Dependent Child of Work Permit or Residence Holder

▶ child(ren) and legally adopted children, stepchildren, or other dependents for which a belonger, PRC holder or work permit holder is a legal guardian. For this section, the term ‘work permit’ means a New Business Permit or Standard Work Permit. For this section, children under eighteen (18) years of age are generally classified as dependents of their parents. In cases where the children are attending a college or university full-time, the children continue to be classified as dependents, on an annual basis, up to the age of twenty-five (25) years. Proof of full-time education must be provided. Dependent children, on attaining eighteen (18) years of age, who are not attending a college or university and who wish to reside in Bermuda, require permission in their own right to do so. Also, dependent children whose courses are online are not permitted to seek employment or work in Bermuda without the Minister’s permission.

A sponsored dependent is limited to the following: ▶ spouse of a PRC holder or work permit holder (married or in a Domestic Partnership in accordance with Bermuda law); ▶ partner of a Bermudian, PRC holder or work permit holder (see the detailed guidelines on the Department of Immigration website: https://www.gov.bm/partner-genuine-and-subsisting-relationships); or ▶ child(ren) and legally adopted children, stepchildren, or other dependents for which a belonger, PRC holder or work permit holder is a legal guardian. For this section, the term ‘work permit’ means a New Business Permit or Standard Work Permit.

For this section, children under eighteen (18) years of age are generally classified as dependents of their parents. In cases where the children are attending a college or university full-time, the children continue to be classified as dependents, on an annual basis, up to the age of twenty-five (25) years. Proof of full-time education must be provided. Dependent children, on attaining eighteen (18) years of age, who are not attending a college or university and who wish to reside in Bermuda, require permission in their own right to do so. Also, dependent children whose courses are online are not permitted to seek employment or work in Bermuda without the Minister’s permission. There may also be special circumstances in addition to the above where children are permitted to be treated as dependents for a longer duration or on an ongoing basis (such as a child is unable, for medical or other exceptional reasons, to live independently) subject to the express permission of the Minister. Proof (i.e. an official letter from the medical practitioner) must be submitted to support the exceptional circumstances.

Applications for permission to reside and seek employment in Bermuda with an unmarried partner and children who are sponsored dependent(s) of a work permit holder must include evidence that the following total base remuneration thresholds will be met. Table 5.1 Household Base Salary Demographic Profile Remuneration 1 dependent household $60,000 per annum 2 dependent household $100,000 per annum 3 dependent household $125,000 per annum 4+ dependent household $150,000 per annum Note: Base salary does not include housing allowance, bonuses, gratuities, utilities, phone allowance, school fees, transportation, overtime, part-time employment, etc. Upon making application, however, the Minister may waive the minimum remuneration requirement for dependent partners and children.

A sponsored dependent of a work permit holder may be permitted to land in Bermuda as a bona fide resident after the issuance of an entry/re-entry permit. The entry/re-entry permit allows the holder to seek employment unless otherwise stated on the entry/re-entry permit. To obtain an entry/re-entry permit, employers must follow the instructions in the relevant forms when requesting a work permit. For all successful applications, the sponsored dependent(s) will be issued an entry/re-entry permit that is aligned with the end date of the sponsor’s work permit. If the passport (or multi re-entry visa, where applicable) of the sponsored dependent expires before the end date of the sponsor’s work permit, the entry/re- entry permit will be granted to coincide with the sponsored dependent’s passport expiry date. Once a certified copy of the new passport is submitted to the Department, a request to amend the dates of the entry/re- entry permit can be made. It is essential that the sponsored dependent always carries the original entry/re-entry document when travelling. Where a sponsored dependent arrives in Bermuda without the entry/re-entry document, an undocumented fee may be levied at the airport (see Appendix III). Where a sponsored dependent of a work permit holder obtains their own work permit, the entry/re-entry permit issued to them will no longer be valid. The entry/re-entry permit should be returned to the Department. In cases where the same sponsored dependent’s work permit expires and where they are not issued a new work permit, they can apply for a new entry/re-entry document as a sponsored dependent of the work permit holder.