North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation in the BVI and the local authorities deal with all requests for consular assistance. See General - Consular assistance.

• Most visits are trouble-free. Nine British nationals required consular assistance in British Virgin Islands in the period 1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011. See General - Consular - Assistance Statistics.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• The hurricane season in British Virgin Islands normally runs from June to November. See Natural Disasters - Hurricanes.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - Insurance.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Although the vast majority of visits to the BVI are trouble-free, serious incidents, including armed robbery, do occur. You should take sensible precautions against petty crime. Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, including beaches, particularly after dark. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Use hotel safety deposit facilities to safeguard valuables and travel documents. Never leave anything valuable unattended on the beach. Do not offer resistance in the attempt of an armed robbery. Should you need assistance you should contact the RVIPF in the first instance. See our victims of crime abroad page.

Please see the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force website which provides crime prevention tips.

Safety and Security - Local travel
There are regular ferry services between Tortola and its sister islands of Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, and also to the US Virgin Islands.

Safety and Security - Road travel
Driving conditions can be hazardous, due to steep and narrow mountain roads, and poor driving standards.
 
Self-drive cars can be hired locally; a temporary driving permit or a local driving licence is required before driving. Cars are left-hand drive, and vehicles drive on the left as in the UK. Standard taxi fares exist for most destinations, but it is sensible to clarify the fare with the driver beforehand. See our driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Sea travel
The majority of visitors to the BVI participate in some form of water sports activities. The rate of accidents in and on the water is very low, but they do occur. Many accidents involve the consumption of alcohol to some degree. Fear and dehydration exaggerate the effects of alcohol, so care should be taken if you, or someone you know, have been drinking. Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) respond to emergencies at sea.

See our river and sea safety page.

Safety and Security - Political situation
British Virgin Islands Country Profile

You should not have any involvement with illegal drugs, including marijuana. Possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to large fines or imprisonment. Drug trafficking is a serious offence. Pack your own luggage yourself and you should not carry items that do not belong to you.
 
You should observe the customs regulations on the importation and exportation of agricultural products and the protection of marine and animal life. There are a number of marine and animal specimens that may not be taken from the island. If in doubt you should check with the local customs authorities prior to the purchase, importation or exportation of such items.

Recreational or commercial fishing without the correct permit carries steep penalties. A temporary permit can be obtained from the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour or the Department of Conservation & Fisheries:

Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour
Administration Complex
Road Town
Tortola
Tel:  (284) 468-3701 ext 2147
Fax: (284) 494-2499

Department of Conservation and Fisheries,
The Quastisky Building
PO Box 3323
Road Town, Tortola.
Tel: (284) 494-5681/3429 or (284) 468-3701 ext 5555/1
Fax: (284) 494-2670

Spear fishing is not permitted in the BVI. The use of SCUBA equipment to capture or remove any marine animal or coral is against the law. Fishing within the boundaries of any marine park is strictly forbidden.
 
For those returning to the UK, please observe the UK Customs and Excise rules on the illegal importation of meat and animal products.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals do not need visas to visit the BVI. It is normal practice for BVI Immigration to issue you with a one-month entry stamp on arrival. You can then apply for an extension for up to six months. You may be required to provide evidence (e.g. an onward ticket) of your plans to leave the BVI at the end of your stay.

If you are not a British national, you may need a visa to visit the BVI. For more information, you should visit the website of the UK Border Agency at: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/overseasterritories or the BVI Government Visa Unit.

Visa Unit
Civil Registry & Passport Office
Central Administration Complex
Road Town
Tortola
BVI
Tel: + 1 284 494 3701 ext 3035
Fax: + 1 284 494 4435
Email: BVIvisas@gov.vg_or_sbenn@gov.vg
 
All other immigration matters, including work permits, should be directed to the BVI authorities.

Immigration Department
Chief Immigration Officer
Government Offices
Road Town
Tortola
BVI
Tel: 001 284 494-3471 or 001 284 468-3701 ext 4700/4770
Fax: 001 284 494-4399
Labour Department
Geneva Place
Road Town
Tortola
BVI
Tel:  001 284 468 3701 ext 4708-4713 or 001 284 494 3451
Fax: 001 284 494 3027

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter the BVI. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into the BVI.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

There is only one hospital in the BVI and medical facilities are limited. Complex medical problems are frequently referred to hospitals in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or the mainland USA. The US visa waiver scheme does not apply to one-off charter flights.  Special arrangements have to be made for any non-US visa holder who is medically evacuated by charter flight.

The dengue mosquito is found in BVI, and you should take normal precautions against mosquito bites.

There is no hyperbaric chamber in the BVI. Patients requiring treatment for decompression illness are transferred to St John, US Virgin Islands. Most sensitive medical cases are transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to BVI and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Centre. See our Tropical Cyclones page.

The BVI has experienced several minor earthquakes in recent years and also susceptible to flooding.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover repatriation costs to the USA and medical treatment while there. Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Consular Assistance
Most visits are trouble-free. Nine British nationals required consular assistance in British Virgin Islands in the period 1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident; two deaths; and seven hospitalisations.

The Governor’s Office will assist British nationals in genuine emergencies wherever possible, but this does not cover the full range of consular services.

General - Renewing or replacing your Passport
Take particular care to safeguard British passports as these cannot be renewed or replaced in BVI. Report the theft or loss of a British passport immediately to the police (from whom a written report must be obtained). In a genuine emergency, the BVI Civil Registry and Passport Office (+1 284 494-3701 ext 3035/3036) may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document (not valid for travel through the United States of America).

Applications for a full validity British Citizen passport, including first passport issues, should  be sent by courier or registered post to the UK Passport Service Centre in Washington D.C.. This is the passport production centre for the British Virgin Islands and the region.  

The mailing address is:

The UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008
USA

Further information, guidance and copies of application forms can be obtained online at www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk or www.ukinbarbados.fco.gov.uk.

This change does not affect applications for British Overseas Territories Citizen passports, which will continue to be processed by the Civil Registry and Passport Office as before.

General - Departure tax
There is a 15 US Dollars departure tax and 5 US Dollars security charge (per person) payable on leaving the BVI by air, and a 5 US Dollar security charge (per person) payable on leaving the BVI by sea.