27 July 2020News

Bermuda to grant One Year Residential Certificates to remote workers

Bermuda’s Ministry of Labour will amend the eligibility for a One Year Residential Certificate (OYRC), enabling applications from people who are able to work remotely from Bermuda.

It will also allow visitors to remain in Bermuda for a maximum of 180 days, up from the previous limit of 90 days.

Non-Bermudian post-secondary students will also be allowed to complete their higher education from Bermuda, starting August 1, 2020.

The Ministry of Labour is working with the Department of Immigration to launch the OYRC during the first week of August 2020. The form will be available for electronic submission, along with all relevant documentation, via the government portal, and the government has promised to process applications swiftly.

The government expects the move to increase economic activity and benefit businesses including restaurants, hotels and accommodations, leisure businesses, and government departments.

Jason Hayward, Bermuda’s Minister of Labour, highlighted the impact that COVID-19 has had on the local economy, causing mass unemployment and decreased economic activity. OYRCs will cost $263 and will allow Bermuda to boost its population and economic activity, and provide greater job security for Bermudians, he said.

Hayward noted that remote working has been a growing trend, “and is something the Bermuda Government has been examining as part of its technology-focused economic diversification strategy.”

He added: “Allowing non-Bermudian post-secondary students to complete their higher education from Bermuda represents an opportunity to build an international student community in Bermuda and enhance Bermuda’s digital perception by travelers worldwide, which will produce benefits to the local economy.”

Applicants must be over the age of 18 and demonstrate good character, with no conviction for an indictable offence on their record. They must have valid health insurance and demonstrate employment with a legitimate firm or their own company registered and operating overseas for remote workers.

Students must provide evidence of enrollment in a research, undergraduate, graduate or doctorate programme and demonstrate they have sufficient means or a continuous source of annual income.




More on this story

News
4 August 2020   The Bermuda government has launched a purpose-built website for professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and digital nomads who can work remotely, including post-secondary students, to apply for the new “Work from Bermuda” one-year residential certificate.

More on this story

News
4 August 2020   The Bermuda government has launched a purpose-built website for professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and digital nomads who can work remotely, including post-secondary students, to apply for the new “Work from Bermuda” one-year residential certificate.