Bermudians exempt from British ETA requirements
Bermudians will not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation form to journey to, from and within Britain, the Ministry of Economy and Labour confirmed yesterday.
A ministry statement said that Bermudians, similar to citizens of other British Overseas Territory, were exempt from applying for the authorisation if they travelled with either British Citizen or British Overseas Territories Citizen passports.
People who do not have valid British immigration status or who are passing through or visiting the country for a short time without needing a visa will be required apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation.
The initiative, which the British government began to enact last month, will gradually come into effect on a nationality-by-nationality basis.
ETAs are already required for holders of Qatari passports and will be required for travellers from six other Middle Eastern countries from February 22.
Almost all others, including individuals from the US, Canada and most EU countries, will eventually need an ETA to enter Britain, though no timeline has been published.
A number of exemptions are available. Individuals with Irish passports and anyone with a British visa or with an existing right to live in Britain can enter the country without an ETA.
ETA applications can completed online or via an app and responses are normally delivered within three days.
The statement added: “Because the Home Office does not have a central record of BOTCs, confirmations to the carriers will be on a case-by-case basis rather than via an automatic message.
“Under the British Overseas Territories Act 2002, BOTCs who are not BCs and those who cannot produce evidence of their British Citizenship in the form of a full BC passport will be subject to immigration control upon arrival at the UK border control or when seeking to live, work or study in the UK.
“As is currently the requirement, such travellers will be subject to UK immigration rules.
“BOTCs who are also BCs and want to rely on that status to work or study in the UK are encouraged to apply for a BC passport or certificate of entitlement to the right of abode to demonstrate their status to the relevant authorities.”
• For more information about the ETA and how to apply, visitwww.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.
• To view the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 in full, see Related Media.
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