The transit visa requirement has been put into immediate effect
It has been reported that a passenger on a direct flight from the Dominican Republic to Bermuda has been deported for not having a transit visa in accordance with the terms of the the Bermuda Immigration and Protection (Prohibition of Entry) Order, 2023 (the “Order”) which was enacted a few weeks ago.
The move comes after months of confusion between promoters of the airline TXKF Direct, a new charter airline formed to carry passengers on direct flights to Bermuda from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and the government about whether a transit visa was needed for passengers arriving on direct flights as opposed to flights through other international gateway cities. The government maintains that a transit visa is necessary so a passenger can return to their home country via another country that has regular and direct flights to Bermuda if necessary.
The Order, and a list of countries whose nationals need to obtain the additional entry approvals, was published only after reports of the uncertainty reached mainstream media. The Dominican Republic is one of the countries on the list.
The deported passenger travelled to Bermuda from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas Airport on August 13, 2023 and was scheduled to return via the direct return route in November. Instead, the passenger was denied entry and repatriated on the aircraft’s return flight to its original destination.
