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Duty Free Allowance for Returning Residents of Bermuda
All goods obtained abroad and being imported into Bermuda for the first time must be declared to H.M.
Customs Bermuda upon arrival. The penalties for smuggling goods into Bermuda are severe.
Returning residents of Bermuda may claim exemption of duty on goods to a total of $100, providing that they
are bonafide residents and that the goods accompany them.
Returning residents of Bermuda may each bring in duty free: one liter of wine, one liter of spirits, 200
cigarettes, 0.5 kg. of tobacco, 50 cigars. Any quantity in excess of these amounts is subject to duty. This duty free
allowance cannot be used for spirits and tobacco in excess of the $100 duty free allowance.
Bermuda residents may claim this exemption, provided that the goods have been acquired by him/her for
personal or household use, or as souvenirs or gifts, but not bought on commission or as an accommodation for
any other person, or for sale, as commercial samples to the satisfaction of the Collector of Customs.
Duty Free Allowance for Visitors to Bermuda
Personal Items
Bona fide visitors to Bermuda may bring in with them duty free their own personal clothing and effects. This
may include such personal items as sports equipment, cameras, hair dryers, portable TVs or radios, traveling
irons, etc., provided these items accompany the visitor when they depart the Island.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Visitors may also bring in duty free: one liter of wine, one liter of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 0.5 kg. of tobacco, 50
cigars. There is no age limit to claim on these duty free exemptions. A visitor may bring a reasonable amount
of beer for personal consumption, but the duty must be paid (approximately 30¢ per can or bottle).
Gifts
Goods to the aggregate value of $30 imported by and accompanying a person not ordinarily resident in these
Islands (a visitor) and intended as a gift for another person and not for sale, is permitted in duty free. Anything
over the $30 duty free allowance is subject to Customs duty.
H.M. Customs Bermuda Tariff 2004
Visitors may import items which are subject to duty. This includes many items of food, including up to 50 lbs.
of meat. Details contained in above titled publication issued by H.M. Customs Bermuda.
Unaccompanied Baggage
Duty and wharfage will be assessed and collected on unaccompanied goods. No duty-free allowances apply to
unaccompanied goods.
Plants
Live plants are prohibited unless a permit has been issued by the Department of Environmental Protection in
advance. All plants being imported for propagation purposes must be accompanied by plant health documents,
and will be inspected by the Plant Protection Laboratory in Bermuda to ensure freedom from pests and diseases.
Plant shipments are subject to duty at a rate of 33.5% of value.
Food
Some foodstuffs are dutiable and the amount varies between 0.00% and 22.25% of value. But when foodstuffs
are brought in with passenger baggage, the duty rate applicable is 22.25% of the value. This also applies to meat
for personal consumption.
Meat
Visitors may bring in up to 50 lbs. without a meat inspection certificate provided the meat accompanies them.
If importing more than 50 lbs, then a meat inspection certificate, provided by the official Meat Inspection
Authority of the exporting country, and recognized and accepted by the Chief Medical Officer of Bermuda, is
required from the Department of Health & Family Services. Any amount of meat imported via air freight or
unaccompanied baggage must have a meat inspection certificate and is dutiable at a rate of 5%.
Note: These guidelines for inspection certificates do not apply to all poultry and seafood. Some seafood is
prohibited – for example, Bermuda’s fisheries laws prohibit the importation of live marine animals (lobsters,
crabs, etc) by private individuals – they will be seized on arrival by H.M. Customs Bermuda. Only prepared
fresh, frozen or cooked fish or shellfish can be brought into the Island, providing the package is free of algae or
seaweed. Check with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Animals
Permits must be issued by the Department of Environmental Protection to import all animals (including
household pets) in advance of the animal’s arrival. Each animal must be accompanied by a general health
certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within the ten days prior to its arrival in Bermuda. A course of
parvovirus inoculations is recommended but is not mandatory. Animals brought in by visitors for temporary
stays that depart again with their owners are duty free, but animals imported for permanent stays in Bermuda
are subject to duty.
Antiques
Certification is required of an item that is 100 years old or older on the day of exportation to Bermuda; dutiable
at 8.5% of value.
Sculptures
Original sculptures are dutiable at 8.5% of value. The only exemption is for work portraying scenes or events
in Bermuda, executed prior to 1970.
Paintings
Drawings, pastels, prints, lithographs, etc., are dutiable at 8.5% of their value. As with sculptures, the only
exemption is work depicting scenes or events in Bermuda, executed prior to 1970.
Prescription Drugs
All drugs and medication for the personal use of a visitor, prescribed by that person’s own doctor and which
accompanies the visitor traveling to Bermuda, must be declared to a Customs officer upon arrival. Supplies
should be sufficient only for the duration of the visitor’s stay. Note: Visitors already in Bermuda are not permitted
to have their prescribed drugs and medication mailed to them.
Drugs (Illicit)
Illicit drugs of any kind are strictly prohibited. The Misuse of Drugs Act states that the importation of, possession of,
or dealing with unlawful drugs (including marijuana) is an offence. Anyone contravening this Act is liable to heavy
fines or imprisonment, or both. Conviction on indictment carries a maximum penalty of a fine, imprisonment for life,
or both. Customs officers may conduct personal searches for illicit drugs and other uncustomed goods
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Methadone maintenance
Visitors who are on a methadone maintenance programme may enter Bermuda without having to declare themselves
as such. However, they are not permitted to bring into Bermuda with them any supply of methadone or
equipment of administration. Treatment is available at Bermuda’s St. Brendan’s Hospital. To enquire about receiving
treatment while in Bermuda, visitors should ask for the Medical Director of St. Brendan’s, tel. (441) 236-3770.
Firearms
Firearms of any kind are prohibited. The Firearms Act states that the importation of any firearm, part of a
firearm or ammunition into Bermuda is forbidden except under the authority of a permit granted by the
Commissioner of Police. Such a permit will not ordinarily be granted except to visiting rifle club members
attending a sports meeting in Bermuda. Spear-guns and a variety of dangerous weapons, including Verey pistols
or signal guns, are treated as firearms, but antique weapons manufactured 100 years or more ago can be imported
if the importer presents certification of the gun’s age. It is a serious criminal offense to import firearms or
ammunition into Bermuda without a permit, and anyone caught doing so may be imprisoned or fined heavily. Yachtsmen should inform H.M. Customs upon arrival concerning Verey pistols when sailing into Bermuda.
Group/Conference Sales Materials
Clearance of merchandise and sales materials for use by groups and conventions must be arranged ahead of
time with the hotel concerned.
Cameras, Film & Clothing
Cameras and film required for professional purposes and clothing for fashion photography, will be cleared
through H.M. Customs Bermuda easily and quickly when arrangements are made in advance through the
Department of Tourism in Bermuda (mark correspondence for the attention of the Manager, Public Relations).
A list, in triplicate, is required of the equipment and clothing to be brought in. Serial numbers of cameras
should be included, and it is suggested they should be registered with the U.S., Canadian or U.K. Customs before
departure to facilitate their return to the country of origin.
Household Effects
Such items brought in by new residents (person traveling to Bermuda to take up residence), are subject to
Customs duty. Duty ranges from 6.5% to 33.5%. Among the few duty free items are printed matter, books and
certain personal effects.
Salesperson’s Permit
Non-Bermudians may not sell or promote products on behalf of an overseas agent or business until permission
to do so is granted. Permits will not be issued to a person to sell goods in competition with those of the same
type sold in Bermuda. There are two classes of permits:
A Sole Agent’s Permit for those who are Sponsored by a Local Agent:
• application must be made to the Chief Immigration Officer, by the local agent, five days prior to the
intended date of arrival;
• a sole agent’s permit is valid for one year, the fee is currently $293.
A Salesperson’s Permit for those who are without a Local Agent:
The application may be made either in writing or in person to the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce. The
Chamber screens each application to:
• determine if the product is already represented by one of the business firms and whether the permit will
threaten that firm’s interests;
• the cost of a monthly permit is $370, and the cost of a yearly permit is $550.
Such a salesperson’s permit is subject to the recommendation of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce. |
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| Contact us |
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For your convenience here are the contact details of the agencies listed above
H.M. Customs Bermuda
P.O. Box HM 2084
Hamilton HM HX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 295-4816
Fax: (441) 295-5392
Email: customs@gov.bm
Web: www.customs.gov.bm
Department of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box HM 834
Hamilton HM CX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 236-4201
Fax: (441) 236-7582
Email: agfish@ibl.bm
Department of Health & Family Services
P.O. Box HM 380
Hamilton HM BX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 239-3438
Fax: (441) 236-3971
Bermuda Department of Tourism
P.O. Box HM 465
Hamilton HM BX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 292-0023
Fax: (441) 292-7537
Commissioner of Police
Police Department
P.O. Box HM 530
Hamilton HM CX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 295-0011
Fax: (441) 299-4459
Bermuda Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box HM 655
Hamilton, HM CX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 295-4201
Fax: (441) 292-5779
Web: www.bermudacommerce.com
Department of Immigration
P.O. Box HM 1364
Hamilton HM FX, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 295-5151
Fax: (441) 295-4115
Email: mbrewer@gov.bm
Web: www.immigration.gov.bm
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