Launched in July 2020, the Bermuda digital nomad visa offers remote workers the chance to live and work from the island for an initial 12-month period. 

An island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is one of the most remote destinations for digital nomads to visit. Known for its pink sand beaches and laid-back lifestyle, the destination is as close to paradise as it gets. 

Despite remaining a popular tourist destination, you won’t find any commercial fast-food chains, typical tourist shops, or a “strip” catering to cruise ships. Instead, Bermuda offers a unique, authentic destination that’s perfect for escaping to with nothing but a rucksack and a laptop.

But it’s not as easy as showing up—there’s a short list of requirements that all nomads must satisfy for a successful application. From the substantial income requirement to the clean criminal record—find out everything you need to know about the Bermuda digital nomad visa in our guide to remote working in the country. 

What is the Bermuda Digital Nomad Visa?

The Bermuda digital nomad visa, known as the Work From Bermuda Certificate, offers digital nomads and remote workers the opportunity to live and work in the British island territory. 

The Bermuda remote working visa is valid for an initial 12-month period with the option of renewal. Compared to other island territories offering similar visa packages, the application fee ($263 USD) is low, offering an inexpensive way to experience island living for up to one year. 

Applicants are permitted to bring their spouse and/or dependents with them on the digital nomad visa. However, each family member is required to fill out their personal details in individual application forms. 

The application process takes place entirely online and can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. But it’s the processing time that really takes the cake with applicants able to receive a verdict in just five business days. 

This digital nomad visa is offered alongside the Bermuda Global Entrepreneur Work Permit, designed with high-value individuals in mind. Activities permitted in the work permit include: 

• Business planning
• Seeking appropriate Government or regulatory approval(s)
• Meeting compliance
• Financial requirements
• Raising capital

The Bermuda Global Entrepreneur Work Permit is available for a period of one year with an application fee of $1,863.00 USD.

Why is the Bermuda Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

One of the main benefits of the Bermuda digital nomad visa is the length of time that remote workers are permitted to stay in the island territory. Tourists arriving in Bermuda are typically granted a maximum stay of just 90-days on arrival, a short-term solution for those looking to live and work on the island. The digital nomad visa builds on the tourist visa, offering a long-term solution with an initial permitted stay of 12 months. 

Another benefit of remote work in Bermuda is the tax situation offered in the British Island Territory. Those working with the digital nomad visa are not required to pay any additional taxes and each individual is offered a $200 customs allowance for each trip.

Bermuda Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

The Bermuda digital nomad visa may sound too good to be true, but, unfortunately, it’s not available to all. All applicants must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible for the remote working visa: 

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for the entire visa duration.
• Minimum Age of 18: All applicants must be of the minimum age of 18 to apply for the remote working visa.
• Substantial Income: Applicants must prove that they satisfy the vague “substantial income” requirement for Bermuda—meaning an income stream that can support remote working on the island. 
• Proof of Remote Work: Applicants must provide proof of remote work (freelancer, business owner, remote employee, etc.) when applying. 
• Letter of Enrollment: Students must provide a letter of acceptance to an undergraduate, graduate, research, or doctorate program. 
• Health Insurance: Applicants must show proof of health insurance with coverage in Bermuda. 
• Clean Criminal Record: All applicants must have a clean criminal record for a successful visa application.

How to Apply 

The Bermuda digital nomad visa is one of the easiest remote working visas that can be applied for, taking as little as 15 minutes to complete. Our step-by-guide to the visa application is designed to walk applicants through the process. 

Step 1: Collect all Necessary Documents 

The first step when applying for any digital nomad visa is to collect all of the necessary documents required for the application process. For the Bermuda remote working visa, the following documents must be presented: 

• Copy of valid passport
• Proof of remote work and/or enrollment
• Evidence of substantial income
• Criminal record check
• Proof of health insurance coverage in Bermuda

All documents, unless otherwise stated, must be presented in English when uploaded.

Step 2: Complete the Bermuda Digital Nomad Visa Application 

Once all documents have been collected and digitized, applicants are then able to begin the application process online. The process takes as little as 15 minutes with applicants simply following the onscreen instructions when completing the visa process. Once the application form is complete, all applicants will be required to make a payment of $263 USD, covering the visa application fee. For families, it should be noted that each member of the family must submit their own application form and make an individual visa fee payment on the same day. 

Step 3: Await Visa Approval 

Following the application process, applicants will be notified of the visa outcome within just five business days. Notification of a verdict will be made via email with the Work from Bermuda Certificate sent separately to the same email address. 

Why Choose Bermuda for your Next Remote Working Trip?

With pink sand beaches, indulgent spas, world-class chefs, laidback living, and adventure making up the island, Bermuda is a destination unlike any other. Digital nomads won’t find streets lined with tourist traps, fast-food joints, and commercial-ruin on the island. Instead, Bermuda’s vibe is refined and entirely unique.

Remote Work Culture in Bermuda

Thanks to the introduction of the digital nomad visa in Bermuda, the island is growing in popularity among the global network of remote workers. It should come as no surprise that Hamilton, Bermuda's capital, proves the most popular destination for office work. The city is home to a small selection of high-quality coworking spaces like Nineteen, Suite Solutions, and Ignite. Outside of the professional environment, nomads can also find a range of cafes and bars to work from not just in Hamilton, but across the island. 

Although the island territory may be remote, a trio of subsea cables connects Bermuda to the Caribbean, offering a reliable fiber service. Internet speeds can reach as high as 500Mbps, and, with WiFi mesh technology, there’s never the worry of spotty service with “all-over” coverage. 

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Bermuda 

For digital nomads, Bermuda’s Achilles heel is the cost of living on the island, estimated at 97.9% higher than in the United States with rental prices of more than 104.3% higher than equivalent properties in the US. This translates to estimated monthly costs for an individual nomad of $1,900 USD (without rent), increasing to more than $6,900 USD (without rent) for a family of four. 

At the same time however, Bermuda scores a total of 171.5 out of a maximum of 240 on the quality of life index, a very high ranking matched only by the very best places to live globally. Bermuda performs well in safety, healthcare, climate, pollution, and property price indexes to achieve such a high score. However, the high cost of living, traffic commute time, and purchasing power indexes prevent the territory from performing any higher.

Healthcare in Bermuda

Despite its remote nature, the island offers fantastic healthcare services with an extensive system designed to be self-sufficient without the need to outsource services. There are a number of private clinics, doctors, and pharmacists that digital nomads are able to visit alongside a general hospital, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The hospital features both an intensive care unit (ICU) alongside a range of additional specialty units to cater to the majority of health issues.

All digital nomads visiting Bermuda are required to provide evidence of health insurance with coverage of the island territory. We would recommend investing in quality service from a nomad-specific insurer for all remote work trips. 

Conclusion 

With pink sand beaches, world-class chefs, indulgent spas, and the opportunity for real adventure, Bermuda really has it all. What was once a paradise only available to visit for 90 days has now opened its borders to freelancers, business owners, and remote workers with a 12-month visa and further options for renewal. The 2020 launch of the Work From Bermuda Certificate is a huge step forward for remote working in the island territory.

The introduction of coworking spaces in Hamilton, the island’s capital, and the digital nomad community utilizing Bermuda as a home base is an exciting time. However, with the high cost of living that the island is known for, the Bermuda remote working visa is one reserved for high-value individuals. For those that can afford the inflated cost of living—there’s no place like Bermuda for a personal slice of paradise. 

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