Who can register with the BVI registration?
BVI Vessel registrations are available to citizens of and companies registered in:
- The BVI
- The United Kingdom and its Crown dependencies and overseas territories
- A member of the European Union (EC) or European Economic Area (EEA)
- The Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.
Should I register as private owner or company ownership?
- Often clients opt to set up an incorporated BVI company for the sole purpose of holding a ship, the benefits of vessel being hold by a BVI company are:
- Protection of asset from confiscation orders from foreign governments
- No disclosure or minimum capital requirements
- Ease of maintaining and operating the BVI company
- Confidentiality and anonymity for the shareholders and directors of the BVI company
Which vessels can be registered in the BVI
- Cargo ships of unlimited tonnage
- Yachts of up to 3000 gross ton
- Vessel previously registered under category 2
- Pleasure crafts and yachts up to 400 gross which is about maximum 45 meters
- Cargo and commercial craft of up to 150 gross which is about 24 meters in length.
Which documents are needed to register a vessel in the BVI:
- Original bill of sale
- Original builders certificate OR CE certificate
- Certificate of Survey and Tonnage Measurement (CAN BE DONE BY ANY SURVEYOR ANYWHERE, AS LONG AS HE IS APPROVED BY ONE OF THE 7 SURVEY INSTITUTES.
- Deletion of previous registration (if applicable)
- Application to register (we take care of this – you need to sign)
- Declaration of Eligibility (we take care of this – you need to sign)
- Certificate of Incorporation (if registering as company)
- Deletion of previous registration (if applicable)
- Closed Transcript and an extract of register (only if the vessel is coming off a Red Ensign Register)
- All documents need to be notarized and also if documents are not in English, they need to translated and notarized.
How much does it cost to renew my BVI boat Registration?
Depending if you have registered as a person, a UK Ltd or a BVI company. The renewal fees will be the following:
- Boat renewal up to 24 meters: 100 USD state renewal fee + 250 USD representative fee + 200 Service fee = 550 USD
- Boat renewal over 24 meters: 300 USD state renewal fee + 250 USD representative fee + 200 Service fee = 750 USD
Additionally if you have registered a BVI company, the yearly company renewal fee is as follows:
- BVI annual company renewal fee: 1050 USD per year