British Virgin Islands travel advice

Risk level

Safety and security

Crime

The crime rate is low. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs.

• Ensure that your belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Don’t walk alone to deserted, unpatrolled beaches or poorly lit areas after dark
• Consult local authorities to find out which beaches are safe
• Don’t bring valuable to the beach

Water activities

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities.

Water safety abroad

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are generally good throughout the islands. Mountain roads may be steep and narrow.

Road signage is limited. Roaming livestock pose further hazards, especially at night.

Drivers are reckless, particularly at night. Roadside assistance is not widely available. If you plan to drive across the islands:

• rent a four-wheel drive vehicle
• carry a cellphone

Public transportation

Public transportation is available, but service is unreliable.

Buses

Bus services are available from the ferry dock to the most popular tourist areas on Tortola and Virgin Gorda islands. However, there is no official schedule or route. There is no government-managed public transportation

Taxis

Taxi service is reliable, but can be expensive. Prices are often based on the distance and the number of passengers.

Agree on a fare with the driver before departure to avoid being overcharged.

Ferries

Ferry services within the larger islands are available and frequent.

Ferry schedule – British Virgin Islands Tourism

Air travel

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Entry and exit requirements

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the British authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules. 

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the British Virgin Islands.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 6 months
Business visa: not required for stays of up to 6 months
Work permit: required
Student visa: required

ED card

You must have a completely filled-in and signed Embarkation/Disembarkation card (ED card) to enter the British Virgin Islands. You can fill it in online within 72 hours before your travel to the British Virgin Islands.

Customs and Immigration Portal

Arrival and departure tax

Upon arrival, you must pay a $10 USD tax.

When departing, you must pay a $20 USD tax.

Verify with your carrier if the taxes are included in the price of your ticket.

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them:

• a return or onward ticket
• proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay
• proof of accommodation

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section). 

Health

Routine vaccines

Make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel, no matter where you’re going.

These may include vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, varicella (chickenpox), meningococcal disease, seasonal flu, and others.

Provincial and Territorial Immunization Information

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

When travelling in this destination, you might be at risk for diseases that can be prevented with vaccines or medications. Talk to a travel health care provider about which ones are right for you based on your travel plans.

The highlights below will also tell you if your destination may require that vaccine for entering or exiting.

Safe food and water precautions

Eating or drinking unsafe food or water, or swimming in contaminated water can make you sick while travelling. Take precautions by following these tips:

• Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it (only eat food that is prepared safely)
• Avoid, if possible, getting water in your eyes, mouth, or nose when swimming in freshwater (like streams, lakes, or canals), especially after heavy rain or flooding - the water might look clean but can still be contaminated 
• Don’t swallow water when bathing, showering, swimming in pools, or using hot tubs 

Eat and drink safely abroad

Tick and insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by bites from infected ticks and insects like mosquitoes, fleas, or flies. Before you travel, find out what types of ticks or insects are in the area, when they’re most active, and what diseases they can spread.

To protect yourself from bites:

• use an approved bug spray (insect repellent) on exposed skin
• wear light-coloured, loose clothing made of tightly woven materials like nylon or polyester
• wear socks and closed-toe shoes
• sleep under mosquito netting if you’re outdoors or staying in places that aren’t fully enclosed
• do a full body tick check on yourself, your children, your gear, and any pets you’re travelling with when you return from outdoor activities

Insect bite and pest prevention
Personal insect repellents

Animal precautions

Some infections, like rabies and bird flu (avian influenza), can be spread from animals to humans. Certain activities can increase your chances of coming into contact with animals, like:

• travelling in rural or forested areas
• camping, hiking, or visiting caves
• visiting places where live animals are sold or killed for food, like wet markets

To reduce your risk of getting sick, avoid contact with animals like stray dogs, livestock (such as pigs and cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Avoid eating undercooked meat.

Make sure to closely watch children; they are more likely to try to touch animals.

Person-to-person infections

When travelling, you can reduce your risk of getting or spreading respiratory infections, like the flu or COVID-19, by:

• staying at your accommodation and limiting contact with others if you’re sick
• wearing a well-fitting mask, especially: 
  
  • if you’re sick and need to be around others 
  • when you’re at large indoor events or in crowded settings, like sporting events, concerts, and airports
• cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
• covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)
Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases
Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures

To lower your risk of getting sexually transmissible infections (STIs), HIV, and mpox, you can:

• get vaccinated against mpox if you’re eligible
• have fewer sexual partners
• use protection during sexual activity, like condoms and dental dams.

Mpox vaccines
Sexual health and travel
HIV and AIDS: Travel health advice

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are adequate but limited. There is one public hospital and one private hospital on Tortola. Private medical clinics provide healthcare services on other islands of the archipelago.

Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) provides first aid and transport to Tortola for individuals requiring emergency medical assistance.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Health and safety outside Canada

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

Laws and culture

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

The British Virgin Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. However, it is a separate legal jurisdiction and has its own laws.

Canada and the United Kingdom are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in the United Kingdom to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and British authorities. This process can take a long time and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs, including cannabis, are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or heavy fines.

The islands are sometimes used as a drug-trafficking hub between South and North America.

• Pack all your luggage yourself
• Avoid carrying any items that do not belong to you

Drugs, alcohol and travel

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and the British Virgin Islands.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in the British Virgin Islands by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in the British Virgin Islands to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

Useful links

• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Children and travel
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Fishing permits

You must obtain a fishing licence for commercial, sport and pleasure fishing.

It’s prohibited to fish in a marine park and forbidden to capture or remove any marine animal or coral.

If you plan a fishing trip with a chartered vessel, make sure the company or captain already has a permit.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Government of the Virgin Islands

Imports and exports 

Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation or exportation of items such as:

• firearms
• agricultural products
• currency

You may also not be allowed to take from the island a number of marine and animal specimens.

Check with local authorities before buying or attempting to import or export such items.

Immigration Department – Government of the Virgin Islands

Driving

Traffic drives on the left.

If you are staying less than 30 days, you can use your Canadian driver’s licence. Otherwise, you must obtain a local temporary driving permit to drive in the British Virgin Islands.

You can obtain a permit at any car rental agency or from the Traffic Licensing Office. To do so, you will need to present a valid Canadian driver’s licence or an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

Money

The currency in the British Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar (USD).

Major credit cards are accepted by most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATMs are widely available.

Natural disasters and climate

Hurricane season

Hurricanes usually occur from mid-May to the end of November. During this period, even small tropical storms can quickly develop into major hurricanes.

These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services. You could face serious safety risks during a hurricane.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area during the hurricane season:

• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities

Useful links

• Severe storms outside Canada
• Large-scale emergencies outside Canada
• Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings – U.S. National Hurricane Center