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Increase in Immigration Fees to go into effect October 1, 2025

The Department of Immigration of the Virgin Islands has announced an increase in immigration fees, effective October 1, 2025. Photo: Facebook
Mrs Nadia Demming-Hodge, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer and Director General of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Immigration Department, said any official information regarding the fee increase would be communicated through the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: RDA/Facebook/File
Mrs Nadia Demming-Hodge, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer and Director General of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Immigration Department, said any official information regarding the fee increase would be communicated through the Government of the Virgin Islands. Photo: RDA/Facebook/File
Amendments to various immigration-related fees, as outlined in the Immigration and Passport Amendment Regulations, 2025, dated June 30, 2025, will take effect on October 1, 2025. Photo: GIS
Amendments to various immigration-related fees, as outlined in the Immigration and Passport Amendment Regulations, 2025, dated June 30, 2025, will take effect on October 1, 2025. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Department of Immigration of the Virgin Islands has announced an increase in immigration fees, effective October 1, 2025.

The department advises that amendments to various immigration-related fees, as outlined in the Immigration and Passport Amendment Regulations, 2025, dated June 30, 2025, will take effect on October 1, 2025.

All applications submitted on or after October 1, 2025, will be subject to the revised fees.

These adjustments are part of the department's ongoing efforts to ensure the sustainability of its operations.

The Cabinet, exercising the power conferred by Section 49 of the Immigration and Passport Act, Revised Edition 2013, established these regulations.

Based on the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, which came into effect on June 27, 2025, the fees prescribed in Regulation 10(b) for Schedule 3, Part IV, will come into force on October 1, 2025.

Fee hike

The new fees are as follows:

1. Application for Residence and Belonger Status: - Processing fee: $250 - Grant fee: $2,500 (previously $500)

2. Certificate of Residence: - Grant fee: $1,500 (previously $300)

3. Replacement of a Card or Certificate: $50

4. Review of Residence: $150

5. Regularisation of Minors for Residence: $150

6. Special Consideration Fees: $10,000 - $20,000

After-hours service fees!

7. Services Rendered by the Department of Immigration under Regulation 26(3):

Between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m., or at any time on Sundays or public holidays, for carriers (vessels or aircraft): - $20 per hour for each immigration officer (for vessels or aircraft carrying fewer than 15 passengers) - $50 per hour for each immigration officer (for ferries, vessels, or aircraft carrying 16 or more passengers)

Landing & Entry Permits

8. Extension to Landing Permit: - First Extension: $50 - Subsequent Extensions: $100 - All Extensions for Children or Spouses of a BVIslander/Belonger: $25

9. Entry Permit: - Issuance of Entry Permit Form & Stamp: $50 - Extension of Entry Permit: $50 - Duplicate Entry Permit Form: $50

10. Application for Business Visitor Permit (Work Permit Exempt under Labour Code Order 2017 & 2024): $100

11. Application Fee for all Requests to Reside: $100

12. Extension to Approval of Request to Reside: $50

13. Conditional Permit Application Fee: $100

14. Request for Entry Without a Valid Entry Permit (Extenuating Circumstances): $50

 15. Request for Extension Letter for Previously Endorsed Child (Section 18(4) of the IPA): $250

16. Application Fee for Appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board: $850

17. Immigration Services – Late/Early Clearances (Regulation 26(3)): - $20 per hour for each immigration officer (for vessels or aircraft carrying fewer than 15 passengers) - $50 per hour for each immigration officer (for ferries, vessels, or aircraft carrying 16 or more passengers)

18. Special & Remote Clearance Services: - VIP/Jet Facility for members of the House of Assembly, their spouses, and visiting government officials (no cost to utilize the facility) - Zone 1 (up to 10 pax, Tortola, Virgin Gorda - Valley): $500 - Zone 2 (up to 10 pax, JVD, Peter Island, Norman Island, Cooper Island): $800 - Zone 3 (up to 10 pax, Virgin Gorda – North Sound, Saba Rock, Mosquito Island, Necker Island): $2,000 - Zone 4 (up to 10 pax, Anegada): $1,000 - Each additional traveler (up to 25 pax): $100 - Each additional traveler (up to 149 pax): $50 - VIP/Jet Facility at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport: $15 per pax

19. Request for Documents, Reprint of Documents, or Copies: $10 per document

20. Work Permit Card: $75 21. Application for Reissue of Work Permit Card: $75

22. Non-Refundable Bond (Repatriation Fee): - Non-Belonger Entity: $250 - Locally Owned Entity: $250

When asked for a comment on the fee increase, Mrs Nadia Demming-Hodge, the Acting Chief Immigration Officer and Director General of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Immigration Department, stated that any official information regarding the fee increase would be communicated through the Government of the Virgin Islands.

37 Responses to “Increase in Immigration Fees to go into effect October 1, 2025”

  • Just wondering (12/09/2025, 12:36) Like (47) Dislike (5) Reply
    where they pulled the idea to increase fees 5x (400% increase)... should we assume that's the inflation and that the minimum wage should have gone from $4/hr to $20/hr???
    • Well... (12/09/2025, 13:59) Like (46) Dislike (3) Reply
      Most, if not all, of these fees impact tourists and expats so do you really think that they care? If doesn't affect the voter's pocket, who cares?
  • 2024 (12/09/2025, 13:39) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    These things will happen when our politicians goes abroad and while out there they invite rich folks to BVI

    you & me can pay 50 cents however the rich folks comes into this territory and 500 dollars

    Back in the days you could have purchased peace of Land for a modest sum of money now with the so called real estate companies the price of land in BVI out of your reach

  • ta ta (12/09/2025, 13:59) Like (35) Dislike (7) Reply
    We need a new immigration chief fast
    • nono (15/09/2025, 07:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      Eso me lo imaginé, despues del miserable Aumento de Salario, que hicieron, creen que hicieron ,algo, no tiene, caso las islas Vírgenes Simplemente es Ridícula y esta jodida

  • lord o. (12/09/2025, 15:11) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's a big jump in these hard times...
  • BRAD BOYNES (12/09/2025, 15:54) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply

    This is high day r@&3 and the weak AgCIO cannot answer a simple question. This is ridiculous. God send help.

  • Blakka (12/09/2025, 16:20) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Their aim is to suck as much from the expats as they can, cause these people don’t care one bit. Paying to stay in a land that God created to be free
    • HMMM (12/09/2025, 21:39) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      All rope has it's end. Today for you,tomorrow for me. After we are the majority that's building their nation,taxes,NHI,Social Security where would it be without our contributions... Well,they made sure their health professionals made millions on the NHI and then sucked any success that it could possibly have. Definitely not our brother's keeper,just a bunch of exploiters.
    • Lord 0 (13/09/2025, 06:23) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Its too much of a high jump, things already so hard, the economy is slow, 1st they taxed sending out money, now they drastically, unconsciously raided status fees, this is an financila attact on xpats, "We taking everything you work for back".
  • Citizen (12/09/2025, 16:24) Like (7) Dislike (20) Reply
    With the exception for children all the other fees need to be 500 and up. We need to stop the fast-growing population. We do not have roads and space for all of them.
  • WOW (12/09/2025, 16:44) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hopefully the turn around time is faster!
  • ausar (12/09/2025, 16:57) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    "2024", that has always been the plan: to keep real estate, and land owning opportunities ,out of the hands of the young people- the future of this country!

    You see, when our former Premiers and Trade Ministers discouraged certain industries from conducting business here, many of us saw those actions as xenophobic, instead of what they were about , the securing of the country for the future of our people!

    We have now had a few college grads for leaders, and now, if you're not deep pocketed, or is tied to families with large land -holding interests, land ownership, is out of the reach for many of our people!

    Oh, how our ancestors are turning over in their graves,; for the mistakes of a few, have affected the futures ,of so many!

  • oops (12/09/2025, 17:47) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    They give a raise with one hand and take it back with the other hand
    • The Country broke. (13/09/2025, 06:31) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      The country is broke, so lets find away to take some money from them Island people. They need to focus on ways to stop paying this much rent, Wise thing was to finish admin building and build another Govt building, Rent is eating up all of our financial resources. Move immigration to government building if they don't have money and want financial independence
  • Increase the fees. (13/09/2025, 06:42) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    They need to increase the practicing certificate fee for Lawyers from $100 annually to $2000 annually.
    • @ Increase fees. Makes sense. (13/09/2025, 07:34) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Only the poor and vulnerable they are attacking...You made a great point, those that can easily pay as you suggested, why not increase those if they so desperate for money,?. They forgetting who can vote..
  • Kimb (13/09/2025, 07:05) Like (3) Dislike (18) Reply
    Everything is not always about trying to rob expat or expats vs locals. Many of these fees were way below the rest of the region. There is no way belonger approval should have been $300. Nor should you have been able to apply for belonger or residence without paying a processing application fee. I agree with the increases and hope that the additional monies are used to build the resources of the department.
  • hmm (13/09/2025, 07:32) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    But how resident certificate jump from 300 to 1500
    That's 400% increase just wow.
  • hmm (13/09/2025, 07:40) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    So were they deliberately holding back on resident status approval for the fees to increase?? People here over 20 years should get the fees from before, it's unfair some ain't reach 20 years but get approval now those over 20 to 30 years have to face the high fees if or when approval is given
  • Madness (13/09/2025, 07:51) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    If these fess is going into effect on October 1, why are persons who paying for their residence now paying $1550.
    This needs clarity.
    Can I get a refund?
    Because it is not right, and is contrary to the news.
  • please (13/09/2025, 08:48) Like (3) Dislike (25) Reply
    Most Expats don't even like us. The fees need to be higher. Way higher. They want to be us so bad you can feel it.
  • election (13/09/2025, 09:35) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    We will vote out vip for this high crucial increase!
    Not saying not to raise your fees, but this a huge increase!
    Wicked set of people!
    VIP really don’t like expats ! Confirm !
    You all collect your documents and vote them out !
    Should waited until after the election you make these major decisions!
  • keen observer (13/09/2025, 11:36) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    I would advise all persons who had their applications filed before the 1st 0ctober 2025 , not to pay the increase in fees as the Amended Regulations are not retroactive but prospective in law.Kindly read the said amendment and stand your ground .Donot pay the increase fees if your application was filed before the effective date of the amendment, which is the 1st October 2025.. I am aware of the Immigration dept misleading members of the Public to pay the increase fees.
  • Island gyrl (13/09/2025, 12:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    So I am living in bvi for 20 plus years and my application for residency has already been submitted immigration department, is there a time frame for approval?
  • OB (13/09/2025, 15:26) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    One less vote!!! Full out robbery
  • HMMM (14/09/2025, 14:14) Like (1) Dislike (9) Reply
    Everyone paying these fees should stop. Ask them if we own everything even the tax money...why isn't all these things paid for from our percentage you all don't give us back? These government officials doesn't pay tax and their living on our money comfortable
  • GARDEN (14/09/2025, 18:59) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    All these raise in fees is for all the bad work they keep doing on the roads. I am sorry for the expacts. This is so sad to mankind.
  • ExpatAttack (14/09/2025, 22:27) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    When we waste the resources, just hike the fees on Expats, they have no choice and no representation, therefore they must take it.
    How about y'all hold out on applying for status from Oct.1. Just don't apply in silent protest to these outrageous increases. Let immigration do the work of determining who qualifies and call them in for processing.
    • @ExpatAttack (15/09/2025, 17:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I was wondering what’s the associations, for the different countries for ?
      If this not apart of their concern?
  • positive wibe (15/09/2025, 16:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    so greedy and so stupid of the fee increase its deep condolence of the country better increase the minimum wage of the people its mostly affect of the foriegner people no belonger and its worth for political get more money on thier pocket and what they did for the country? once you increasing the fee in whats the ground they increasing fee any idea these people here so dumb in the country no one ask question who ever born in this country they domnt care because they wont get non just live like cont imagine its means they need more salry because of the pprice high in the suypermarket so its put it on the foriegn people and and what the uk doing to leave the country better say deep condolence for the country say good bye and better not support the country and take all the money and give emty hand in this so evryone beg for the food
  • conscious (16/09/2025, 10:27) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The purpose of these fees are to discourage immigration, That is the reason the US does it is to discourage immigrants from lower GDP economies from moving , but that mindset will eventually destroy innovation and growth, if one were to look economies that stagnate you will see that isolation feeds stagnation and the only time folks like to isolate is when they feel they have it all and outsiders are coming to take their stuff, so the question is are you so rich that you dont want anyone in your yard!
  • LOL (17/09/2025, 17:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same people they insult and look down on they have to rob to survive. Beggars have more dignity than these "people"


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