Bermuda is expected to meet worldwide standards for airline passenger security after a Bill was moved through the House of Assembly today.

MPs heard the Revenue Amendment Act 2025 would collect more data on those arriving and leaving Bermuda by plane.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, explained that the Department of Customs relied on “limited information and data” from airlines.

He added: “This process does not accord with internationally accepted border protection and control strategies relating to the apprehension of, or the removal of, a passenger from an aircraft prior to its departure.”

Mr Weeks said the amendment would allow Customs to request necessary information and explain how, when and where it can be provided.

This data, he added, would line up with internationally accepted time frames, standards, rules and formats.

Mr Weeks said the amendment would allow for timely processing of travellers by making sure all aircraft going to and from the island gave “advanced data elements”.

He said: “In this uncertain border security climate, the Bill allows for the expansion of the data to be collected and included in an aircraft manifest.

“It puts in place a recognised, worldwide system to manage risk.

“The rest of the world receives this data and Bermuda must modernise our efforts in order to catch up.”

Robert King, the Opposition leader, asked if criminal history would be requested, to which Mr Weeks said it was not a requirement.

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, later said that it would be “impractical” to get the criminal records of everyone travelling to the island.

However, he explained, some criminal information, such as being on a sex offender’s registry, was already required prior to arrival.

Mr Hayward added: “Often times, if they are arriving through cruise ship, we prevent them from disembarking from the ship if it is a serious sexual offence on a child.

“We do get those particular records, but to get the entire border criminal records of every person or visitor to enter our shores is actually impractical.”