Moving to British Virgin Islands: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

37,381

Population Growth Rate

2.4%

Urban Population

40.600000

Population in Major Urban Areas

ROAD TOWN (capital) 10,000

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Age Structure

16.790000

Median Age

35.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

11

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

4.89

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.24

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

18.11

Ethnic Groups

Black 83%, white, Indian, Asian, and mixed

Nationality Noun

British Virgin Islander(s)

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Literacy - total population

97.8%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.4%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

15.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

78.120000

Infant Mortality Rate

13.930000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

13.930000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

98.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

97.500000

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Economic Overview

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income.

More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008.

Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.

Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.

In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues.

Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000.

The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for the investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.

Industries

Tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$42,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.3%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$500,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$42,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.3%

GDP - official exchange rate

$1,095,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 68.9% Government
• Consumption: 8.9% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 25% Investment in
• Inventories: 0% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 91.8% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -94.6%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

11.1%

GDP by Sector- services

87.9%

Industrial Growth Rate

2.2%

Inflation Rate

1.1%

Currency Name and Code

US Dollar (USD)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

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Labor Force

12,770

Unemployment Rate

8.7%

Major Industries

Tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center

Agriculture Products

• Fruits, vegetables
• livestock, poultry
• fish

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

0.6%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

40%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

59.4%

Annual Budget

$300,000,000 (USD)

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

27.4%

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Full Country Name

none

Country Name

British Virgin Islands

Abbreviation

BVI

Etymology- history of name

the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National Holiday

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

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Government Type

overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
• amendments: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015

Legal System:

English common law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024) previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022
• head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
• cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
• elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor note; on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE was removed from office by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 members in a single, nationwide constituency directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 24 April 2023 (next to be held in 2027)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - VIP 39.6%, NDP 29.1, PVIM 15.7%, PU 5%, independents 10.6%; seats by party - VIP 6, NDP 3, PVIM 3, PU 1;
• Note: percentages reflect 9 elected single seat constituents, seat total includes four nationwide at-large elected members

Judicial Branch:

• office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
• subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts

Regions or States:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• National Democratic Party or NDP [Marlon PENN]
• Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON]
• Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER]
• Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Natalio WHEATLEY]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

see United Kingdom

Capital Name

Road Town

Capital - geographic coordinate

18 25 N, 64 37 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• Caricom (associate)
• CDB
• Interpol (subbureau)
• IOC
• OECS
• UNESCO (associate)
• UPU

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• none (overseas territory of the UK)

Dependency Status

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

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Geographic Location

The Caribbean

Geographic Coordinates

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Total Area

58 Square Miles 151 Square Kilometers

Land Area

58 Square Miles 151 Square Kilometers

Coastline

50 Miles 80 Kilometers

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Terrain

Coral islands are relatively flat; volcanic islands are steep, hilly

Highest Point

521 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mount Sage 521 m

Lowest Point Location

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

Negligable, pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism

Time Zone

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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Climate

Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain

Coral islands are relatively flat; volcanic islands are steep, hilly

Location

The Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Total Area

58 Square Miles 151 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

Limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

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Exports

$23,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$200,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Major Imports

Building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Country Description

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British overseas territory, part of the British West Indies, lying about 60 miles east of Puerto Rico.

There are about 50 islands in the BVI, many of which are uninhabited.

Tortola is the main island, other islands include Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada.

Tourist facilities are widely available.

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Crime

Theft, armed robbery, and other violent crimes do occur in the BVI.

Visitors should take common-sense precautions to guard against petty crime.

Travelers should avoid carrying large amounts of cash and use hotel safety deposit facilities to safeguard valuables and travel documents.

Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach or in cars, and do not leave them in plain view inside rental properties or hotel rooms.

Always lock up boats when going ashore.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but you may also be breaking local law too.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the BVI, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in the BVI, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating BVI law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in the BVI are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.

If you are arrested in the BVI, authorities of the BVI are required to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest.

If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the police or prison officials to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest.

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Medical Facilities

Medical care in the BVI consists of a small general hospital, Peebles Hospital (Telephone (284) 494-3497), with an emergency room staffed 24-hrs a day by physicians, several clinics on Tortola, and one public and one private clinic on Virgin Gorda.

Both islands are served by ambulances staffed with paramedics.

There is a clinic staffed by a government nurse on both Jost Van Dyke and Anegada.

There are no medical facilities on the other islands.

A volunteer organization, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR), responds 24-hrs/day to medical emergencies at sea or on the outer islands.

VISAR transports casualties to the nearest point for transfer to ambulance.

To reach VISAR, dial SOS (767) or call on Marine Channel 16.

There is no hyperbaric chamber in the BVI.

Patients requiring treatment for decompression illness are transferred to St.

Thomas, U.S.

Virgin Islands.

Most sensitive medical cases are transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning the British Virgin Islands is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Vehicles drive on the left (the “British side”) with most steering wheels on the left (the “American side”).

Seatbelts are required by law, and cell phone use while driving is prohibited.

Road signs are limited and drivers often fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, even at painted crosswalks.

Speeding and reckless driving are fairly common in the BVI.

Drivers can encounter nighttime drag racing on main thoroughfares and livestock on roads both day and night.

Roads in Tortola's interior can be steep and extremely slippery when wet.

Travelers planning to drive across the island should consider requesting four-wheel drive vehicles and should ensure that tires and brakes are in good operating condition on any rental vehicle.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning the British Virgin Islands is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Vehicles drive on the left (the “British side”) with most steering wheels on the left (the “American side”).

Seatbelts are required by law, and cell phone use while driving is prohibited.

Road signs are limited and drivers often fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, even at painted crosswalks.

Speeding and reckless driving are fairly common in the BVI.

Drivers can encounter nighttime drag racing on main thoroughfares and livestock on roads both day and night.

Roads in Tortola's interior can be steep and extremely slippery when wet.

Travelers planning to drive across the island should consider requesting four-wheel drive vehicles and should ensure that tires and brakes are in good operating condition on any rental vehicle.

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Airports - total

4

Airports with Paved Runways

2

Roadways- total

124 Miles 200 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

115 Miles 185 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Road Town

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Telephones

20,100

Cell Phones

8,000

Internet Users

4,000

Internet Country Code

.vg

Internet Hosts

497

Broadcast Media

• 1 private TV station
• multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services
• about a half dozen private radio stations

Telephone System

• Assessment: good overall telephone service
• Domestic: fixed line connections exceed 80 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 150 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

41,850,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

45,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,000

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Anthem Lyrics English

The British Virgin Islands uses the Nation Anthem of the United Kingdom God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!

O lord God arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall! Confound their knavish tricks, Confuse their politics, On you our hopes we fix, God save the Queen!

Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world ov'er From every latent foe, From the assasins blow, God save the Queen!

O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen! Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign!

May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen!