Self-Employed Work Permit

To relocate yourself and your business to the British Virgin Islands, or start a new business here, You will need to apply to obtain a trade license to operate.

Your application must be submitted to the BVI Trade Department. Approval times for trade licenses vary greatly, depending on which category your proposed business falls into.

Some types of businesses will be approved only if you will be in partnership with a local citizen (“Belonger”).

Once a trade license is granted, you will also have to apply for a work permit before starting to operate your new business in the BVI. Employment law normally requires all prospective jobs to be advertised in the local papers and awarded to a Belonger if he or she is just as qualified as the prospective foreign employee. However, this step is not required for the position of a director in a BVI company.

Application Process:

 Step 1: The Self-Employed applicant completes the application form and submits it to the Labour Department, along with supporting documents.

Step 2: The Self-Employed applicant awaits a response to his or her application.

 NOTE: Where a business is a limited company (i.e. registered with Company Registry), applicants are not eligible for a self-employed work permit.