Bermuda - Obtain Permanent Residents Certificate

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person:

Obtain the application form online through the government of Bermuda website: website or download it from the link provide in “Documents to use” section below.
Read through the application form carefully and determine which section you are applying under i.e. Section 31A OR Section 31B.
Fill the application form with the correct valid information and attach all the required documents for the section you are applying the residence under
Have you referees fill the reference section, ensure that they qualify as per required by law
With the complete application form and all the required documents, submit the application to the Department of Immigration for verification and processing.
Pay the required application fee for the section you applied for
The application will be reviewed for completeness and you may be asked to provide further information. Once you are fully compliant with all requirements, and this has been verified by the Department of Immigration, the application will be presented to the Minister responsible for Immigration for a decision. Once approved, a Residential Certificate will be issued.

Required DocumentsEdit

For those applying under Section 31A:

Completed application form
2 passport photos
Certified copies of the applicants valid passport
A letter of support and character reference from 2 sponsors
A letter from the employer and a letter from a professional person attesting to support the residence of the applicant for 10 years
A copy of the applicants exemption certificate and, where the applicant is counting any period between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2012, a copy of each companys certificate(s) that identifies the date from when each company was assessed as having met the criteria identified in Section 3B of the Economic Development Act 1968
A letter from each eligible employer or employers confirming that the applicant worked for them during the relevant eligibility period.

For those applying under Section 31B:

Completed application form
2 passport photos
Certificate copies of your birth certificate or passport plus marriage certificate and deed poll (if applicable)
A letter of support from 2 sponsors
Proof of residence in Bermuda for 10 years, e.g. letter from schools, employers and a letter from a professional person attesting to your 10 years residence
Proof of relationship to child, spouse (whichever applies to your specific application), including long form birth/marriage/adoption certificates or deed poll (if name has been changed). Proof is also required of these persons Permanent Residents Certificate as specified in this form
Other documentation in support of your application as specified in this form, if required

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Department of Immigration:
Government Administration Building
30 Parliament Street
Hamilton HM12
Postal Address:
P.O. Box HM 1364
Hamilton HMFX
Phone: 441-295-5151 Ext. 1378
Fax: 441-295-4115
Office Hours: 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Chief Immigration Officer
Phone: 441-295-5151 Ext. 1444
Email: [email protected]
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer
Phone: 441-295-5151 Ext. 1385
Email: [email protected]
Immigration Hotline Phone: 441-296-5202

L.F. Wade International Airport
3 Cahow Way
St. George's GECX
Phone: 441-293-2542
Fax: 441-293-3151

EligibilityEdit

Applicants must fulfil all the requirements to be eligible to apply under Section 31A:

You have been exempted from Part V of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956, under section 5 of the Economic Development Act 1968 for at least 10 years;
You have been ordinarily resident in Bermuda for a period of at least 10 years; and
You have been ordinarily resident in Bermuda during the two years immediately preceding application.

To be eligible to apply under Section 31B:

Applicant may either be: A son or daughter of a person who possesses a Permanent Resident's Certificate under Section 31A and are above the upper limit of compulsory school age.
Or, the applicant may be the spouse of a person who possesses a Permanent Residents Certificate under Section 31A.
And in all cases, the applicant must be:
at least 18 years old
ordinarily resident in Bermuda for a period of 10 years immediately preceding application.

Notes:
Subject to the provisions of the old part section 31A, subsection (1) of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act, 1956, a person may apply to the Minister for the grant of a permanent residents certificate if:

he/she was ordinarily resident in Bermuda on or before 31 July 1989;
he/she has been ordinarily resident in Bermuda for a period of 20 years;
he/she was ordinarily resident in Bermuda for a period of two years immediately preceding the application;
he/she is, on the date of application, not less than 40 years of age; and
He/she makes application before 1 August 2010.

FeesEdit

On application for a permanent resident's certificate under section 31A $50,000
On application for a permanent resident's certificate under section 31B $ 3,000

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Application form: Form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

2 to 4 weeks

InstructionsEdit

The applicant is required to have two sponsors to support their application. Sponsors must both be Commonwealth citizens who possess Bermudian status and have known the applicant for at least seven years.
In order to obtain a Permanent Residents Certificate, an applicant must fulfil requirements under Section 31A or 31B of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956.

Required InformationEdit

Applicant's personal details:
Surname/Family name
First name
Middle name(s)
Family name at birth
Age
Gender
Date of birth
Address in Bermuda
Postal address
Contact numbers
E-mail address
Nationality at birth
Country of birth
Present nationality
Marital status
Employment
Convictions (if there is any)
Date of arrival in Bermuda
Information regarding the applicant's residence abroad
Details relating to the applicant's Spouse or Former Spouse (if applicable)
Details relating to the applicant's parents
Details relating to the applicant's sponsors

Need for the DocumentEdit

Residence certificate prove that you can reside in Bermuda legally and obtain service the non-residence are not allowed to obtain

Information which might helpEdit

Bermuda Residence certificate policy: Policy

External LinksEdit

Bermuda law: Bermuda law
Bermuda Government: Bermuda Government

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.