Special considerations for 31B PRC holders

Following the tabling of the new PRC provisions in the House of Assembly, there are further special considerations for people who have already become a PRC holder via section 31B, or will eventually become a 31B PRC holder as a result of the new PRC pathways (typically, kids of other PRC holders). These considerations concern improving their position in respect of any children - present or future - that they might have.

The 31B PRC is the 'lesser' PRC. Unlike the other forms of PRC, a 31B PRC holder cannot 'pass on' PRC to a spouse or child. This starts to become a problem when those 31B PRC holders start to have families of their own.

The government recognised this problem last year, creating a limited window for adult children of 31B PRCs to apply for PRC, provided they do so before the 1st September 2022.

However, for the many who will not be able to benefit from that two year window, the new PRC proposals will open up some further options for their families.

The new 31ZA PRC will allow children of 31B PRC holders to apply for PRC, but requires them to have been resident for 20 years. For a child who has grown up in Bermuda, this means waiting two years past becoming an adult. For other children, whose families may have moved overseas for some of their childhood (as many Bermudian families do), the 20 year requirement may become unrealistic.

There is an alternative for 31B PRC holders.