The Department of Immigration today announced a lowering of minimum pass rates for work permit applicants taking certain required English proficiency tests, and extended the list of allowable tests.

The move was described as “a step in the right direction” by one of the business leaders who told The Royal Gazette last month that the tests were hampering their ability to hire overseas staff to address increasing labour shortages.

The tests were designed for university-level students - an academic exercise rather than a practical test of the ability to communicate effectively at work, they argued.

The requirement for work permit holders to demonstrate English proficiency is outlined in Section 1.8 of the 2025 Work Permit Policy.

The changes announced today state that the minimum pass rate required for the Test of English as a Foreign Language pass rate is now 42 out of 120, down from 60 announced last November.

Another test accepted for work-permit applicants is the Test of English for International Communication, for which the new pass rate is 550 out of 900, down from 600.

Work-permit applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a degree from an English-instruction university or college must take the test.

A spokesman for the Department of Immigration said that after a review of available assessments, only these tests and minimum total scores will be accepted with work permit applications:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – minimum test score: 4

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – minimum test score: 42

• Duolingo English Test (DET) – minimum test score: 75

• Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC - L&R) – minimum test score: 550

• Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) – minimum test score: 43

“Employers may submit an appeal where the applicant’s speaking score exceeds the total minimum score,” the spokesman added.

Alex DeCouto, preisdent of Greymane Construction and co-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s construction division, said the changes were “a step in the right direction”.

“The lowering of minimum scores and the expansion of accepted test options is appreciated by the industry and reflects some responsiveness to the concerns that were raised,” Mr DeCouto said.

“That said, the core challenge remains. These tests still require applicants to sit formal assessments covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

“Many of our workers come from backgrounds where they have not had the opportunity or need to undertake structured academic testing, despite being highly competent in their trades. As a result, the process remains quite arduous and stressful for otherwise capable candidates.

“At the same time, Bermuda already operates within a constrained labour market, with visa restrictions limiting where we can source workers. Layering additional testing requirements on top of that further narrows the available pool of labour.

“The practical effect is increased recruitment difficulty, delays in project delivery, and ultimately higher construction costs.”

“We support the objective of ensuring effective communication in the workplace. The public should be aware that the chosen policy methods to pursue this will have deleterious effects on the industry.”

The construction industry imports about 30 per cent of its labour and the number of Bermudians working in the industry has fallen in recent years.

Phil Barnett, president of Island Restaurant Group, said in response to the announcement: “The Restaurant Division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce appreciates the ongoing willingness of the Minister to work with industry in clarifying policy, and working to achieve reasonable standards and testing for the requirement of non-English as a first language applicants to be English speaking.

“We again repeat and agree with the minister that Bermuda is an English-speaking country. It is key that our workers, especially front-facing colleagues, have reasonable spoken command of our native language.”

For the hospitality sector, labour needs will rise sharply with the scheduled August reopening of the Fairmont Southampton, potentially exacerbating existing labour shortages.

The spokesman for the Department of Immigration said that since the introduction of the 2025 Work Permit Policy on November 1 last year, and subsequent clarification issued in mid-November, “the Department has continued to receive applications that do not meet the stated requirements”.

“The Department emphasises that, irrespective of job category or role, all work permit holders must meet the minimum English language standards,” he added.

“Applicants may choose which approved test to take, but testing is mandatory. Employers are reminded not to submit applications without valid test results that meet the required thresholds.

“Adherence to these requirements will help to avoid delays in processing or the refusal of work permit applications.”

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, said: “Bermuda is an English-speaking country, and it is essential that all work permit holders can communicate effectively. The introduction of mandatory testing addresses longstanding non-compliance with previous policy requirements.”

Further amendments to the Work Permit Policy are expected to be announced by May 1, 2026.

• For more information, visit www.gov.bm/department/immigration or call 246-8093