VisaBermuda adds a charity donation to its investment-residence requirements
The September 2026 policy also introduces enhanced checks and a separate agency fee. Investors should resolve conflicting published government application charges before paying.
Official source date: 2026-10-02
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
Separate the September changes from older programme information
Bermuda’s government has changed its Economic Investment Residential Certificate programme, adding a minimum BD$25,000 donation to registered Bermuda charities as part of, or alongside, the qualifying investment. The Minister of Economy and Labour described the changes on 2 October 2026 and said the policy had taken effect at the end of September. The announcement date and commencement period are therefore distinct.
The ministerial statement also removes donations to the Bermuda Trust Fund as a qualifying investment, introduces more extensive documentation and risk assessment, and identifies a separate BD$10,000 Bermuda Business Development Agency fee. It says previously granted residential certificates remain subject to the relevant policy provisions and protections. Use the statement to understand what changed before relying on an older programme brochure; the update does not mean that every existing certificate must be replaced.
Plan for the investment and continuing residence obligations
The signed 2026 policy requires a qualifying investment of at least BD$2.5 million. It must be made at or before the application and retained for five calendar years. The BD$25,000 minimum donation condition does not apply separately where the qualifying investment itself is the registered-charity donation category. A property investor should also note the land-licensing requirement and that stamp duty is excluded from the qualifying property investment calculation.
The policy requires the principal holder and dependent spouse to spend at least ninety days in Bermuda in each calendar year for five years after the certificate is granted. An annual attestation must confirm the investment remains in place, with evidence of full five-year retention required at the end of that period. These are continuing conditions, rather than a one-time purchase followed by unrestricted absence. Use the signed policy to plan both the funding and the household’s calendar before committing capital.
Prepare the evidence through the designated programme administrator
The government’s programme partner, the Bermuda Business Development Agency, provides the expression-of-interest and application route. Its current programme page lists a cover letter, personal information, due-diligence material, personal and business references, and passport, birth and relevant marriage certificates. The necessary investment evidence varies with the proposed category.
For property, the agency identifies purchase evidence, the sale agreement and land licence. For an existing-business equity investment it identifies shareholding and investment records and compliance letters; a new venture needs incorporation and financial information, payroll-tax identification and projections. These documents help verify the transaction and business, rather than simply showing that the applicant has sufficient wealth. Use the agency’s residency-through-investment page to begin the confidential discussion. Its linked policy download still carries a June 2024 filename, so compare all instructions with the signed 2026 government policy before submitting the final file.
Resolve the government application-fee discrepancy
The government’s online programme overview currently states a residential-certificate application fee of BD$2,755, while section 7 of the signed 2026 policy states BD$2,625. Applicants should ask Immigration and the programme administrator to confirm the currently payable government amount rather than assume the difference is an optional charge or silently choose the lower figure.
The agency’s separate due-diligence and administration fee is an additional item, not the qualifying investment or the charitable contribution. Ask for a written breakdown identifying which recipient receives each payment and when it becomes due. The government overview links the official policy and the agency service, making it a useful starting point for resolving the mismatch. Neither the overview nor the ministerial statement establishes a guaranteed approval deadline. Do not schedule relocation on the assumption that payment itself grants permission to reside.
Retain official payment evidence with the immigration file
The Immigration Department’s general fee guidance says it accepts bank transfers or online payments and requires evidence of payment with the application, such as a printed receipt or transfer confirmation. It explains the reference information needed to associate a transaction with the applicant and application type.
Use that official resource for payment instructions after confirming the relevant government fee. Keep the immigration receipt separate from the investment, donation and agency records so each requirement can be evidenced. The Department’s general payment guidance does not resolve the conflicting certificate amounts by itself; confirmation of the correct charge should precede payment and submission.
