Mr. Speaker,

I rise before this Honorable House to provide updates to the Bermuda Immigration and Protection (Prohibition of Entry) Order – Bermuda’s Visa Controlled Nationals List.

Mr. Speaker,

Bermuda protects its borders by controlling entry by persons from a specified list of countries. For listed persons, Bermuda requires travellers to have a multi re-entry visa for the US, UK or Canada that is valid for a period of forty-five (45) days from the date of intended departure from Bermuda in order to be landed. Consequently, Bermuda relies on the visa controls of gateway countries.

Mr. Speaker,

On August 11, 2023, Bermuda’s visa controlled nationals lists was updated by way of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection (Prohibition of Entry) Order 2023. This Order ensures that security and vetting takes place prior to an individual arriving in Bermuda and that tourist visitors and residents of Bermuda have ready-access to the US, UK and Canada through commercial air service.

Mr. Speaker,

The visa controls by gateway countries (referred to earlier) are quite active in that changes can be made frequently and without warning. On November 15, 2023, the UK amended its Visa Controlled Nationals list and removed nationals from Colombia and Qatar from that list. In addition, the UK listed nationals from ten (10) countries as exceptions so that certain categories of persons no longer need a visa before they travel to the UK as a visitor. Ordinary nationals of these countries still require a visa and therefore have to be listed on the Bermuda Order.

The UK’s current exceptions, which are subject to change, vary for each country but include circumstances such as:

1. travelling on an emergency travel document to transit to the country in which they are ordinarily resident; 

2. holding a diplomatic or special passport;

3. nationals or citizens who hold a passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

4. holding an Electronic Visa Waiver; and

5. removal from exception if visiting the UK to marry or to form a civil partnership.

Mr. Speaker,

Prohibition Orders are subject to the negative resolution procedure. Accordingly, the new Order was gazetted on 6^th March 2024, and will be laid before this Honourable House today.

In accordance with the UK’s updated list, Bermuda’s Visa Controlled Nationals list has removed Colombia and Qatar and lists the following countries as exceptions – Bahrain, the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

To prevent changes at short notice, the new Order directs visa controlled nationals to the UK’s website for the current list of countries and exceptions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.