Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone and any business that fits one of the following criteria is eligible to register a vessel in the BVI:

• The UK
• A participant in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the European Union (EU)
• The Caribbean Region
• British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
• BVI-registered people and organizations
• Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

We are required to have the following the documents:

• A copy of Passport
• Company formation documents (If registration is going to be under the company name)
• Share Certificate (if applicable)
• Copy of Bill of Sale
• A copy of the Builder's Certificate

The documentation must be in English; if not, a sworn translation might be provided.

If all the necessary documentation are correctly provided and the invoice has been paid, a yacht can be registered under the BVI flag in 3 business days.

It takes 24- 72 business hours after the submission of the correct documents.

Yes. For a period of 3 months, the vessel may be registered provisionally.

If all the required documents are complete, accurate and provided in a timely manner, the processing time for a provisional registration for a vessel under the British Virgin Islands (BVI) flag could be shorter. The BVI Shipping Registry will process the application as quickly as possible. The exact timeline will depend on a number of factors such as the completeness and accuracy of the documentation provided, the availability of the necessary inspections and approvals, and the workload of the registry.

The registration is a legal form included in a hardcover blue book.

The initial BCI registration for a pleasure yacht is valid for 1 year and can be renewed for 1, 3, or 5 years, whereas the initial registration for a commercial yacht is valid for 1 year and can be extended for 1 year.

The privately registered yacht does not require inspections. To operate commercially, all vessels must be certified and inspected.

Documents must be notarized or apostilled.

You must fly the British Virgin Islands (BVI) flag on your yacht when it is at sea once it has been registered under the BVI flag. The "British Overseas Territory Ensign" is another name for this flag.

Jet Ski and Kayaks are considered as equipment on a vessel and are typically listed as part of the vessel's inventory.

We can assist you with the BVI MMSI licence.

We accept all methods of payment.