Customs - Government of Bermuda

Department

What do they do?

The Customs Department monitors and controls the cross-border movement of goods and people. Customs officers work in partnership with the Bermuda Police Service in preventing and detecting smuggling and other criminal activity. Customs officers are stationed at Bermuda’s main ports of entry:

St. George’s
L. F. Wade International Airport
Hamilton

Customs officers process customs declarations for all arriving passengers on ships, yachts, or aircraft and assess and collect duty and other taxes. Customs officers also look for and seize illegal weapons, drugs and other contraband.

Online services

Customs

Claim a refund from Customs

If you have been informed you can claim a refund, you have two options to take advantage of the refund due to you. The following options are available: Account Credit : If you are a frequent importer of dutiable goods into Bermuda, then you may elect to use the Account Credit option resulting from the review decision to pay duty on future imports rather than have the funds returned to you. An Account Credit may be utilized immediately, whereas a return of funds may take up to one month to be...

Customs

Customs Decision Appeal

If you do not agree with a written decision issued by the Customs Department, you can request a review of the decision by writing to the Collector of Customs. There are two stages of appeal: First stage : Customs Department reviews the decision in question; Second stage - Appeal to the Tax Appeal Tribunal, administered by the Ministry of Finance Reviewable decisions fall into three categories: Decisions about duty; Decisions regarding civil penalties; Ancillary matters (decisions involving the..

Customs

Refund of Duty Application

To get a refund for duty paid in error, you must write a refund application letter addressed to the Collector of Customs requesting a refund of duty paid in error. The request letter should include: Why you require the refund – circumstances surrounding this request; The total value of the goods as well as the duty paid in error; An illustration of the amount you are claiming by showing the calculations. i.e. ($1200 x 25% = $267.00). How to apply 1. Gather all relevant copies of documentation...

Departments & Sections

CAPS Team

PATI statements

Customs Customs Annex I Customs Annex II PIPA Notice

Resources

Guidance on Applying for Customs Duty Relief for Businesses and CharitiesPDF · 193.8 KBDownload

Article

Weekly Exchange Rates for Importers

03 March 2016 Customs 1 min read

Article

Declaring goods to Customs

You must make a customs declaration when you import goods into Bermuda. There are different forms, times and manners of making customs declarations. The customs declaration you make will depend on the nature of the goods, the way the goods are being imported and the customs procedure being used. No customs declaration is required for temporary imports of vessels, aircraft and transport containers. Accompanied personal goods If you are clearing customs at the airport after arriving on a...

03 March 2016 Customs 5 min read

Article

Prohibited and restricted goods

There are certain goods you are not allowed to bring into Bermuda at all (prohibited goods). Other goods can only be imported legally with the necessary licence or permit (restricted goods). This is to protect society, animal and public health and the environment. If you are not sure about any of the goods you are bringing into Bermuda, speak to a customs officer. Prohibited goods The following goods are banned completely: Illegal drugs such as heroin, morphine, cocaine, amphetamines,...

03 March 2016 Customs 5 min read

Article

Duty free allowances

There are five kinds of duty free allowances: 1. Passenger duty free allowances If you a passenger arriving in Bermuda by air or sea, you are entitled to duty free allowances on your accompanied personal goods. If you are arriving in Bermuda as a passenger , you have a duty free allowance on accompanied personal tobacco products and alcoholic beverages not exceeding 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 0.5 kg of tobacco, one litre of wine and one litre of spirits. If you are a visitor you also have a...

03 March 2016 Customs 2 min read

Article

Bermuda Customs Declaration (BCD)

The Bermuda Customs Declaration (BCD) is the principal form of entry for imports and exports of goods to and from Bermuda. The BCD is a single administrative document. That means that the BCD is the appropriate form of entry for use by commercial and non-commercial importers to declare all types of goods no matter what the customs procedure (i.e. import, export, bond, transfer in bond, exemptions, concessions, etc.). All BCDs must be submitted electronically via the Customs Automated Processing.

01 July 2025 Customs 2 min read

Article

Classification of imported goods

What is classifying? You will need to decide the correct class or tariff code for your goods according to the File Bermuda Customs Tariff 2026 (6.33 MB) in order to clear your goods through Customs. It is important to make sure that you: pay the correct amount of duty and wharfage; contribute to the accuracy of import and export trade statistics; know if an import licence is needed. If you classify incorrectly, then: you could be penalised if your goods are incorrectly classified on the Customs.

03 March 2016 Customs 2 min read

Latest news

Press Release Oct 2, 2026

New Customs Traveller Declaration Now in Effect

The Customs Department advises the public that the new Customs Traveller Declaration (Customs Form 98 (3/26) is now in effect as of 1 October 2026 .

Press Release Jun 1, 2026

Bermuda Hosts Major Regional Customs and Border Security Conference

Bermuda’s role in regional border security took centre stage last week as senior Customs and law enforcement leaders from across the Caribbean gathered at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club for the 48th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC). Held from 26 to 29 May 2026, the conference brought together regional officials to discuss the frontline role of Customs in protecting communities from smuggling, firearms, narcotics, human trafficking, financial crimes..

Press Release Jan 20, 2026

Minister of National Security Responds to Recent Commentary on Customs Operations

The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, has noted recent commentary in the media regarding the operations of the Customs Department, including an opinion piece published in today’s Royal Gazette by Opposition Leader Robert King, and considers it important to address the matter directly and on the basis of facts rather than political rhetoric. Minister Weeks said national security is too important to be reduced to selective commentary that does not reflect the full...