CHARTER · BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Chartering a boat in British Virgin Islands: licence, rules and safety

Last verified: 14 October 2026

EMERGENCY AT SEACall VISAR (volunteer) on +1 284 499 0911. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Licence and charter rules

Charter: Charter boats cruising BVI waters pay a cruising-permit fee per person per day to HM Customs. Under the 2017 amendment, the rate was US$6 for home-based and US$16 for foreign-based charter boats. Check current rates with Customs.

Government of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Effective August 1, home and foreign based charters will see an increase in cruising permit fees to $6 and $16 per person per day respectively.”

Arriving by boat

Clear in with BVI Customs and Immigration as soon as you arrive. Sea ports of entry are Road Town and West End (Tortola), Great Harbour (Jost Van Dyke) and St. Thomas Bay (Virgin Gorda). Private cruisers can file through SailClear 72 hours before arrival, then call the port office on VHF 16.

BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) · BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) · BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) · BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) · BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) · BVI Tourist Board (bvitourism.com) ▾

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “All entering vessels must clear in with BVI Customs and Immigration immediately upon arrival into the territory, and retain a valid passport and boat registration papers.”

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “Road Town, Tortola | Hours; 8:30am to 8:00pm (daily)”

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke | Hours; 8:30am to 4:30pm (daily) St. Thomas Bay, Virgin Gorda | Hours; 8:30am to 4:30pm (daily)”

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “West End, Tortola | Hours; 8:30am to 4:30pm (Monday to Thursday)”

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “Complete online Immigration & Customs form (72 hours prior to arrival)”

bvitourism.com (2026-10-14): “Switch to Channel 16 to call the port of entry’s office to obtain entry permit.”

Season and weather

Hurricane season: 1 June – 30 November, though hurricanes can occur at any time of year.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · NOAA National Hurricane Center ▾

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November but hurricanes can occur any time of the year.”

nhc.noaa.gov (2026-10-14): “The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.”

Rules on the water

Tortola: You need a National Parks mooring permit to use the National Parks Trust buoys. Charter companies, dive shops and the Trust's office in Road Town sell them, and foreign boats buy them at Customs when they enter. The buoys are for day use only and must not be used overnight.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Therefore the moorings are for day use only and it is illegal to use them overnight. To use the mooring buoys you are required by law to purchase a National Parks Mooring Permit, either from your charter company, dive shop, or the National Parks Trust office in Road Town.”

Tortola: The National Parks buoys are colour-coded: orange for non-diving day use, yellow for commercial vessels, white for diving only and blue for dinghies. Each use is limited to 90 minutes, first come, first served.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “Orange: non-diving, day use only Yellow: commercial vessels only Large Yellow (35”): commercial vessels between 55 - 80ft White: diving only Blue: dinghy use only There is a 90-minute time limit on all moorings and use is on a first come, first serve basis.”

Hazards and warnings

Fishing is banned in the Marine Parks. Fishing with spearguns or scuba gear is illegal anywhere in the BVI, and any fishing needs a licence from a registered boat.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “Fishing is strictly prohibited within the Marine Parks. It is illegal to use spearguns, scuba diving equipment, explosives, poison or any other noxious substances for fishing in the BVI.”

gov.uk (2026-10-14): “Commercial, sport and pleasure fishing require a fishing licence and the boat you are fishing from must be registered.”

Tortola: The National Parks Trust warns that its day-use buoys are often in exposed spots with rough seas or close to shallow rocks and reefs. You stay responsible for your boat while it is on a buoy.

National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands ▾

web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “NPT mooring buoys are frequently located in exposed sites, where seas are rough and unpredictable; or in the vicinity of shallow rocks and reefs.”

Charter bases in British Virgin Islands

Tortola

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for British Virgin Islands Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to do Engine failure: what to do when you lose power Thunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to do Ran aground? What to do

Frequently asked

What are the rules for bareboat charter in British Virgin Islands?

Charter boats cruising BVI waters pay a cruising-permit fee per person per day to HM Customs. Under the 2017 amendment, the rate was US$6 for home-based and US$16 for foreign-based charter boats. Check current rates with Customs.

When is the best time to sail in British Virgin Islands, and when is storm season?

Hurricane season: 1 June – 30 November, though hurricanes can occur at any time of year.

How do I clear in when arriving in British Virgin Islands by boat?

What is the emergency number at sea in British Virgin Islands?

Call VISAR (volunteer) on +1 284 499 0911. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.