Home > Help & Advice > Your Guide to Travelling to the BVI

Your Guide to Travelling to the BVI

Having lived in the BVI for many years, Kathy from Dynamic Charters has lots of advice on “How To Arrive” for charter yacht vacation guests travelling from the Canada, USA and Europe.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Passports and Entry Requirements for BVI

All visitors need valid passports and are required to complete an online BVI Customs and Immigration Form (including US and Canadian citizens) for entry into the BVI. Some countries outside of the USA and Europe require visas check out for more details (https://bvi.gov.vg/). On entry to the BVI you may be asked to show your return ticket, you will also be asked the name of the yacht and marina where you are embarking. We can supply that information when you book.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

International travelers who are seeking to travel to/from the British Virgin Islands via the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. Applications can be made online. Please remember to bring a printout of the authorisation with you.

Online Immigration & Customs Form (BVI ED Card)

All travellers arriving in the British Virgin Islands are required to complete the online Immigration and Customs Form (ED Card) before entering the territory. This replaces the traditional paper arrival form and helps speed up the process when passing through immigration and customs.

The form can be completed up to 72 hours before your arrival and should be filled out online before travelling. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation receipt which should be saved to your mobile device or printed and presented on arrival.

If you are arriving by ferry, the form asks for the ferry name. As this is not always known until you reach the ferry terminal, you may need to complete this section shortly before departure.

Please note: It is always advisable to take hard copies of all documents as the BVI are prone to power outages.

Complete the BVI Online Entry Form

Travel by Ferry

If you travel to the BVI by ferry, the airport in St Thomas is 10 minutes away by taxi to the ferry terminal in Charlotte Amalie. The last ferry to the BVI leaves approx. 4:30 pm. (see below for ferry contact information). Again, we can advise and give you all the help needed to plan your trip.

For Europeans its quicker and easier to come via Antigua or St Maarten, however if you are shopping around and don’t mind a longer journey then check out the St Thomas, USVI route or via Puerto Rico. If you arrive via Puerto Rico you will either have to fly into USVI (STT) or BVI (EIS) to meet up with the yacht.

From the Caribbean and other Countries – Please note that citizens from some islands in the Caribbean may need to obtain a visa to visit the British Virgin Islands. Visitors from other Countries need to check with BVI Immigration as to whether they need a visa. https://www.bvitourism.com/entry-requirements

Flying by Plane

At the moment there is only one direct flight into Terrance B Lettsome International Airport and that is via American Airlines from Miami (MIA). This has been operating for a couple of years and saves on time. Taxis outside can take you onto the yacht via a marina or meeting point.

Otherwise visitors fly via an international carrier into either Puerto Rico (SJU), St Thomas (STT), St Maarten (SXM) or Antigua (ANU), these are all the nearest large airports with small regional airlines (see below) which then carry you on to Beef Island (EIS), British Virgin Islands Airport.

If you fly into St Thomas USVI , then the usual route is via ferry or private water taxis – details below

Insurance for Charter Yacht Vacations

This is highly recommended for you and your fellow boating passengers, whether for unexpected trip cancellation, extreme weather or medical, it is essential that you are fully covered.

Here are some online insurance links we recommend.

Useful Contacts

Ferry Services between St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands

Road Town Fast Ferry www.roadtownfastferry.com Tele BVI 284 494 2323 reservations tele 284 340 3976 Tele USVI 340 777 2800 info@roadtownfastferry.com

Native Son Inc www.nativesonferry.com BVI Tele 284 494 5674 / 4617 Email roadtown@nativesonferry.com USVI Tele 340 774 8685 Fax:(340)774-8687|

Smiths Ferry www.bviferryservices.com BVI Tele 284 494 4454 USVI Tele 340 775 7292 Email info@smithsferry.com

Water Taxi Services (Private) between St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands

You should always check current schedules/pricing because things can change with season, weather, and demand. Also make sure that after clearing customs and immigration the water taxi then takes you to the yacht, not leave you at customs to find your own way. It should be door to door. There is a water taxi comparison website – https://vi-bvi-water-taxi.com/

Island Time BVI Water Taxi Based in the BVI; offers “seamless transfers” from USVI (e.g., St Thomas) ? BVI, including handling customs/immigration onboard. https://islandtimebvi.com/

Chillout Charters Water Taxi BVI-based, focused on transfers between USVI & BVI for charter guests, hotels, villas, resorts; can pick up in St Thomas or St John. https://www.chilloutchartersbvi.com/

Foxy’s Charters & Water Taxi BVI-based, https://foxyscharters.com/

Direct Flight

American?Airlines — Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Terrance B Lettsome International Airport ( EIS) – https://www.aa.com/

Regional Airlines

Here are some of the airlines that fly into Terrance?B.?Lettsome?International?Airport (EIS) on Beef Island Tortola:

InterCaribbean?Airways — offers scheduled flights to EIS from various Caribbean hubs – https://www.intercaribbean.com/

Cape?Air — operates flights between San Juan (SJU) and EIS – https://www.capeair.com/

Caribbean?Airlines — listed among airlines flying to EIS – https://www.caribbean-airlines.com/#/

Winair (Windward Islands Airways International) — operates in the region – https://www.winair.sx/

Sunrise?Airways — also appears in listings of airlines serving EIS – https://www.sunriseairways.net/en

Private Charter is also available throughout the Caribbean

Fly BVI www.flybvi.com Tele BVI 284 495 1747 info@bviaircharters.com
Island Birds www.islandbirds.com BVI Office 284 495 2002 US Toll Free 877 515 5066 info@islandbirds.com

Related Help & Advice

No results found.