FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Work Permit Process

1. How long does the work permit process take?

The process can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 weeks - from beginning to end. The time it takes depends on the job, advertising timelines and the applicant responses. And most importantly, the assistance we get from the sponsoring Employer. Within 5 business days of our receipt of all the required information to support an application, eg. medicals, police, passport pics, etc and assuming that the ad has run, we promise the submission of the complete application to the Department of Immigration. We will confirm via email when we actually submit and will soon after deliver to you an electronic copy of the submission for your record.

2. How long before an approval?

At a minimum, the Department of Immigration will take 4 -6 weeks to process an application. We will connect with you after the first two weeks whether or not we have any information to report. The Board meets on Wednesdays only so in many cases, we get a reporting by the following Monday, which we report immediately to the Employer. Note also that around particular seasons and holidays, the Board may not meet weekly thus a decision may be delayed a bit.

3. How is the work permit issued?

The DOI immigration issues card permits only which cost $145.00. The card is good for the term of the permit tenure where at renewal, another card will need to be issued.

3. On what grounds will an application be denied?

4. What about processing for people from the Azores?

We are comfortable with all elements of processing in consideration of a Portuguese Accord. When the DOI approves the permit application of an Azorean national, they send the authorized Accord or Work Contract to the Portuguese Embassy. The Embassy will contact the worker, and the worker can collect the Accord (with proof of travel itinerary). The Azorean national can travel and land in Bermuda on the Accord. Soon after landing, we will need to collect copies of his Arrival Stamp, submit to the DOI and request that the formal permit be issued. This will take about 10 days.

4. What do I need to get started?

Go to Forms Page

5. What are the work permit fees payable to the Accountant General?

See the 2019 Work Permit Application Fees here.

7.How much do you charge for work permit processing?

For the simplest renewal, our fee starts at $550 where the complexity of each file ultimately determines our fee charge. For more complex cases, initial or renewals or for restricted class submissions requiring more interviews etc, our fee is assessed when the case is taken on . We confirm before we start work what the flat processing fee will be. There are no additional fax, telephone or copy fees to be assessed. The only other fees which may apply are the translation fees paid to a third party who translates documents to English for immigration purposes. And given the processing required for a Filipino national, and the requirement for proper authorization by the POEA, the process for a Filipino candidate resident in the Phils will attract an additional $1500 est. in charges. Please call for a specific price quote.

8. What happens at the end of contract? And the contract worker will no longer work for my company?

Its important to advise the Department of Immigration letter as soon as the decision is made. Per immigration policy, the employer is responsible for all costs of repatriation. And this usually must happen within 45 days subsequent to contract end.

9. Does the employer have to issue a release letter?

The employer is not required to issue a release letter under any circumstances. Policy recognizes a) that where a candidate has been in Bermuda for less than 2 years, that he cannot seek another employer and b) that where the employee has been in Bermuda for more than 2 years under a single contract, that he is free to find alternate employment for which he is suitably qualified. Change of title though is generally not favored by the DOI.

10. What is the Permission to Reside?

The Permission to Reside allows a person to reside in Bermuda for a set period at the completion of a work contract if he / she does not have another job. Typically the PTRS is issued for 8 weeks, however, candidates may receive a further 8 weeks to reside and seek. At the end of the 16 week period, the applicant will be asked to leave the island.

10. What other types of immigration work do you do?

Passports

Visa Applications

Civil Penalties Administration

PRC & Status Applications

Recruitment, Screening & Selection of Candidates

Where do you find the candidates for my business?

We start in Bermuda. However, there remains a pervasive shortage of workers particularly in the skilled trades. We conduct a search for qualified candidates both in Bermuda and in source markets known for the provision of the skills our clients seek. We have a number of sourcing partnerships with like agencies in the Philippines, US, Canada, and throughout the Caribbean.

2. If you find the candidate, what specifically is involved?

3. And what is the cost?