- Bermuda has updated its work permit policy to address labor shortages in hospitality and aviation sectors.
- Aviation roles like aircraft mechanics and cabin agents have moved to the restrictive Closed Category.
- The government maintains that Bermudians remain the first priority for all local hiring and recruitment.
(BERMUDA) — Bermuda’s Ministry of Economy and Labour updated its annual work permit policy for Closed and Restricted Job Categories to help employers cover labour gaps in hospitality and aviation while keeping Bermudians as the first hiring priority.
Minister Jason Hayward, JP, MP, said the targeted changes respond to labour shortages that have emerged alongside statistical full employment, low unemployment and an aging population.
The ministry framed the update as a balancing act: employers can hire overseas when they cannot find local staff, but permits are issued only when “no suitably qualified Bermudian applies.”
Officials tied the new approach to tighter expectations for recruitment and accountability, including advertising roles and, in hospitality, holding career fairs. Employers also face an annual reporting requirement once Bermudian employment reaches the 50% threshold.
Aviation employers saw some roles placed into more restrictive categories, a signal that approvals will face tighter scrutiny in jobs the government now treats as Closed or Restricted. The ministry moved Aircraft Licensed Mechanic, Cabin Services Agent, Passenger Service Agent and GSE Apprentice Mechanic into the Closed Category.
At the same time, the government moved Aviation Security Guard, GSE Licensed Mechanic, GSE Body and Paint Technician, Ramp Agent and Ramp Senior Operator into the Restricted Category, altering how companies plan staffing and how quickly they can onboard.
Hospitality changes applied to hotels and restaurants, and the ministry said the adjustments would run for one year. Bartenders and Room Attendants shifted from Closed to the Restricted Category, while General Bartender remained Closed for other businesses.
The ministry linked those hospitality moves to post-period reporting that compares Bermudian staffing levels with the number of work permit holders, adding another compliance step for hotels and restaurants that rely on seasonal and rotating staff.
Beyond aviation and hospitality, the ministry extended the maximum duration for Restricted Category permits, giving employers more continuity and reducing the churn of frequent renewals. The policy cited examples across skilled trades and service roles, including Electrician, Plumber, Waiter/Server and Landscape Gardener Entry Level.
For employers, longer permits can change compliance calendars and workforce planning, particularly where staffing models depend on predictable rotations and training time. For workers, longer permits can provide a longer planning horizon for housing, schooling and other practical arrangements tied to employment status.
The update builds on the Work Permit Policy 2025, which took effect on November 1, 2025 and reshaped baseline requirements that still apply. That earlier framework introduced an English proficiency requirement for standard applicants and created a new Family Office Work Permit.
The 2025 policy also updated police certificate expectations for first-time applicants, a change that can add lead time for people assembling applications from overseas. The same framework set out the hiring priority order that guides how Bermuda evaluates recruitment and decides whether employers can fill roles with work permit holders.
Under that priority order, Bermuda places Bermudians first, followed by Belongers, then spouses of Belongers and spouses, widows or widowers of Bermudians. The remaining order runs through divorced parents of Bermudians, Permanent Resident Certificate holders, those with Bermudian connections, and other non-Bermudians.
Employers must still submit signed employment contracts as part of the application package, a requirement the policy treats as a core document rather than an administrative formality. The ministry has also kept limits on how quickly a worker can change jobs after a new permit or a renewal, rules designed to promote stability and prevent the permit system from being used to jump between employers.
Switching employers can also trigger longer lock-in rules, with a separate exception in place for accountants, the policy said. Those constraints can shape recruitment decisions in Bermuda, particularly for businesses competing for experienced staff in a small labour market.
Regulated professions face another layer of timing risk because some roles require council or board approval before a work permit can be finalized. The policy singled out regulated work such as healthcare and engineering, where approvals can affect start dates even after an employer has identified a candidate.
Hayward tied the annual update to a broader message on hiring standards and competitiveness, making clear the government will not relax the Bermudian-first approach even as it responds to labour gaps. “Bermudians will always come first under this Government. That principle is not negotiable,” he said.
The ministry said it will keep the occupational lists under review as workforce needs evolve, a signal that employers may see further adjustments as the island’s labour market shifts and the government reassesses which jobs remain Closed, which become Restricted, and which can open more easily to work permit holders.
