Bermuda (British Overseas Territory) travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary (Hurricane Bill has now passed, references to Bill deleted). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• The hurricane season in Bermuda normally runs from June to November. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and the tropical cyclones page of the FCO website for more details.
  
  
• Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation. Due to Bermuda’s status as a British Overseas Territory the local authorities deal with all requests for consular-type assistance. See the Entry Requirements, Health and General sections of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Most visits to Bermuda are trouble-free. There is however a moderate crime rate, and you should take precautions.
  
  
• The possession, or importation, of drugs and weapons (including air pistols and catapults) is illegal. Those caught will be prosecuted and the penalties can be severe.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and our Travel Insurance page for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For more general information see our terrorism abroad page.

Political situation

Bermuda Country Profile

Crime

Bermuda has a moderate crime rate driven in part by the drugs scene. Serious incidents, including use of weapons, do occur, but the use of firearms remains rare.

You should take precautions to ensure your personal safety, and to safeguard your possessions. Common crimes include burglary, mugging, theft of unattended baggage and belongings, and theft of items from rental scooters. Please see the Bermuda Police Service website which provides Tourist Safety Tips.

Particular caution should be exercised after dark. You are advised to stick to well-lit parts of the island and avoid the quieter, darker streets. There have been incidents of sexual offences. For more general information see rape and sexual assault abroad.

Should you need assistance you should contact the Bermuda Police Service in the first instance.

For more general information see our victims of crime abroad page.

Road Travel

Tourists are not permitted to drive cars in Bermuda.

Buses, ferries and taxis are safe, frequent and efficient. You cannot hire a car in Bermuda, but 50cc scooters are readily available for public hire. Bermuda drives on the left, as in the UK. Roads are narrow, winding and undulating, and; traffic may be heavy. Road accidents involving scooters are relatively common, and have resulted in serious injury or even death. You should take care. The speed limit in Bermuda is 35kpm (22mph).

Outside the major urban areas there are few footpaths or street lighting. You should take care when out walking, especially at night.

For more general information see our driving abroad page.

Local laws and customs

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession or importation of even small quantities attracts severe penalties.

Bermuda, while welcoming, is a conservative place and you should dress modestly. Bathing suits, revealing tops and short shorts should only be worn at the beach or pools. There are no nude or topless beaches and it is an offence to appear in public topless or wearing a bathing suit top.

Drinking alcohol in public outside of licensed premises is not allowed.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our your trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

British passport holders do not require visas to enter Bermuda as a visitor but accommodation must be booked prior to arrival. The usual length of stay automatically permitted to a visitor is twenty-one days. Anyone travelling via the USA must have at least six months’ validity remaining on their passport.

For visa enquiries, non-British passport holders should contact the Identity and Passport Service at the Home Office on 020 7901 2334 from 1000-1600 GMT (Mon-Fri) and the Government of Bermuda website.

If you want to extend your stay, permission must be sought from the Department of Immigration before your initial twenty-one day stay ends. While an extension of stay is not automatic, extensions are normally granted. Bermuda Immigration will help in cases of problems with passports and visas.

Work permits

If you wish to work in Bermuda, you must secure a job before coming to the island. Your employer will then apply to the Department of Immigration for a work permit, and once this is received you may enter the country to work. You may not seek employment while visiting Bermuda.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Health

Bermuda has good modern medical facilities with a fully equipped General Hospital and numerous doctors and dentists. King Edward Memorial Hospital has a good Accident and Emergency Department.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Bermuda and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.

A (H1N1) - Swine Flu

There have been 6 confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus - Swine Flu in Bermuda. You can check for updates on the number of cases and their location through the Bermuda Department of Health website. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at WHO website has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.

For more general health information see our travel health page.

Natural disasters

The hurricane season in Bermuda normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Center. For more general information see our Tropical Cyclones page.

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should ensure that this covers medical repatriation by Air‑Ambulance as cases that cannot be dealt with in Bermuda are usually referred to either Baltimore or Boston in the USA. You should also ensure that your insurance covers any additional medical expenses incurred in the USA. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is our how we can help page.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Consular assistance in Bermuda

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory; there is no British Diplomatic or Consular representation. The Bermuda Government Department of Immigration is able to issue emergency travel documents and the Bermuda Police Force will assist with other crime related matters.

Department of Immigration, Government Administration Building, Parliament Street, Hamilton (Tel: +1 441 295 5151; fax: +1 441 295 4115).

Central Police Station, 42 Parliament Street, Hamilton. (Tel: +1 441 295 0011; fax: +1 441 299 4559).

UK Representative of Bermuda

Ms Kimberley Durrant
Government of Bermuda
London Office
6 Arlington Street
London
SW1A 1RE
Tel: 020 7518 9900
Fax: 020 7518 9901
E-mail: londonoffice@gov.bm
Website: http://www.gov.bm

Useful websites:

http://www.gov.bm
Bermuda Online
http://www.bermudatourism.com