International media outlets have shown strong interest in Bermuda’s one-year residential certificate programme, the Premier said yesterday.

David Burt was speaking as the Work from Bermuda programme opened for applications at workfrombermuda.com.

Mr Burt said: “The international media have tracked the story and we have received many queries about this opportunity.”

The certificate will allow workers from overseas who are currently working from home to work from Bermuda and will entitle non-Bermudian university and college students to reside on the island while taking studies online. Bloomberg News, Forbes, United States-based CBS News and Outlook Traveller India are among the outlets that have run articles about the programme, which was the subject of a marketing blitz from the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Bermuda Business Development Agency.

The Premier said yesterday: “Covid-19 has impacted the world. Overnight, companies have had to solve the problem of employees being able to work outside of the office. Workers are as productive, if not more so, working in their own environment.

“There is now the opportunity for employees, who I refer to as digital nomads, and university students to work and study, remotely from Bermuda.”

Applicants for the one-year certificate must have the means to support themselves while working remotely and could not seek work in Bermuda.

Once the required online form has been completed, the Premier said applicants would receive a response within five working days and if approved, could relocate to Bermuda.

Mr Burt said: “To date, Bermuda has successfully managed the coronavirus pandemic and our Covid-19 testing regime is the most stringent in the world.

“This has kept transmission of the virus to a minimum, which allows our residents and visitors flexibility not seen on other jurisdictions. We look forward to welcoming these new long-term visitors to our shores.”

The Premier said the BDA and the BTA were working with the Ministry of Labour to promote the one-year certificate.

The programme was announced in the House of Assembly on July 17 by Jason Hayward, the Minister of Labour. It came two weeks after Barbados announced a similar programme.

Benefits are said to include an increase in the population, more economic activity, greater job security for Bermudians, and a boost to the marketability of Bermuda. The one-year certificate will cost $263.