Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2022

What this bill does

This bill changes the rules for how long visitors can stay in Bermuda without a special permit. It clarifies that visitors can stay up to 6 months (or 180 days, whichever is longer) within any 12-month period, counting all their visits combined, not just single trips.

If passed (voted YES)

• Visitors will have a clear limit of 6 months total stay time within any 12-month period, whether they visit once or multiple times
• The government can still set shorter time limits for specific visitors if needed
• People who started visits in the 6 months before this law takes effect will have those days counted toward their new limit

If rejected (voted NO)

• The current visitor stay rules remain unchanged and potentially unclear
• There would be no standardized definition of how long visitors can stay without permits
• Confusion may continue about whether the 6-month limit applies to single visits or total time spent in Bermuda

Who it affects

This primarily affects tourists, business visitors, and anyone else visiting Bermuda without permanent residence or work permits. It also affects immigration officials who need clear rules to enforce visitor stays.