Bermuda to offer year-long stays for remote workers

Working from ‘home’ just got more exciting

Fancy changing up your working from home location?

Bermuda is offering year-long stays for people who want to work or study remotely.

The British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic is proposing residencies for visitors aged 18 or over, with requirements including health insurance and proof of employment or enrolment in higher education.

“Remote working has been a growing trend for some time and is something the Bermuda Government has been examining as part of its technology-focused economic diversification strategy,” Bermuda’s minister of labour, Jason Hayward, said in a statement.

“The trend towards remote working has been accelerated by Covid-19. These visitors can reside in Bermuda without seeking employment on the island and will promote economic activity for our country without displacing Bermudians in the workforce.”

The idea behind the scheme is to help kickstart the island nation’s tourism industry and give its economy a boost following the coronavirus pandemic.

Residency comes at a price – a certificate for a year-long stay costs $263 (£207), with applications open by 1 August.

However, for those not wanting to commit to such a lengthy stay, Bermuda has also extended its tourist visa from 90 to 180 days (around six months).

Sitting off the east coast of the United States, in line with South Carolina, Bermuda is a popular tourist destination thanks to its pink sandy beaches, diving friendly reefs and balmy climate.

It follows in the footsteps of Barbados, which is also encouraging foreigners to become digital nomads for the year.

Bajan prime minister Mia Mottley proposed the new policy in response to the impact of coronavirus on travel.

Under the scheme, visitors would have the option of a year-long stay on the idyllic island, following the opening of its borders to international visitors on 12 July.

The ‘Barbados Welcome Stamp’ would enable people to immerse themselves in the island’s culture for a longer period of time.

In a statement, Mottley said: “You don’t need to work in Europe, or the US or Latin America if you can come here and work for a couple months at a time; go back and come back.

“But in order for those things to truly resonate, what does it mean? It means that what we offer has to be world class and what we continue to offer is world class.”

She added: “The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons travelling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us, and making it available for Barbadians from every walk of life to believe that for special occasions, or just for so, that they can come out and be a part of this wonderful exercise.”