The Department of Immigration is issuing emergency work permits to businesses to get in short-term help to deal with the impact of Hurricane Gonzalo.

In a statement released today, the Department said: “These permits will enable businesses to bring in the personnel needed to provide the added support and resources required to sustain that business’s critical services.

“If a business decides that they require an emergency temporary work permit for an individual, that business must provide that person with a Letter of Introduction with subject: ‘Hurricane-Related Emergency’. This letter must contain the purpose of the visit (the specific role to be undertaken and with which local Bermuda-based company) and the expected duration of the visit.

“The letter must be presented to an Officer at the LF Wade International Airport upon arrival in Bermuda. That business must also immediately submit, to Immigration HQ, a formal request for an emergency temporary work permit application (including the requisite fee). These work permits will be processed within two days from the day after the application is submitted.”

This arrangement will be in effect only until tomorrow and is limited to hurricane-related emergencies.

Companies who continue to need an emergency permit after tomorrow should contact the Department of Immigration.

For more information on these permits, contact the Chief Immigration Officer Dr Danette Ming at dwming@gov.bm