A small island nation located about 600 miles off the coast of North Carolina, Bermuda is a popular, sunny destination for looking for a great place to relax. With tons to offer and beautiful views, it's also a perfect place to relocate.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Bermuda, whether it's for employment, family or a change of scenery, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to Bermuda from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Anyone entering Bermuda through customs will have to present customs officials with certain documents required to gain entry. These documents should be packed separately from the rest of your moving shipment and kept on you at all times to avoid accidentally misplacing them. Here are the documents you'll need in order to clear customs in Bermuda upon your arrival:
- Passport
- Inventory
- Customs Bond of 33.38 percent of the value of the goods, often determined by the insured amount of the goods (should the duty and customs fees amount to less than the deposit, the difference will be refunded to the customer. Accordingly, if the duties and fees are more than the deposit, the difference will be billed to the customer)
- Letter authorizing Destination Agent to clear shipment
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Bringing a large shipment of your belongings with you on your move to Bermuda? You might want to check out the shipping regulations:
- Customer's presence at customs clearance is advised
- Used clothing is duty-free
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Attempting to import prohibited items through customs in your destination country can result confiscation or land you in legal trouble. It's best to acquaint yourself with the prohibited items before embarking on your move so you can make sure your shipment is free of any contraband:
- Weapons of ALL types, including: flick knives, blowguns, spear guns, crossbows, etc., will be confiscated
- Narcotic drugs
- Explosives (including pyrotechnics of any sort)
- Gold or silver coins
- Pornographic material
- Political literature
- Protected species of fish i.e. black rockfish, yellowtail snapper, swordfish, blue marlin.
- Marine turtles of all species
- Marine mammals of all species (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises)
- Atlantic Pearl Oysters
- Gaming machines
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Hazardous materials
RESTRICTED ITEMS
While some items are prohibited from being imported into Bermuda, other items may be restricted and require certain authorization from customs officials before being allowed to clear customs. Here is the list of items that may be restricted or dutiable upon entering Bermuda:
- New items subject to duties (invoices required)
- Alcohol and tobacco products
- Fruits, vegetables and soil require an Import Permit and are subject to inspection upon arrival by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks. Those failing agricultural inspection will be destroyed.
- All firearms and ammunition are prohibited unless the traveler possesses a valid firearm license issued by the Commissioner of Police.
- Plant and plant products entering the country will need permission from the Agriculture minister.
- Imported fish must be clearly identified by species and the country of origin or export, and must be certified as to its quality by the health authority of the country of origin or export.
- Raw and pasteurized milk is prohibited except where authorized by the Minister responsible for Agriculture
- All meat and meat products being imported into the country must be accompanied by an Official Certificate provided by the Official Meat Inspection Authority of the exporting country, and recognized and accepted by the Chief Medical Officer of Bermuda.
- Historical artifacts require authorization
- Any person may import duty free up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars, plus 1.137 liters of spirits and 1.137 liters of wine.
- Appliances are taxed at 33.4 percent of customs assessed value
- Furniture and sporting goods are taxed at 22.25 percent of customs value
- Antiques are taxed at 8.5 percent of customs value
- Duties will be assessed against Bermuda Customs Tariff.
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
When moving overseas, you may want to transport your vehicle as well. Each country has different regulations for shipping a motor vehicle, so take some time to familiarize yourself with the regulations in your destination country to make sure your vehicle fits the criteria:
- No vehicle over six months old is permitted to be imported
- Motorcycles are prohibited
- Automobiles are restricted as to size and engine capacity
- Duty applies
- License from the Transport Control Department is required
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Shipping animals overseas can be a complicated process and you will often need prior authorization from a health inspector in the destination country and a certificate of health from a licensed veterinarian. Here are the requirements for shipping pets and animals to Bermuda when you move:
- Animal must be at least four months old
- Health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian from the country of origin
- The name, date of birth, breed and description of the animal is required
- Any animals being imported into the country will need an Import Permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection together with a Health Certificate issued less than 10 days prior to your arrival.
- Endangered species of animals are subject to CITES regulations--the importation and exportation of endangered species must be supported by the relevant CITES Certificate
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are unique in the amount of preparation and planning that is required to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations in your destination country. These regulations often vary and are subject to change.
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few helpful links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: