written request to the Minister to waive the restrictions.
The following groups of people are prohibited from seeking employment in Bermuda:
▶ those with permission to reside in Bermuda on an annual basis,
▶ visitors to Bermuda, and
▶ volunteers.
Note: Accountants are permitted to seek alternative employment or work for another
employer after completing only 18 months with their initial employer.
1.11 Settling Affairs and Leaving Bermuda
- https://www2.gov.bm/files/media-library/20260511/eadf7caf-work_permit_policy_may_1_2026.pdf — sections5–5.1 dependent eligibility and support
5.0 SPONSORED DEPENDENTS
Many employees who are granted permission to reside and work in Bermuda wish for
their spouse (married in accordance with Bermuda law), partner, fiancé and/or child(ren) to
accompany them. The purpose of this section of the Policy is to specify the qualifications
and conditions surrounding sponsored dependents.
A sponsored dependent is limited to the following:
▶ spouse of a PRC holder or work permit holder (married or in a Domestic
Partnership in accordance with Bermuda law);
▶ partner of a Bermudian, PRC holder or work permit holder (see the detailed
guidelines on the Department of Immigration website:
https://www.gov.bm/partner-genuine-and-subsisting-relationships); or
▶ child(ren) and legally adopted children, stepchildren, or other dependents for which
a belonger, PRC holder or work permit holder is a legal guardian.
For this section, the term ‘work permit’ means a New Business Permit or Standard Work
Permit.
For this section, children under eighteen (18) years of age are generally classified as
dependents of their parents. In cases where the children are attending a college or university
full-time, the children continue to be classified as dependents, on an annual basis, up to the
age of twenty-five (25) years. Proof of full-time education must be provided. Dependent
children, on attaining eighteen (18) years of age, who are not attending a college or university
and who wish to reside in Bermuda, require permission in their own right to do so. Also,
dependent children whose courses are online are not permitted to seek employment or
work in Bermuda without the Minister’s permission.
There may also be special circumstances in addition to the above where children are
permitted to be treated as dependents for a longer duration or on an ongoing basis (such
as a child is unable, for medical or other exceptional reasons, to live independently) subject
to the express permission of the Minister. Proof (i.e. an official letter from the medical
practitioner) must be submitted to support the exceptional circumstances.
For the avoidance of doubt, parents and other relatives are not sponsored dependents nor are
they taken into consideration when assessing ‘household base income’ (see Table 5.1). They
must apply for a separate permission to reside and have an independent means of income.
5.1 Sponsored Dependents Residing and Working in Bermuda
Spouses and Children
Upon application, a spouse who is a sponsored dependent of the work permit holder may
be given permission to reside with the work permit holder and seek employment. Proof of
medical coverage is required.
An application for permission for a spouse to reside and seek employment must include
evidence that the work permit holder has a base salary of $60,000 per annum.
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Spouse refers to marriages and domestic partnerships recognized by Bermuda law.
The work permit holder and spouse of the work permit holder with one child constitutes a 1
dependent household, with two children it is a 2 dependent household, etc.
Partners and Children
Upon application, an unmarried partner who is a sponsored dependent of the work permit
holder may be given permission to reside with the work permit holder and seek employment
in Bermuda provided that the sponsor submits proof of financial support in the form of a
base income of $60,000 to support him/herself and the partner. Proof is a bank reference
and evidence of medical coverage. The Department reserves the right to require further
proof if required to assess the ability of the sponsor to support the sponsored dependent(s).
The work permit holder with a partner constitutes a household of 1 dependent; with one
dependent child included, that is a household of 2 dependents.
For section 5 and for the avoidance of doubt, please note that sponsored dependent
children are only given permission to reside, not to seek employment.
Applications for permission to reside and seek employment in Bermuda with an unmarried
partner and children who are sponsored dependent(s) of a work permit holder must include
evidence that the following total base remuneration thresholds will be met.
Table 5.1
Household Base Salary
Demographic Profile
Remuneration
1 dependent household $60,000 per annum
2 dependent household $100,000 per annum
3 dependent household $125,000 per annum
4+ dependent household $150,000 per annum
Note: Base salary does not include housing allowance, bonuses, gratuities, utilities, phone
allowance, school fees, transportation, overtime, part-time employment, etc.
Upon making application, however, the Minister may waive the minimum remuneration
requirement for dependent partners and children.
Should the sponsored dependents’ status change in any way the work permit holder must
advise the Department of the change. Failure to do so could result in the primary work
permit holder’s permit being revoked.
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5.2 Entry / Re-entry Permit
- https://www2.gov.bm/files/media-library/20260511/eadf7caf-work_permit_policy_may_1_2026.pdf — section5.5 dependent work
5.5 Employment of a Sponsored Dependent
A sponsored dependent may be permitted to work only if he/she is hired by an employer who
has followed the normal policy to obtain a work permit. For the avoidance of doubt, resident
sponsored dependents can volunteer for unpaid positions with not-for-profit organizations,
registered charities or religious institutions without permission from the Department. If a
dependent receives a work permit, they must surrender their re-entry permit,
5.6 Employing Relatives
