Customs & Tax Fees

Can anyone tell me the current customs fees for entering BVI's and back into US? Thanks

Assuming you're clearing into the BVI on a charter boat:

* For both a USVI- and BVI-based charter boat, there are identical fees for the BVI Environmental & Levy that went in effect on Sept 1st ($10 per-person) and the BVI Departure Tax ($20 per-person).

* The BVI National Park permit for a USVI-based boat is $50/week (up to 4 persons), $70/week (5-6 persons), $90/week (7-8), $110/week (9-10). This is twice the rate as for a BVI boat, which works out to ~$1/day more per-person for a USVI-based boat.

* The BVI Cruising Tax was increased for both USVI and BVI based charter boats effective Aug 1st. The per-person daily rate is $16 for a USVI boat and $6 for a BVI boat.

* For a USVI based boat, there are vessel fees for Harbor Dues ($10), Customs & Immigrations Services fee ($5~$20, non-overtime), and Boat License ($15~$45). There seem to be at the discretion of the officer on duty.

* Clearing out of the BVI's, there's a ~75 cent fee (per vessel) for stamping some forms.

So all depending on crew size, you're looking at an extra $11~$13/day per-person for a USVI-boat while you're in the BVIs. On a 7-day charter originating in the USVI, most will likely only spend 5 days in the BVIs so an incremental $55~$65 per-person in BVI fees. On the other hand, you'll easily spend 2x-3x these in roundtrip taxi and ferry fees if you travel to the BVI via STT (not to mention the associated travel time when you could be sailing instead). You'll also have higher provisioning costs in the BVI vs St Thomas.

If you're clearing into the BVI on a private vessel, the above BVI Departure Tax, BVI Cruising Tax, and Boat License are not charged. There's an annual tonnage fee of about ~$50 for your first entry into the BVI that year.

Returning to the USVI, the only fees I've ever been charged are for the following:
* C&I Holiday overtime fee (~$25 per vessel)
* Dockage fee for tying up to the C&I dock at St John (~$20 as I recall from 10 years ago)

To avoid heavy fines, when you enter the BVI go directly to a Port of Entry (currently Roadtown, West End, Spanishtown, or Great Harbour, JVD. Gun Creek is still closed.)

Anchor or tie up to a mooring - do not go to a marina until you've been cleared.

There's a 12-hour window to clear in while anchored or moored in the Port of Entry, but no one can disembark unless proceeding to C&I office.

If arriving after Ports of Entry have closed, raise a yellow flag. Contact Mr. Osbert Pole, Senior Customs Officer (284-468-9101 / 284-499-0767) or Mr. Clinton Romney, Asst Commissioner of Enforcement, BVI Customs Dept (284-468-9280). You must remain anchored or moored at the Port of Entry until their offices open.

Baard - there is also a $50 environmental impact fee that they started charging back in the fall. I'm not sure who it applies to in general but it applied to me (private vessel coming from USVI).

Did you have 5 persons onboard? I'm guessing the $50 is for the BVI Environmental & Levy fee of $10 per-person charged to all private vessels and USVI charter vessels entering BVI and to BVI charter boats.

With all these fees, the BVI government shouldn't wonder why sailors are staying away from the BVI's. Just sayin'

There were only 4 of us. Hard to know for sure if I was charged the correct amount - it's not like you can have a discussion and/or question the C&I folks. You just have to smile, be polite, and accept whatever number they come up with that day.

Am I reading this right?
The cruising tax crew of 8 for seven days is (8x16x7)= $896 ????

Bringing the total fee for sailing from USVI to BVI to $1226.75.

Paid around $400 back in 2017.

That's correct plus you have the C&I "service" fees of ~$50, for total of ~$1277. However, the vast majority of USVI-based charters are out for a 7 day charter, and the majority of these are in the BVIs for only 5 days plus 2 days in St John, reducing the total BVI fees by $256 down to ~$1021 for a crew of 8.

In comparison, the vast majority of BVI-based one-week charterers will remain in the BVIs and a total fee of ~$621 (plus many charter companies also charge for a VISAR donation). Net difference is only $400, or $50/person. If traveling from STT to BVI via ferry, this will be offset by at least $130/person in ferry and taxi fees (plus wait times) and higher provisioning costs.



But YES...the fees to sail (or just visit) the BVIs have gone up significantly in the past year for all visitors - higher Cruising Tax, higher Departure Tax, and new Environmental Levy.

Has West end reopened to Commercial ferry traffic or anyone have an ETA?
Also has any one tried picking up a passenger, once clearing customs, at the Old (now reopened ) Ferry terminal.
WE tried it at the Cruise Pier and they said no- due to docks being blocked off and in bad shape, but I think it was just an excuse. Pretty sure they had the poker Run there last weekend.

This sort of answered my first question.


http://bvinews.com/new/15-months-to-rebuild-we-ferry-dock-govt-hunts-consultants/

The dinghy dock at the West End terminal was still missing as of March. To clear C&I, we carefully brought the dinghy towards the riprap embankment and I scurried ashore while a crewmate hovered in the dinghy away from shore. You could do a pick up there of a ferry passenger if they are relatively nimble. Otherwise it may be easier and safer for them to taxi to Pussers and pick them up there.

and so for a crew of 4 for 4 days.....the fees would add up to?

Got a firm quote from Moorings yesterday for an 8 day charter(8 persons) in May 2019. Total BVI govt fees on the quote are $474.

Even with the cost of the ferry and the BVI departure saves you a little over a USVI. But add in the time and possible pain and suffering of the ferry ride and I think USVI still looks good for me.

I'll bet that just includes the Cruising Tax (8×$6/dayx7 actual cruising days = $336), Environmental fee (8×$10), and NP Permit ($45) = $461. Not sure what the extra $13 is for to get to $474. You'll also have to pay the $20 departure tax at the airport or ferry dock for total of $160 + $474 = $634.

Plus you get a nicer boat and get to see us😀

>>Even with the cost of the ferry and the BVI departure saves you a little over a USVI. But add in the time and possible pain and suffering of the ferry ride and I think USVI still looks good for me.<<

No argument - I just wan to know how much $ to bring to be ready for this.

If I have booked with Moorings and the cruising permits and park fees for BVI are included already, what would I need to pay if I left BVI for USVI and then returned back to BVI. The departure tax and what else? What about food on board that I acquired in the BVI?

Nobody seems to care much about ships store.

I don't believe that there is any departure tax.

Arrival fee should be pretty nominal.

Others can be more precise.

Just got back from a trip last month. We paid (at Jost C&I) $550 for six people for 4 days. This included the national parks fee, and departure tax. I can't give details of how it was computed but I recall thinking that it was a little cheaper than I had estimated.

This was my first time chartering in the VI and going to the BVI. Here are a couple of comments:
1) Workflow at Jost is Customs -> Pay -> Immigration. Officials are helpful.
2) They pre-approved our departure so there was no need to checkout.
3) Every adult needs to fill out an individual immigration form (filling out 6 in the C&I office is a lot of very repetitive work).
4) They need the passports for everyone but only the skipper needs to go to the office.

The individual Immigration form is the same requirement whether you arrive by ferry, air, charter vessel, or private vessel. CYOA usually has these on your boat so you can take the 5 minutes to fill them out before you head to C&I.

Additionally, if arriving by charter vessel or private vessel (including a BVI charter that goes to USVI and returns to BVI), you have to fill out the 1-page manifest with vessel information and crew list. I know CYOA provides a form with instructions on filling it out.

Immigration Form Tip #1 - fill out and sign the bottom tab of the form. The Final Port will be your next Port of Call after departing BVI (typically Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie, USVI) and the departure date.
Tip #2 - best to have each crew member fill out and sign the back of the Form. If you are just bringing in Ship's Stores then indicate NO for importing food and show $0 for value of goods.

Manifest Tip #1 - In the crew birth place column, spell out the "US State name (not the abbreviation), USA" for US born crew members - don't need to list the town.
Tip #2 - list skipper as "Master" and crew as "CREW"
Tip#3 - in the box asking if you've brought in guns and ammo, write "NONE"!

We come down 3 times a year and go from BVI to St Johns at least once a year. There are fees (small) both leaving and returning to the BVI. Fees have never been consistent and BVI changes an extra $20 if it’s on a Sunday. I don’t consider the fees an issue. But in answer to your question, we provide the form showing we paid the permit fee for the entire time we’re sailing so no issues with that

We left the BVI's and went to the USVI's in February. When checking out at Jost, I was asked when we were returning. When I told the official, she said no problem, she would be working that day. As a result we didn't have to pay any additional fees when we returned. May not work every time but it did for us.

When you check out of the BVI there are forms you keep and present when you return. As such there are only minor “fees”

And if you state that you entered BVI waters before Customs office opened, they will charge you an overtime fee, even if when you get to office they are open.