Bermuda

Bermuda's official guidance distinguishes private pleasure yachts, superyachts, and commercially chartered superyachts; permit type, permitted stay, and fees vary by use. This entry summarises published government rules. Confirm eligibility and current charges against the latest Marine & Ports guidance and permit.

Bermuda's official yacht guide identifies St. George's as the main yacht clearance centre. Yachts berthed or moored at Hamilton Princess Marina may clear there. Race vessels may have designated arrangements. Use the current Marine & Ports visiting-yacht pre-arrival form and confirm the vessel's authorised berthing location. A general commercial port is not necessarily a yacht clearance point.

Advance notice

The official visiting-yacht form asks for estimated arrival and departure dates, next port, anchorage, crew identities, agent, intended charter activity, and completion of the health declaration. Follow the form's directions to select an approved customs receiving point. The form does not specify a uniform advance-notice period; do not assume that it removes any separate Customs notice requirement.

Official reference (the specific requirements in this section have not been individually rechecked online): Visiting Yachts — pre-arrival information

Non-resident visitors arriving by yacht must complete a Bermuda Arrival Card under the visitor guidance. Visa requirements depend on nationality and individual status. There is no processing fee for the visitor card. The general visitor guidance does not establish that every crew-member category has identical status or stay rules; the master and crew should confirm with Bermuda Immigration.

Bermuda's guidance distinguishes transit or cruising permits for private yachts/superyachts from charter permits for commercially chartered superyachts. Customs declarations also differ for a vessel arriving under its own power and one imported as cargo. Merchant-vessel cargo rules cannot be substituted for private-yacht procedures. Confirm the applicable permit and declaration with Marine & Ports and Customs based on the vessel's use and arrival method.

Animals arriving in Bermuda require prior permission and the health documents specified by the government. Official vessel-environment guidance also identifies restrictions concerning certain plants, fruit, and vegetables. This should not be read as a ban on all food aboard or as a complete, current yacht checklist. Confirm the requirements for each item with the agriculture and customs authorities in advance.

Weapons and other controlled items must be declared to Bermuda Customs and comply with permit and control requirements. Bermuda's yacht guide says declared weapons are held by Customs until departure. Confirm which items are covered, how they must be stored, and the applicable permits under Customs' current directions. Do not assume yachts have a general exemption.

Bermuda Customs says a yacht carrying goods that must be declared should complete and submit a Customs Traveller Declaration. If there are no goods to declare, the form need not be submitted. Visiting yachts and superyachts arriving under their own power do not need to submit a Bermuda Customs Declaration; goods and vessel spares remain subject to the relevant customs rules.

The fourth edition (2023) of the Marine & Ports guide lists these yacht permit fees: transit permit, $5 per metre; cruising permit, $6.50 per metre for a private yacht and $8.50 per metre for a superyacht; commercial charter permit, $8.50 per metre plus 6% of each charter's total value. Government tax information also says yacht passengers are subject to Yacht Arrival Tax, payable by the owner/operator on arrival, but that page does not state the rate. Private yachts and superyachts are exempt from the Passenger Departure Head Tax. Rates may change; confirm current amounts before departure.