Last Updated: March 21, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Bermuda Travel Advisory and Bermuda Country Information Page.
Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Consulate: 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, DV 03, Bermuda.
Tel: +441 295-1342; Consulate Duty Phone (24/7) +441-335-3228; Security Coordinator: +441-337-3433.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.
Bermuda Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication indicates that travelers to Bermuda should exercise normal precautions.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Hamilton as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Bermuda.
The crime emergency line in Bermuda is 911.
Bermuda reported an increase in murders from five in 2023 to nine in 2024 and despite being a large year on year increase, the number of instances remains with the longer-term standard deviations. Similarly, and despite the absence of current statistics for confirmation, the numbers of violent crime including armed robberies continues to fluctuate year on year but remain within the representative calculated rates of standard deviation. Access to firearms continues to be restrictive due to strict border controls. Local police do report increases in certain specific crimes, such as those associated to sexual exploitation of children, however these rises are mostly attributed to a higher reporting rate consequent to Police outreach to improve public trust, communication and improved reporting mechanisms.
The type of crime most likely to affect visitors and residents is opportunistic, non-life-threatening, property crime. Items such as cash, jewelry and small electronics are popular targets for theft. However, situational awareness and basic crime preventative measures will reduce the threat even further.
No areas in Bermuda are restricted to U.S. government personnel. However, avoid the area on the north side of Hamilton—defined by Court Street, Middletown, and the area north of Parsons Road to the North Shore—while alone or at night.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Bermuda.
There are no known instances of kidnapping or similar crimes recorded in Bermuda.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Hamilton as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Bermuda.
There is no evidence of the practice or support of terrorism in Bermuda. However, the region has several vulnerabilities that terrorist elements could exploit, such as porous borders, established narcotic and alien smuggling routes, and limited counter-terrorism capabilities. The exploitation of one of these vulnerabilities could have serious implications for U.S. organizations based in Bermuda, and the Caribbean tourism trade in general.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Hamilton as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Bermuda. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
The ruling Progressive Labor Party (PLP) has won three consecutive elections in Bermuda, retaining their majority on the Bermudian House of Assembly in February 2025 elections.
Prior to the election in 2017, the then-opposition PLP led numerous demonstrations against the ruling (and now opposition) One Bermuda Alliance (OBA). In one demonstration, police deployed officers to force entry to the blocked Government Chambers, resulting in minor injuries to police and protestors.
Protests & Demonstrations
Protests in Bermuda are not uncommon, but they are almost always peaceful, with the 2017 example being the exception. Protests are usually motivated by political, labor, or, most recently, social concerns, such as two rallies in support of LGBTI+ rights and Black Lives Matter, each of which drew the crowds of between 7,000 to 8,000 people, making them largest local demonstrations ever held in Bermuda.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There is no significant anti-U.S./Anti-Western sentiment in Bermuda.
In 2020, two small demonstrations occurred outside the U.S. Consulate protesting the U.S. president and his appointee as Consul General. These protests were also motivated by the murder of George Floyd and attracted crowds of about 60 and 30 people, respectively. Other than these isolated occurrences, there is no evidence of anti-U.S. sentiment in Bermuda. Notably, once the Consul General arrived in Bermuda, the protests ceased.
Law Enforcement
The Bermuda Police Service is highly trained, well-resourced, and free of major corruption issues. It has long enjoyed excellent relationships with U.S. law enforcement and federal agencies. While the police have primacy in most law enforcement activities, the government has several other agencies such as H.M. Customs, Immigration, Parks Department, and Transport Control, which retain certain enforcement powers related to their responsibilities.
The Royal Bermuda Regiment, a professional/volunteer military body, occasionally assist the police. In 2020, the government established a Bermudian Coast Guard within the Regiment responsible for the marine policing of inner coastal waters and vested with legal powers.
Police Response
Police are available to respond to calls for service at all hours. Although police officers are not routinely armed, there is always an armed capacity available for immediate deployment should the need arise. The response to an emergency call should never be more than ten minutes.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Bermuda, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Bermuda.
There are no serious concerns about arbitrary detention or official harassment in Bermuda. Bermuda generally has minimal corruption.
Cybersecurity
Bermuda is connected globally to all forms of communication, so the same cybersecurity threats that apply globally apply in Bermuda. No specific targets in Bermuda particularly threatened.
Import/Export Restrictions
Offensive weapons such as flick and gravity knives, butterfly knives, push daggers, belt-buckle knives, throwing stars, swordsticks, knuckledusters, blowpipes, spear guns, spring loaded batons firearms, ammunition, and some martial arts equipment are barred from import into Bermuda. Self-defense sprays and stun guns are also illegal to import. “Indecent or obscene materials,” including books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs, and software featuring children, material containing extreme violence or cruelty, and any other pornography is also banned from import.
There have been no reported issues regarding the import of personal prescription medication, although all medication should be accompanied by its original prescription and carried in its original packaging. There is no limitation on the import of satellite devices.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
