BVI immigration and customs for water taxi passengers

Clearing immigration when you travel by water taxi

Water taxi passenger information for BVI immigration. The US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are different countries, so every crossing between them means clearing immigration and customs. A water taxi makes that low-stress: your group travels together, the boat goes to a port of entry, and you are on your way again as soon as you are cleared.

Before you travel

Make sure everyone in your group has a valid passport, and check whether your nationality needs a visa for the BVI. Every traveler, including children, residents and citizens, completes the BVI online Immigration and Customs form (ED card). It opens 72 hours before you travel; keep the confirmation email on your phone or print it. If anything changes, submit a new card. When you ask for your quote, list everyone traveling so the trip is planned for the whole group.

Arriving in the BVI

Fast immigration clearance. Low-stress entry to the BVI. All arriving boats clear BVI Customs and Immigration at a port of entry: Road Town or West End on Tortola, Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke, or St Thomas Bay on Virgin Gorda. If your destination is not the BVI point of entry, you continue with a BVI-based water taxi: USVI water taxis are not allowed to continue past the point of entry. Government entry and departure fees apply and are not included in our prices.

Returning to the USVI

Leaving the BVI, you complete departure formalities at the port of entry and your ED card covers departure as well. On arrival in the USVI, everyone on board reports to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before going ashore with luggage. US citizens and visitors alike need a passport or other travel document CBP accepts. Check the official pages listed here before you travel.