• Island Information
• Map of the BVI
• Clearance Procedures
• BVI Visas
• Moorings
• Protection Programs
• Communications
• Marinas/
  Yacht Registration/
  Provisioning
• Weather
• Directory

• CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
• IMMIGRATION
• CRUISING PERMITS
• CHARTERING IN BVI
• YACHTS IN TRANSIT
• CUSTOMS DUTIES

Clearance Procedures

Ports of Entry:

• Road Harbour, Tortola
• Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
• West End, Tortola
• Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda
  Anegada and Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda are NOT ports of entry. (Customs and Immigration at Gun Creek are only for the seaplane and are under the control of the Civil Aviation Autority.)

Hours

Mon-Friday: 8:30 a.m.ñ4:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m.ñ12:30 p.m.

Overtime Hours

Mon-Friday: 8:30 a.m.ñ4:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m.ñ12:30 p.m.

(incíl Sundays and Public Holidays)
Mon-Friday: 4:30 p.m.ñ8:30 a.m. Saturday: 12:30p.m.ñ8:30 a.m.

Vessels entering the BVI should proceed directly to a port of entry. Because space at the jetties is limited, vessels are allowed to anchor in the harbour before making their Customs entry. You may not proceed to a marina until you have cleared your yacht unless you are using a Shipís Agent. If you arrive after hours, you must raise your yellow flag and no persons may go ashore. You may seek permission in advance from Customs and Immigration for a late arrival by calling one of the ports of entry.

Marina operators should ensure that vessels tied up at their marinas have been duly entered at Customs and Immigration.

Only the Captain is required to effect the clearance procedures. The following documents are required:

• Clearance document from previous port
• Shipís papers
• Valid Passports for all crew and passengers (US and Canadian citizens may enter with an authentic birth certificate together with photo ID).Some nationals require BVI visas.

You will be required to complete a Customs control document, Immigration cards for each person onboard together with a green Customs declaration form for each person. If you are a charter yacht and you are taking fee-paying passengers whilst in the BVI, you need to buy a Cruising Permit and a National Parks Mooring Permit. This permit allows you to use the mooring buoys in the marine park for your yacht or dinghy (these moorings accommodate yachts up to 60 ft). Yachts visiting the BVI for the first time for the year, will be required to pay an Annual Tonnage fee which is based on your yachtís net tonnage up to a limit of $55. If the vessel is to remain in the BVI for more than one month, there is a fee of $200 to temporarily import the yacht for up to one year.

Vessels traveling between the BVI and USVI must clear out of BVI waters at one of the ports of entry and clear into US waters either at Cruz Bay, St John or Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas. Yachts over 300 gross tons must send Advance Notice of Arrival to the US Coastguard 24 hours prior to arrival or they will not be admitted into the USVI. Non-USA crew or guests must have the requisite visas. For yachtsmen already in the Caribbean, US visas can be obtained from the US Embassy in Barbados after first obtaining an appointment.

Immigration

Visitors are welcome for up to one month. If you wish to stay longer than one month, you must apply to the Immigration Department for an extension. This must be done at the Head Office; it cannot be extended at a port of entry.

If arriving by air, you must have a return or onward ticket, evidence of adequate means of support and pre-arranged accommodation. If arriving and leaving by sea, you are not required to have a ticket. However, if you plan to leave the yacht in the BVI upon arrival or shortly thereafter, you must have a valid ticket out of the country prior to clearing Immigration.

Crew arriving in the BVI by air to join a yacht must have with them a letter from the Captain of the vessel stating that they are employed by the yacht and will be leaving with it when it departs the Territory.

If you wish to sign off crew and/or exchange crew, both captains must go to Immigration and sign off and sign on the crew members. If you fire a crew member, the law requires you to repatriate them back to their homeland at your expense.

Nationals of some countries must have BVI visas. to enter the BVI.

Cruising Permits

• $4 per person/per day for non-BVI based charter yachts (year round).
• $2 per person/per day for BVI based yachts during winter and
• $.75 per person/per day during summer season.

Cruising permits are issued at Customs and are only valid for a specific charter period.

Please comply with this law as failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $5,000.

Chartering in the BVI

There is no import duty for charter boats although locally owned boats still have to pay the appropriate duty.

If you want to base permanently in the BVI, applications for a Trade Licence may be obtained and returned to the Trade Department at the Government Administration Complex. Annual licences are valid from 1 November to 31 October the following year. Once a Trade Licence has been obtained, applications must be made for the relevant work permits.

All boats chartering in BVI waters, regardless of pick-up point, must either purchase an annual or a per cruise licence.

Temporary Importation : $200 for private vessels staying over 30 days.

Yachts in Transit

Importation of Spare Parts

Spare parts may be brought into the BVI for vessels in-transit without the payment of duty. The Comptroller of Customs may, however, prescribe certain conditions for the handling of such imports. The duty on most marine spares is 5% of the value including shipping costs and insurance.

Customs Duties

Customs duties range from 5 - 20%.