Government has produced a policy paper outlining changes to immigration law that will give long-term residents permanent residency rights.

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The 11-page document – Securing Permanency for Long-Term Residents – highlights the need “to create a fair, transparent and streamlined means for LTRs to secure a level of permanency”, adding that the proposals “seek to provide a sustainable solution for LTRs living in Bermuda to gain a Permanent Residency Certificate”.

Under the proposals – which were unveiled by Jason Hayward, the minister of labour, last week – non-Bermudian LTRs who have lived in Bermuda for more than 20 years will have the right to remain permanently.

A divorced or unwed parent of a Bermudian child – who currently has to leave Bermuda once their child turns 18 – will also have the right to obtain a Permanent Residency Certificate.

Children of first and second generation Permanent Resident Certificate holders who have been ordinarily resident in Bermuda will also qualify.

The report states: “The Government is faced with numerous challenges but must remain undeterred in moving Bermuda towards a more sustainable future.

“While many have been challenged with the provision of Bermudian status to long-term residents, the time has come for Bermuda to establish a policy that provides a means by which eligible LTRs can normalise their immigration status.

“The policy proposals provide a sustainable means for LTRs to be granted permanent residency thereby keeping families together.

“In addition it allows LTRs to remain in Bermuda and to continue contributing to the social fabric of the Bermuda community as well as the local economy.

“Providing LTRs with this level of security is beneficial as it supports the retention of the current population and the expansion of the Mixed Status Families framework, enabling families to remain together.”

The policy paper is available here: https://bit.ly/SPLTRPolicyPaper