Bermuda
Bermuda's capital city is graced with British
charm. Shop for Shetland sweaters, English
bone china or Bermuda shorts. Take a break
with afternoon high tea in proper British style. Or
explore the wild side with snorkeling excursions
and glass bottom boat trips. Bermuda is
composed of 150 islands, yet it is only 22 miles
long. The island chain is 21 square miles and
natives refer to the group simply as 'The Island'.
Bermuda is sub-tropical due its location in The
Gulf Stream. Tropical in appearance but
temperate in climate, Bermuda's weather is as
close to perfect as you'll find. Temperatures are
moderate through the year, with morning lows
ranging from 55 F-70 F and afternoon highs,
from 75 F - 85 F. Sunshine is abundant
year-round in Bermuda, though humidity tends
to be a bit higher in the summer months.
Clothing
The atmosphere of Bermuda is one of British
reserve and dignified informality. Therefore, there
are certain “customs of dress” which you will
want to know. As a rule of thumb, dress
conservatively. Bathing suits, abbreviated tops,
and short shorts are not acceptable except at
beaches and pools. There are no nude or
semi-nude beaches. In public (including public
areas of hotels) beach wear must be covered.
Bare feet and hair curlers are not acceptable
anywhere in public. It is an offence to ride
cycles or appear in public without a shirt or just
wearing a bathing suit top. Joggers may wear standard running shorts and shirts.
Casual sportswear is acceptable in restaurants at lunchtime, but many restaurants
and nightclubs in and out of hotels require gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie in the
evenings. It is best to check on dress requirements when making dinner/nightclub
reservations as some places do have casual evenings periodically.
CurrencyClick Here For Currency Exchange
Legal tender in Bermuda is the Bermuda dollar (BD$), which is divided into 100
cents. The Bermuda dollar is pegged to the US dollar on an equal (one-to-one)
basis. This means that US currency is accepted at shops, restaurants, and hotels
at equal (face) value. Other foreign currencies are not accepted but may be
exchanged at local banks at rates that are set daily.
Taxes
All room rates, regardless of meal plan, are subject to a 7.25% Hotel Occupancy
Tax. The Bermuda Departure Tax of $20 is included with the airfare when the ticket
is purchased.
Transportation
There are no drive-yourself cars for hire, but visitors can get about easily by taxi,
bus, ferry, motor scooter, and by horse and carriage.
Tipping/Gratuities
In cases where the gratuity is not included in the bill, 15% is the generally
accepted amount for most services. A large number of the hotels and guest houses
add a percentage or set amount per person, per day, in lieu of tips to the
accommodation bill.
These are the documents needed to enter Bermuda.
A Return or Onward Ticket
or other document of onward documentation to a country to which, at that time, the
passenger has right of entry, is required by all visitors.
Passports
are the preferred document for entry into Bermuda and are required of all visitors from
countries which require a passport for re-entry purposes or for entry through another
country to which at theat time the passenger has right of entry.
Proof of Citizenship and Identification
(including photo ID). All travellers (this applies to adults and children travelling alone or
with their parents - see Reqirements for Children for additional notes on children
travelling with an adult other than parent and/or in the process of adoption) must carry
with them proof of citizenship and personal identification (including photo ID) relevant to
return to their own country or for re-entry through another foreign country, as required by
Bermuda Immigration authorities, in particular.
A. Visitors from the United States
must present any one of the following items of
identification (including photo ID) (please note: passports
are the preferred travel document for entry to Bermuda):
(1) US Passport (if expired, should ber of sufficiently
recent vintage so that
photograph resembles bearer);
(2) Birth certificate with raised seal issued by a
competant municipal authority, or certified copy; either
one along with photo ID;
(3) US re-entry permit;
(4)US Naturalisation Certificate
(5) US Alien Registration Card
B. Visitors from Canada
must present any one of the following items of identification (including photo ID) (please
note: passports are the preferred travel document for entry to Bermuda):
(1) Valid Canadian passport;
(2) Birth Certificate or certified copy, either one along with photo ID
(3) or, for people born outside Canada, a Canadian Certificate of Citizenship or proof of
their Landed Immigrant Status.
C. Visitors from the UK and Western Europe
must present a valid passport of their country.
Requirements for Children
(1) Children travelling with an adult other than their parents must be in possession of the
travel documents specified above, along with a letter from their parent(s) authorizing the
child to be accompanied by the respective adult for the trip.
(2) Parents of adopted children should be particularly careful that they carry with them
the proper documents for their adopted children, especially if the children are of different
nationality from the parents. Parents in the process of adopting children are advised not
to leave the country with the children until all the legalities and paperwork are finalised.
(3) Children entering Bermuda for the purpose of adoption must be in possession of
documents from the Bermuda Department of Immigration confirming their entry into
Bermuda for adoption.
Remember, a valid passport is always the best document for any traveller to
carry.
Length of Stay:
Most bona fide visitors with a confirmed return ticket and place of accomodation will
have no difficulties with Bermuda Immigration Control.
There is a special Secondary Immigration Control section at the airport to deal with any
unusual circumstances of arriving passengers. Bermuda Immigration authorities may
restrict the length of stay, for example, passengers arriving with an open ticket will have
a time limit imposed.
Application to extend the length of stay must be made in person at the Immigration
Headquarters in Hamilton.
Passengers arriving without a return ticket or on a one way ticket into Bermuda will not
be admitted unless prior Bermuda Immigration authorisation has been given.
Persons wishing to enter Bermuda for the purpose of residence and/or employment, or
for indefinite periods, will not be permitted to land unless they have prior authorisation
from Bermuda Immigration authorities.
Visas
are not required except for Nationals from the following countries:
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China
(People's Republic of)*, Croatia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, (former)**, Georgia, Haiti, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Lebanon,Lybia,
Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea,
Pakistan,Romania, Russian Federation, Republic of Slovakia, Slovenia, Soviet Union
(former), Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikstan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Vietnam (North & South), Yugoslavia (former) and Yugoslavia (Serbian Republic of)
* Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports or British National (Overseas) Passports do
not require visas for Bermuda
**Nationals of Slovakia travelling on Czechoslovakian passports need visas. Citizens of the Czech Republic do
not need visas.
Note: any of the listed nationals who are permanent residents of the US or
Canada, holding a valid US Alien Registration Card r valid proof of Canadian
Landed Immigrant Status plus a valid Passport, do not require a visa to enter
Bermuda.
However, persons requiring visas to enter other countries on departure from
Bermuda must be in possession of the respective visas or transit visas prior to
arrival in Bermuda.
Visas may be obtained from the Visas Section of a British Embassy or other
British Foreign Service establishment abroad, i.e. a Consulate
