The UK Government confirmed on 20 November that British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTC) from Bermuda should expect passport turnaround times of up to 11 weeks for renewals, first issues and lost-passport replacements. The announcement follows a surge in applications that has overwhelmed the UK’s centralised printing facility, which handles all BOTC travel documents.
Bermuda’s Department of Immigration urged residents not to finalise travel plans until they have a valid passport in hand and reminded travellers that most destinations require at least six months’ validity on arrival. While the advisory is aimed at Bermuda, other Overseas Territories—such as the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos—report similar backlogs, prompting concern among firms that rotate staff between the territories and the UK mainland.
![UK warns Bermuda passport holders of 11-week processing time for renewals and replacements]()
For global-mobility managers, the delay means assignees on short-cycle rotations could miss start dates or face costly itinerary changes. Employers are advised to check passport validity when planning travel after January 2026 and, where possible, ship workers on their existing passports and complete renewal in the UK using the one-week Fast-Track service reserved for British citizens.
The Home Office has not indicated when processing times will return to the usual three to six weeks but said additional contractor staff have been hired and weekend overtime authorised for the printing line. Applicants can track progress online but are unlikely to receive interim status letters acceptable to airlines.
Bermuda’s Department of Immigration urged residents not to finalise travel plans until they have a valid passport in hand and reminded travellers that most destinations require at least six months’ validity on arrival. While the advisory is aimed at Bermuda, other Overseas Territories—such as the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos—report similar backlogs, prompting concern among firms that rotate staff between the territories and the UK mainland.
For global-mobility managers, the delay means assignees on short-cycle rotations could miss start dates or face costly itinerary changes. Employers are advised to check passport validity when planning travel after January 2026 and, where possible, ship workers on their existing passports and complete renewal in the UK using the one-week Fast-Track service reserved for British citizens.
The Home Office has not indicated when processing times will return to the usual three to six weeks but said additional contractor staff have been hired and weekend overtime authorised for the printing line. Applicants can track progress online but are unlikely to receive interim status letters acceptable to airlines.
