Visitors to the island will only be allowed to stay for 180 days in any 12-month period as of January 15, the Department of Immigration warned yesterday.

In a statement on the policy change, the department said the time spent in Bermuda would be calculated and monitored by the island’s border management system, which has been modified to track cumulative maximum length of stays.

“To be clear, the unrestricted period of residence will be a cumulative maximum of 180 days in any 12-month period from the first arrival date within those 12 months,” it said.

The department explained that if a visitor was not in Bermuda for six months, they could stay on the island for a consecutive 180 days without violating the policy.

If a visitor was in Bermuda for 180 days or more within the past six months, they would be unable to return to the island for the next six months.

In cases where a visitor has been on the island but not reached the 180-day limit, the system will calculate the number of days they can remain.

“The policy change will mitigate visitors circumventing immigration controls,” the statement said.

“This change prevents a visitor from arriving in Bermuda and staying for six months, then leaving for one day to return the next day and residing in Bermuda for another period of six months.

“Members of the public, especially visitors to Bermuda, are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the changes to visitors’ allowed length of stay.”