What is a visa?

A visa is a certificate that is placed inside your passport and gives you permission to enter the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

Does a BVI visa guarantee that I will be given permission to enter the BVI?

If you have a valid BVI visa, you will not normally be refused entry to the BVI. However, grant of a visa does not guarantee permission to enter the BVI. That decision remains in the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

On your arrival in the BVI, be sure to carry all your relevant travel and personal documents in your handbag in case you are asked to show them to the Immigration Officer.

Who needs a visa?

Nationals of several countries require a visa to enter the BVI. These are:

I am a national of a country for which visas are required and an employee of the BVI Government. Does the visa requirement apply to me?

Yes.

I am a national of a country for which a visa is required in the BVI. How do I apply for a visa?

Persons who require a visa and who are already resident in the BVI may apply for a BVI visa at the Civil Registry & Passport Office located at the Central Administration Building. Please note that you will be required to obtain the necessary visa before you will be granted additional time by the Department of Immigration. 

I am residing outside of the BVI. How do I apply for a visa?

You may apply for a BVI visa at any British High Commission or British Embassy around the world. Please allow one to three months for processing. For a list of British High Commissions and Embassies, please refer to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk.

What documents are required to apply for a BVI visa?

All applicants must submit the following documents:

• A completed visa application form
• 2 recent passport-sized photographs on a white background
• A valid passport
• Non-refundable visa fee of US$25
   

In addition, you will be required to submit the documents listed below, based upon the type of visa for which you are applying. Please note that under certain circumstances you may be asked to provide additional documents for the processing of your application.

Tourist Visa:
 

• Employment letter (applicant/or sponsor)
• A letter of sponsorship or a hotel confirmation
• Bank reference (applicant/or sponsor)
• Itinerary

Employment visa:

• Work permit entry clearance form
• Job offer letter

Business visa:

• Letter from business associate stating purpose of visit

Student visa:

• Acceptance letter from the Ministry of Education or H. Lavity Stoutt Community College
• A copy of the approval letter from the Immigration authorities to reside

Residence visa:

• A copy of the letter from the Immigration authorities granting permission to reside

Where can I obtain the visa application form?

It is also available from the Civil Registry & Passport Office in the British Virgin Islands and from visa-issuing UK Embassies and High Commissions around the world.

What is the cost of a BVI visa?

The current fee for visas issued in the BVI is US$25. This fee is payable upon application. Please note that dependants are charged the same fee as the main applicant. Visa fees are non-refundable and must be paid in cash. Personal cheques or credit cards would not be accepted.

The fee for visas issued by British Embassies and High Commissions varies. Please contact the relevant Embassy or High Commission to find out the payment terms and conditions.

How long does it take to receive a visa after the application is made?

For visas issued in the BVI, applications will be processed in 3-4 weeks. Visa applications made overseas normally take one to three months to process.

What authority decides whether a visa application will be approved?

Decisions on most visa applications are made by the Embassy at which the application is made. However, applications by persons in the following categories are referred to the the Deputy Governor's Office of the BVI for a decision:

• Those wishing to enter for permanent residence, to set up business, engage in professional practice or to take up employment;
• Holders of non-national documents of identity;
• Nationals of Columbia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Egypt, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia or Syria.

For what reasons would a visa request be refused?

Requests for visas should be refused without reference to any person who:

• Is likely to become a public charge by reason of infirmity of body or mind or who is not in possession of sufficient means to support himself and such of his dependants as he shall bring with him.
• Is insane or mentally defective, or deaf and dumb, or deaf and blind, unless a responsible third party is able to give satisfactory guarantees of his maintenance during the whole of his permitted period of stay and his removal at the end of that period.
• Is certified by a Medical Officer to be suffering from a contagious or infectious disease which makes his entry dangerous to the community.
  Not having received a free pardon has been during the past 10 years in any country convicted of an offence for which a sentence of imprisonment has been passed and who for this reason appears to be an undesirable immigrant.
• Is a prostitute or a person who may be living on or receiving the proceeds of prostitution.
• Is the wife, and the child, step child or adopted child under the age of 16 years of a prohibited immigrant.
• Any person or class of person whose entry is deemed on economic grounds or on account of the standard or habit of life of such person or class of persons, to be undesirable.
• Is deemed to be an undesirable inhabitant or visitor.
• Has been deported from the Virgin Islands under the Immigration & Passport Ordinance and deportation orders have not been revoked.
• What if I am refused a visa?
• If your application is refused, you will be informed accordingly. Please note that we are not required to disclose the reason for the refusal. You may make another application after six (6) months, but if the reason for your refusal still obtains, you may be refused again.

What should I do after I receive my visa?

Please take a few moments to check your visa as soon as you receive it. Make sure that the visa contains the correct dates and that it is for the purpose for which you want to come to the British Virgin Islands. If there is a problem, please contact us immediately.

2003
Nationality	No. of visa requests	No. of requests refused
Dominican Republic	297	0
Guyana	32	0
Haiti	15	0
Nigerian	2	0
2004
Nationality	No. of visa requests	No. of requests refused
Dominican Republic	243	40
Guyana	73	0
Haiti	8	0
Europe and Asia	7	0
Africa	5	0
Far East and Pacific	4	0
2005
Nationality	No. of visa requests	No. of requests refused
Domincan Republic	114	18
Guyana	20	0
China	11	0
Far East and Pacific	9	0
Europe and Asia	8	0
Haiti	4	0
Africa	3	0

Where can I get additional information?

• In person: Visa Unit, Civil Registry & Passport Office located on the ground floor of the Central Administration Building, Road Town, Tortola. (9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time)
• Telephone: (284) 494-3701 ext. 3035 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time)
• Fax: (284) 494-4435
• Email: BVIvisas@gov.vg or sbenn@gov.vg
• Mail:   Civil Registry & Passport Office, Central Administration Building, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, VG1110