Britain has spelled out some of the costs Bermuda might be faced with if it decides to go it alone ? including a $500,000-plus bill for joining the United Nations.

In a position paper in response to the Bermuda Independence Commission visit in March, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said UN membership would be a natural option as observer status had fallen out of favour.

Based on UN assessments Bermuda would be expected to chip in up to $200,000 for the regular UN budget and $350,000 for peacekeeping missions bringing the total to $550,000.

An independent Bermuda might also want to join a host of other UN bodies including the World Health Organisation and the World Tourism Organisation with an estimated total cost of up to $1 million.

Autonomy would also see Bermuda lose NATO protection unless it joined independently ? a process which can take years, noted the FCO paper.

However there is the option of becoming a contact country for NATO ? just like Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The Foreign Office also reiterated that it was unlikely that Bermudians without a ?residual? relationship with the UK (such as a British parent or grandparent) would retain British citizenship which was granted in 2002.

It also noted that all Bermudians, whether they have obtained a British passport or not, are now British citizens.

There could be savings for an independent Bermuda which joined the Commonwealth because British Missions traditionally protect the interests of all unrepresented Commonwealth countries in foreign countries.

The service allows unrepresented Commonwealth nationals general advice, access to lists of lawyers, interpreters, doctors and hospitals and passes on requests for the further assistance back to the home country of the traveller in need.

However, the paper said no financial assistance is given to, or incurred on behalf of, an unrepresented Commonwealth national without the prior authority of their country?s government, which would be expected to meet such costs without delay.

Even if an independent Bermuda did not join the Commonwealth, then Britain would consider offering assistance to Bermudians abroad for up to a year while Bermuda negotiated other arrangements for helping its nationals.

However the FCO paper says it cannot guarantee this will continue.

In shipping, the Bermuda Register of shipping would automatically withdraw from the Red Ensign Group and the UK would automatically cease to provide representation of the Island at international discussions and negotiations.

Similarly, Britain would cease to have final responsibility for the Bermuda Aircraft Register and Bermuda would have to pay for insurance and would assume all liabilities.

And the document included some correspondence from Britain?s Ministry of Transport which cleared up some of the misconceptions over its role in Bermuda?s air coverage.

A letter denied Britain had intervened to stop Bermuda getting air service from Germany but said no approach had been made from Lufthansa or any German authorities about operating a scheduled service to Bermuda. But if such an approach was made Britain would help to ease the process.

Britain does not charge for overflights of Bermuda. However Bermuda pays the American Federal Aviation Administration for controlling flights over it.