Key Updates To Bermuda's Work Permit Policy 2025

Changes to hiring processes

Reasons for not hiring local candidates (Section 1.6)

Employers must more clearly state in work permit applications why a Bermudian, spouse of Bermudian, or PRC holder was not selected over a work permit applicant, specifying the skills or experience lacking.

Further, the policy now specifies that employers will be expected to fill jobs in the following order: (i) Bermudians; (ii) Belongers (we understand this to mean naturalised British Overseas Territories Citizens); (iii) spouses of Belongers; (iv) spouses, widows, and widowers of Bermudians; (v) divorced parents of Bermudians; (vi) Permanent Resident's Certificate holders; (vii) persons with a qualifying Bermudian connection (e.g. the parent of a Bermudian); (viii) other non-Bermudians. It is unclear how immigration will seek to enforce this hierarchy in practice.