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Fully vaccinated travellers can skip BVI Gateway Portal from Oct 1, 2021

- Proof of vaccination & negative COVID-19 test results will be required to be able to board ferry or aircraft
Fully vaccinated persons travelling to the Virgin Islands will no longer be required to go through the BVI Gateway Portal for travel authorisation, effective October 1, 2021. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said fully vaccinated travellers must still produce their proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test results done in the last five days to be able to board aircraft or ferry to Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said fully vaccinated travellers must still produce their proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test results done in the last five days to be able to board aircraft or ferry to Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has announced that fully vaccinated persons to the Virgin Islands will no longer be required to go through the BVI Gateway Portal for travel authorisation, effective October 1, 2021.

Honourable Fahie said during the VIP Let’s Talk show on ZBVI 780AM on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, that this was one of the recent Cabinet decisions made.

“Coming into the territory, you don’t have to go through the portal anymore after the 1st of October, once you are fully vaccinated. Only fully vaccinated persons or any minor that is travelling with fully vaccinated persons. Anyone else who does not fall into that category would have to still use the Gateway Portal.”

Travellers must still produce their proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests done in the last five days, he added.

Fines 

At the same time, Premier Fahie said, there are penalties for carriers and individual travellers who do not comply with the government orders.

“If any ferry or any carrier, or water taxi or airline or charter plane, anything that is coming into the territory with passengers and they do not make sure that the persons who are fully vaccinated furnished them with their valid 5 day PCR test or rapid antigen test, stating that is negative and also have furnished them with the proof of their vaccination, they should not allow them to board and that will be made clear to all the carriers.”

Failure to do so will attract a $10,000 fine for the carrier and a $5,000 fine for the individual traveller, who can also be imprisoned where applicable.

“So we need to make that absolutely clear because we need to balance lives and livelihoods. Now this means that after the 1st of October, you can bring a fully vaccinated ferry, charter or otherwise, straight to Jost van Dyke, straight to Anegada, straight to Virgin Gorda, straight to West End. If you are travelling with persons that are not vaccinated, you have to go to Road Town, or if you are travelling with persons who did not meet this vaccination exemption from the portal, you have to go to Road Town, and you have to go through the portal.”

Day trips to St Thomas

The Premier said this is the Virgin Islands’ way of opening up the economy more “in a safe as humanely possible way given that we are fighting COVID-19.” 

He said discussions are now being held to have more ferry trips to St Thomas and enable day trips for fully vaccinated persons, with negative COVID-19 results.

“So we have found now after much prayer and discussion as a government, the most safe way we can keep the health teams satisfied that we are securing the territory’s safety and also to start to generate more business in the marine sector, charter boat sector, in the business sector overall. Once COVID-19 is around you are going to have risks and the question is what level of risk you are going to manage?” Hon Fahie stated.

19 Responses to “Fully vaccinated travellers can skip BVI Gateway Portal from Oct 1, 2021”

  • lord send help (23/09/2021, 15:16) Like (8) Dislike (21) Reply
    Watch them CASES Rise again.
  • just asking (23/09/2021, 15:41) Like (3) Dislike (10) Reply
    So fully vaccinated dont have to quarantine while waiting for results?
    • lol (23/09/2021, 15:57) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
      They haven’t had to do that since the middle of June, keep up!
    • Hmmmm (29/09/2021, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The results come in 15 mins, so you sit and wait in a distanced area until you get your results. You don't get to leave until your results come back.

      Once negative, you get to leave.
      Once positive, then you are led elsewhere and processed for quarantine.
  • Hip hip. (23/09/2021, 16:13) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Forward thimking, forward moving, pro-active. Timely positive decision...We cant let Covid shut us down forever.. We have to push on.. We have a country to move forward and an economy to rebuild..
  • face palm (23/09/2021, 16:16) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    Here we go again….
  • More info need (23/09/2021, 16:48) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    So will fully vaccinated persons be tested on arrival? And how is this going to be facilitated? We know that with the portal everything was paid online i.e for the PCR Test on arrival. Now that fully vaccinated will not be using the portal what is the process/procedures once you land in the BVIs?
    • wow (23/09/2021, 21:04) Like (20) Dislike (4) Reply
      You don't need a PCR test if fully vaccinated, it is a rapid antigen and the result is issued after 15mins. You non vax are out of tune with the entire program, you guys are heavily misinformed with all that's around you and this pandemic.
      • YES! (23/09/2021, 21:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Another human after my own heart. I wondered which rock these people are hiding under but I know exactly which rock it is - Facebook and the rest of social media.
  • WOW (23/09/2021, 19:06) Like (10) Dislike (6) Reply
    You land , show your fully vaccinated card and go bout your business, it’s as simple English as this you idiot.
  • tola (23/09/2021, 22:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank God
  • Unvaxx winner (24/09/2021, 01:19) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Straight up disrespecting the unvaxx. Keep that same energy come election time dude.
    • @unvaxx (24/09/2021, 10:00) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      This right here is why the BVI cant move forward. I am very proud of the Govt for taking a stand that is based on the science. Dont mind them Govt, you have my vote simply for taking a stand. More action like this is needed for the territory to move on to the great that it can be! My vote for sure!
  • Travel Insurance? (24/09/2021, 07:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does this mean visitors dont need travel insurance anymore as well?
  • resident (24/09/2021, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    the only reason to take the shot
  • the rock (24/09/2021, 10:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    No that is wrong, theh should be made to do the antigen test should still apply most of our visitors are coming from the US where fraud is ramping high on fake tete results, come on guys dont make the same mistake you did just back then, we paid a heavy price!
    • Try and Keep Up (24/09/2021, 11:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      ALL, ALL taking the test before you get release. NOT SOME, ALL. There will be fraud yes and those who get caught will pay severely with Jail and Super Heavy Fines. So tell the idiots don't try it.


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