🇧🇲 Bermuda Digital Nomad Visa: Say Goodbye: Work From Bermuda Has Ended

The Bermuda digital nomad visa has ended

For a while, your island dream had an open door. In August 2020 Bermuda was among the pioneers. The Work From Bermuda One Year Residential Certificate offered remote workers and students a year of island living for a US$263 fee, renewable, with no fixed minimum income. Five years later, the government shut that door. Its application portal names 28 February 2025 as the initiative’s official end, with no new applications accepted since. Existing certificate holders were offered a switch to an annual residence permission. For everyone else, this route to paradise is gone.

Don’t let an outdated comparison list sell you a dream you can no longer claim. Here’s one last honest look at what the certificate offered:

• a one-page online application
• a fee of US$263
• proof of employment or your own company outside Bermuda, or of enrollment as a student
• health insurance and a police clearance certificate
• no minimum income
• processing in about five working days, with the certificate sent by email

That simplicity made the dream feel possible. But it no longer fit the government's direction: an immigration policy refocused on multi-year, substantial stays.

Bermuda is the second prominent example after the Cayman Islands, whose program ended in 2024: the expensive British Overseas Territories are winding down their pandemic nomad programs. But don’t give up on your island plans. Turn towards an active island program: explore the Bahamas and its BEATS permit.

What actually works in 2026

Your Bermuda dream is still within reach: as a visitor you can stay up to 180 days, counted cumulatively within a rolling 12-month period from your first entry. This rolling count has applied since January 2024 and replaced the old calendar-year rule. Before you start planning your island escape, check whether your passport needs a visa for Bermuda.

Imagine swapping your everyday backdrop for island life, with your laptop in tow. Bermuda does not require a work permit from visitors who work remotely for an employer or client outside the island. Half a year on the island is still legal as a visitor, but without an automatic extension or the reassurance of a certificate of your own.

Don’t let a booking mistake derail your dream: work through the rolling count before you book. Stay from October to March, and you have used up your allowance for the following months; you cannot return as early as the summer. Arrive ready to show a return flight, accommodation and sufficient funds. Border officers decide your actual length of stay case by case.

Can’t bear to leave the island after 180 days? To make it home for longer, you apply for Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis. But loving it isn’t enough: approval rests with the immigration authority, is discretionary and carries no legal entitlement. Realistically, this route is mainly for people who can demonstrate a genuine connection to the island.

Ready to build a future, not just dream about one? The predictable long-term route is also the most expensive. With the Economic Investment Certificate, an investment of at least US$2.5 million (real estate, a stake in a business or bonds) secures five years of residence, with an option on permanent residence afterward. This is not a nomad tool. It’s a wealth tool. Approach it that way.

Which route fits?

• One season with a laptop: turn that island dream into reality with the visitor stay, planned carefully around the rolling 180 days.
• A longer stay with a real tie to the island: pursue annual residence, but go in knowing approval is never guaranteed.
• A permanent base and a large budget: set your sights on the Economic Investment Certificate.

Zero income tax. More freedom. But mind the asterisks.

Imagine keeping more of what you work so hard to earn. Bermuda levies no income tax on wages and salaries and no capital gains tax. The state funds itself through a payroll tax on employment with Bermuda employers, high customs duties and fees. Nothing applies locally to your remote income from clients abroad.

But protect that dream before you pack: zero percent in Bermuda does not free you from tax at home. As a visitor, you remain tax resident wherever your center of vital interests is. A genuine move to a zero-tax territory can also trigger departure taxes or extended tax liability in some home countries. Spare yourself an expensive surprise: check the rules of the country where you are resident now before planning a real move.

US citizen? Wherever life takes you, you remain subject to US income tax on your worldwide income (IRS). Get clarity before taking the leap: our guide on whether digital nomads are tax free explains how this works.

Daily life: perhaps the most expensive island in the world

Bermuda is not in the Caribbean. It stands alone in the North Atlantic at the latitude of South Carolina. Picture your escape: mild, not tropical winters (around 18°C in February, with the swimming season roughly from May to October). Just don’t overlook the reality: hurricane season runs from June to November, and the island is regularly brushed by storms.

The price of that dream? The cost of living has topped world rankings for years. Expect US$3,000 or more for a modest rented apartment, groceries costing several times what you may be used to, and restaurant prices that could crush the nomad budget you lived on in Southeast Asia.

• first-class infrastructure and very good internet to keep you connected
• the peace of mind of a low crime rate and English as the official language
• New York or Toronto about two hours away by plane
• solid medical care, with specialist cases sent to the US

From Europe you fly via London. Give yourself one less thing to worry about: because specialist care means the US, international health insurance with US cover is a must. Get the basics in our overview of health insurance for digital nomads.

Longing for a quarter or two in the Atlantic, working for US clients? Bermuda is a wonderful, expensive address. Dreaming of something longer term? Take your next step: compare the programs that are still open in our digital nomad visa overview, and explore our guide What is a digital nomad visa? for the basics.

Frequently asked questions

Does Bermuda still have a digital nomad visa?

Sadly, no. Dreaming of island life? The Work From Bermuda One Year Residential Certificate ended on 28 February 2025, and no new applications are accepted.

How long can I stay in Bermuda as a visitor?

Make your Bermuda dream last, up to 180 days counted cumulatively within a rolling 12-month period from your first entry. Your actual length of stay is decided case by case by border officers.

Can I work remotely in Bermuda as a visitor?

Yes! Make Bermuda your remote-work escape. Visitors working remotely for an employer or client outside the island do not need a work permit.