Work-permit applications could become “almost effortless” with the introduction of a more “user-friendly” process and the digitisation of immigration department services, the House of Assembly heard yesterday.

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, told MPs that work was “well under way” on “digital transformation” in the ministry as he reviewed the previous fiscal year and plans for 2025-26.

He said: “In March 2025, the senior management team visited Bahamas immigration for the purpose of gathering information about the identity document management system.

“A possible vendor has been identified to carry out the work and a formal proposal, including costs and timelines for key deliverance, is expected by June 2025.”

Mr Hayward added: “Following approval of the proposal, work to design the new system will begin in earnest.

“It is expected that the design and implementation will be done in phases, with the first phase comprising work permit applications.

“Key elements of the system will include a dashboard that will be accessible by employers and individuals so that they can readily see where their applications are in the process, tracking e-mail communications between the department and the client, and a seamless payment gateway.”

Mr Hayward said a clearly defined work-permit policy could render the processing of applications “almost effortless”.

“To this end, the work-permit policy is being enhanced so that it is clearer, leaves little room for erroneous interpretation and more user-friendly,” he told the House. “The new policy will be implemented by summer 2025.”

Mr Hayward said the total projected expenditure for the Department of Immigration for 2025-26 was estimated at $6,867,000, a roughly 10 per cent rise that he attributed to “the recreating of several job descriptions within department, as well as an increase in the software maintenance contract for the border management system”.

He said the conclusion on February 28 of the one-year Work from Bermuda initiative was expected to decrease the department’s revenue for 2025-26, after allowing “remote workers, which we also refer to as digital nomads, and university students to work and study remotely from Bermuda”.

He added: “Since August 2020, the programme attracted approximately 1,800 participants, with around 250 individuals applying to extend their staying.

“Notwithstanding the cessation of the Work from Bermuda initiative, applicants can transition to a multiyear residency permission, which, if granted, will give them the ability to remain in Bermuda up to five years.

“Applicants for residency must be submitted between one and two months prior to the expiration of the Work from Bermuda certificate.”

Salaries in the department increased by $679,000 or 18 per cent compared with 2024-25, mainly to fill “several vacant positions” — but outlay for professional services dropped by 75 per cent owing to “the reduced need for contracted consultants, which addressed backlog of applications and other staffing requirements”.

Mr Hayward said the department’s volume of passport applications continued to be high, with applications “generally” processed between 11 and 20 weeks.

He added that with the reinstatement the BMU code for Bermuda passports in April 2024, there had been “little to no uplift” in applications by existing passport holders seeking to obtain a new passport.