1 Legal framework
1.1 Which legislative and regulatory provisions govern corporate immigration in your jurisdiction?
The legislative provisions that govern immigration in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are contained in the Labour Code 2010.
1.2 Do any special regimes apply in specific sectors?
There are no special regimes currently in place. However, on 30 April 2021 the BVI government announced that it plans to introduce a Work in Paradise programme. This would allow foreign persons to work remotely from the BVI by acquiring some form of extended stay visa. At this time, no further details have been published by the BVI government; nor has an implementation date been set.
1.3 Which government entities regulate immigration in your jurisdiction? What powers do they have?
Section 8 of the Labour Code provides that there shall exist a commissioner who (subject to the direction of the minister of labour) is in charge of the Labour Department.
1.4 What is the government's general approach to immigration in your jurisdiction?
The BVI is generally receptive to immigration, as evidenced by the large expatriate community working in the legal and financial services industries.
2 Business travel
2.1 Do business visitors need a visa to visit your jurisdiction? What restrictions and exemptions apply in this regard?
There are no visas designed specifically for business visitors. However, depending on the frequency and length of stay, a number of visas could be relevant. For a typical short business trip, the most appropriate visa is likely to be an emergency work permit – that is, a permit issued to someone on a single occasion to undertake emergency work for an employer for a period not exceeding seven days.
A visa exemption programme was introduced on 1 September 2016 which permits nationals of a country that would otherwise require a visa to be exempt from this requirement if they have a visa from the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada. This programme allows such persons to enter the BVI for business, tourism work or other related matters for up to six months.
2.2 Do the requirements vary depending on sector or purpose?
No.
2.3 What is the maximum stay allowed for business visitors?
This depends on the kind of permit that the business visitor obtains. For a continued stay (as opposed to many short trips within a one-year timeframe, as allowed under a periodic work permit) the longest period for which a business visitor could work is six months under the exemption referred to in question 2.1. Otherwise, it is three months under a temporary work permit.
2.4 What activities are business visitors allowed to conduct while visiting your jurisdiction?
The Labour Code does not specify the activities which business visitors are allowed to undertake.
2.5 Is authorisation required for business visitors to provide or receive short-term training?
The Labour Code does not specify whether this is permitted.
3 Work permits
3.1 What are the main types of work permit in your jurisdiction? What restrictions and exemptions apply in this regard?
There are four main types of work permit in the BVI, as per Section 169 of the Labour Code:
- Emergency work permit: A permit issued to someone on a single occasion to undertake emergency work for an employer for a period not exceeding seven days.
- Periodic work permit: A permit issued to a person to enter and work in the BVI for a single employer for short periods within a one-year period.
- Temporary work permit: A permit issued to a person to enter and work in the BVI for a single period not exceeding three months.
- Work permit: A general work permit granted for no more than three years, which may be renewed or extended by the minister of labour from time to time.
3.2 What is the maximum stay allowed under each type of work permit? Can this be extended?
See question 3.1.
Extensions may be applied for.
3.3 What criteria must be satisfied to obtain each kind of permit?
The criteria for the various work permits are not specified in the Labour Code. However, guidance on the BVI government website notes that the ‘supporting documents' for a work permit application are as follows:
- a passport-sized photograph;
- a cover letter signed by the employer summarising the request for a work permit;
- a job description;
- a valid trade licence (of the employer);
- the full pages on which two newspaper ads were run for two consecutive weeks, with visible dates;
- whether ‘belongers; (as defined below) applied and if so, why they were not hired;
- a copy of the applicant's diplomas and other qualifications; and
- a letter from Immigration confirming the applicant's status in the BVI.
A ‘belonger' as defined in the Labour Code is a person who ‘belongs' to the BVI as defined in Section 2(2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. This generally means anyone who:
- was born in the BVI and at the time of birth his or her father or mother is or was:
-
- a British overseas territories citizen (BOTC); or
- permanently settled (as outlined in question 4.1) in the BVI;
- born in the BVI of a father or mother who belongs to the BVI by birth or decent;
- adopted as a child in the BVI by a person who belongs to the BVI by birth or decent;
- born outside the BVI of a father or mother who is a BOTC by virtue of birth in the BVI or decent from a father or mother born in the BVI, or who belongs to the BVI by virtue of birth in the BVI or decent from a father or mother who was born in the BVI;
- who is a BOTC by virtue of registration in the BVI; or
- who is the spouse of a person who belongs to the BVI.
3.4 Do any language requirements apply for each kind of permit?
No language requirements are specified in the Labour Code.
3.5 Are any work permits subject to quotas?
No provisions of the Labour Code permit quotas to be set. However, Section 178 of the code permits the minister of labour to take into consideration both the short-term need and the availability of human resources. This section suggests that the minister may increase or decrease the amount of work permits that are granted based on the ‘need' for human resources that exists at that time.
3.6 Do any specific rules apply with regard to the following:
(a) Work in specific sectors?
(b) Shortage occupations?
(c) Highly skilled workers?
(d) Investors and high-net worth individuals?
(a) Work in specific sectors?
None specified.
(b) Shortage occupations?
None specified.
(c) Highly skilled workers?
None specified.
(d) Investors and high-net worth individuals?
None specified.
3.7 What are the formal and documentary requirements for obtaining each kind of permit?
See question 3.3.
3.8 What fees are payable to obtain each kind of permit?
According to a bulletin published on the BVI government website, the work permit fee structures are as follows:
- Special consideration has been made for domestic workers, who will pay 1% of annual salary.
- For all other workers:
-
- the fee for earnings up to $25,000 will be charged at 3%;
- the fee for earnings from $25,001 to $50,000 will be calculated at 5%; and
- the fee for earnings above $50,001 will be calculated at 7%.
3.9 What is the process for obtaining a permit? How long does this typically take?
The process for obtaining a work permit is to apply in the prescribed form to the Labour Department (Section 171 of the Labour Code). According to the BVI government website, the processing time for a work permit application is typically 30 working days.
3.10 Once a work permit has been obtained, what are the rights and obligations of the permit holder? What are the penalties in case of breach?
Section 171(2) of the Labour Code permits the minister of labour to impose any conditions that he or she may consider appropriate when approving a work permit. Section 171(12) of the code also permits the minister to vary the conditions of a work permit at any time.
Section 174 of the code states that a person who fails to comply with Section 170 or 171 (ie, the requirements to obtain a work permit and to abide by the conditions imposed on such a work permit, respectively) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to:
- a fine not exceeding $8,000; and
- cancellation of his or her work permit.
4 Settlement
4.1 What are the criteria for obtaining settlement in your jurisdiction? What restrictions apply in this regard?
The Labour Code does not expressly deal with the ability to obtain permanent residency in the BVI. However, the BVI government website states that an applicant must reside in the BVI for 20 years consecutively before an application can be considered. In addition, that person cannot be absent from the BVI for more than 90 days in a calendar year, except when pursuing further education or as a result of an illness.
4.2 Do any specific rules apply to foreign citizens with ancestral connections?
The Labour Code does not make reference to any such rules.
4.3 What are the formal and documentary requirements for obtaining settlement?
In addition to the completed application form, the BVI government website states that the additional documentation required to submit a permanent residency application is as follows:
- a valid ID;
- bank statements;
- proof of social security benefits or other evidence of self-sufficiency;
- evidence of accommodation;
- two copies of a police certificate from the applicant's country of birth; and
- upon approval, a medical certificate in the prescribed form.
4.4 What fees are payable to obtain settlement?
No fees are outlined in the Labour Code or on the BVI government website.
4.5 What is the process for obtaining settlement? How long does this typically take?
Completion of the prescribed application form and its submission (in person) together with the required documentation. The BVI government website states that applications are processed within two to three business days.
4.6 Is the settlement process the same for EU citizens?
Yes.
5 Dependants
5.1 What are the criteria to qualify as a dependant? What restrictions apply in this regard?
There are no qualifying criteria in the Labour Code for dependants. The BVI government website states that any person wishing for a dependant (ie, spouse or child) to reside with him or her should write a letter to the chief immigration officer. Such requests are responded to within 10 business days.
5.2 What rights do dependants enjoy once admitted as such?
There are no details in the Labour Code or on the BVI government website on the rights that dependants of work permit holders are afforded.
5.3 How are civil/unmarried partners and same-sex partners treated in this regard?
Civil partnerships are not currently recognised under domestic BVI law.
6 Intra-company transfers
6.1 Is there a specific regime for the transfer of employees from an overseas branch of a multinational to your jurisdiction?
No.
6.2 What is the maximum stay allowed under this regime? Can this be extended?
Not applicable.
6.3 What criteria must the employer satisfy to obtain a permit under this regime?
Not applicable.
6.4 What are the formal and documentary requirements to obtain a permit under this regime?
Not applicable.
6.5 What fees are payable to obtain a permit under this regime?
Not applicable.
6.6 What is the process for obtaining a permit? How long does this typically take?
Not applicable.
7 New hires
7.1 Are employers in your jurisdiction bound by labour market testing requirements before hiring from overseas? Do any exemptions apply in this regard?
There is no reference to such requirements in the Labour Code. However, the BVI government website states that the documentation that must be submitted as part of a work permit application includes (among other things) the full pages on which two newspaper ads were run for two consecutive weeks, with dates visible. In addition, an applicant must submit information outlining whether ‘belongers' (see question 3.3) applied, and if so, why they were not hired.
7.2 If labour market testing requirements apply, how are these satisfied and what best practices should employers follow in this regard?
Based on the BVI government website, an employer must (before applying for a work permit for a foreign employee) advertise the position and test the local labour market. To satisfy this criterion, the employer must run two newspaper ads for two consecutive weeks, and submit copies of the ads (with visible dates) along with information outlining whether belongers applied and, if so, why they were not hired.
7.3 Which work permits are primarily used for new hires? What is the process for obtaining them and what fees are applicable, for both employer and employee?
The work permit that is used will depend on the length of desired employment for the individual (see question 3.1), and the fees for the same are outlined in question 3.8. Employers will also incur the costs of advertising the position as described in questions 7.1 and 7.2.
7.4 Is labour market testing required if the new hire is to extend his or her residence?
This is not outlined in the Labour Code. However, the BVI government issued a bulletin on 20 September 2020 outlining the documents required to complete a work permit renewal (in addition to the completed form), as follows:
- a valid receipt as evidence of an application to the Department of Inland Revenue for a certificate of earnings;
- a certificate of earnings from the Social Security Board; and
- a certificate of earnings from the National Health Insurance.
This suggests that labour market testing is not required to renew a permit.
7.5 Can new hires apply for permanent residence?
Not unless they fall within the scope outlined in question 4.1.
8 Sponsorship
8.1 Are any licences or authorisations required to sponsor foreign nationals? What other criteria apply in this regard?
None exist in the Labour Code.
8.2 What obligations do sponsoring employers have to ensure continued immigration compliance?
Not applicable.
8.3 Are sponsoring employers subject to any local training requirements?
None exist in the Labour Code.
8.4 How is compliance with the sponsorship regime monitored? What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Not applicable.
The penalties for employers are set out in question 8.2.
9 Trends and predictions
9.1 How would you describe the current immigration landscape and prevailing trends in your jurisdiction? Are any new developments anticipated in the next 12 months, including any proposed legislative reforms?
Overall, the BVI financial services and legal markets are strong, and therefore immigration is expected to continue in order to meet the increased level of demand.
10 Tips and traps
10.1 What are your top tips for businesses seeking to recruit talent from abroad and what potential sticking points would you highlight?
- Seek immigration advice in early course.
- Ensure that the requisite forms are completed correctly and all supporting documentation is correct before submission, as any errors can cause significant delays.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
