Bermuda — governance guide

A practitioner reference for Bermuda, generated from the GovernOS rules engine. Always current with the jurisdiction packs.

At a glance

Legal systemCommon law
Filing languageen
AGM notice period21 clear days
Coverage tierT2 ruled

Regulators & portals

Registrar of Companies (ROC)

Company registry

Filing portal →

Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA)

Financial regulator

Filing portal →

Office of the Tax Commissioner (OTC)

Tax authority

Filing portal →

Entity types

Exempted Company (Companies Act 1981)

min 1 director(s) · secretary required

Local Company

min 1 director(s) · secretary required

Segregated Accounts Company (SAC)

min 1 director(s)

Bermuda Insurer / Reinsurer

min 1 director(s)

Investment Fund

min 1 director(s)

How to — common actions & what each requires

File annual return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Annual Declaration (assessable capital)

Filings

BM-Annual-Fee (due T+31d)

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.14A

file-economic-substance-return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Economic Substance Declaration

Filings

BM-ESD (due T+183d)

Authority

Economic Substance Act 2018, s.7

File beneficial ownership
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Beneficial Ownership Register

Filings

BM-BOR (due T+14d)

Authority

Beneficial Ownership Regulations 2018

file-corporate-tax-return
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Corporate Income Tax Return (MNE)

Filings

BM-CIT-Return (due T+365d)

Authority

Corporate Income Tax Act 2023

Add director
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Appointment; Consent to Act as Director

Filings

BM-Notice-Director (due T+30d)

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.92A

Remove director
Approvals

shareholders (50%)

Documents

Members Resolution — Removal of Director

Filings

BM-Notice-Director (due T+30d)

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.93

Issue shares
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Directors Resolution — Allotment; Share Certificate

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.45A

Transfer shares
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Instrument of Transfer; Share Certificate (transferee)

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.45

register-charge
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Particulars of Charge

Filings

BM-Charge-Reg (due T+0d)

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.55

Prepare AGM
Approvals

board (50%)

Documents

Notice of Annual General Meeting; AGM Minutes

Filings

none

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.71-76

Amend constitution
Approvals

shareholders special (75%)

Documents

Special Resolution — Amendment of Bye-laws

Filings

BM-Bye-laws (due T+30d)

Authority

Companies Act 1981, s.13

Reference only — not legal advice. Rule packs are directionally accurate and being legally validated per jurisdiction.