Sailing Between US VI, British VI and Spanish VI

Sailing From BVI to USVI

US Entry Rules for ESTA Holders

Under the USA's Visa Waiver Program (VWP), non-US citizens cannot make their first US entry by private yacht. First enter the USA or its territories by commercial carrier or at a land border and obtain your 90-day VWP admission. Then you may sail into the USVI by private vessel within the current VWP period of stay -up to 90 days from first admission.

If not yet admitted under VWP, you’ll need to take a ferry to the USVI, get admitted, then return to the BVI by ferry. You can then sail into the USVI on your charter boat.

Before You Leave the BVI

When you check in at your charter base, you’ll receive:

• Cruising permits & national park permit
• Vessel’s Certificate of Documentation
• Vessel’s Commercial Licence

You must also check your vessel into SailClear and get your confirmation code. Then visit a BVI port of entry to check the vessel out in person.

BVI ports of entry:

• Soper’s Hole, West End
• Road Town
• Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
• Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda

At BVI Customs & Immigration, present your SailClear confirmation code, pay any fees, and you’ll be cleared to depart for the USVI. Note: Only the captain typically needs to attend, carrying all passports, for check-out.

Arriving in the USVI

1. Use the CBP ROAM app to report the vessel and all persons on board. Wait for CBP instructions. Until cleared, no one should go ashore.
2. You may be cleared in the app, or directed to present in person at Cruz Bay (St John) or St Thomas (Charlotte Amalie/Red Hook).

If ROAM prompts an interview, CBP may require an in-person appearance. In practice, it is typically the captain who attends with all passports and vessel papers, not the entire crew.

Note: If you plan to depart to the BVI soon after, the USVI does not require formal exit clearance.

Returning to the BVI

Check back into SailClear, and visit a BVI port of entry in person. You don’t have to return to the same port you departed from. For example, you can check out at Soper’s Hole and check back in at Great Harbour. On return to the BVI, everyone must disembark for check-in.

Tip: Ferries have priority over private boats at BVI Customs, so be prepared to wait.

For USA Passport Holders

If you are travelling on a USA passport the process is simpler. You may sail directly from the BVI into the USVI without needing to visit by ferry first.

You will still need to check your vessel and all passengers out of the BVI at an official port of entry, and check in with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival in the USVI.

Using the CBP ROAM app can speed up the process, but you should still plan to report in person at your first port of call if directed. Standard cruising permits, national park permits (if applicable), and any relevant operator requirements still apply.

The USVI does not require formal exit clearance. If you plan to return to the BVI soon, CBP may advise you how to handle your next arrival via ROAM.

Sailing from USVI to BVI

USVI-based boats can now move freely between the two territories, but whether that’s possible on your charter will depend on operator policy. Some operators have chosen not to offer BVI trips due to current regulations and fees, while others have relocated their boats to the BVI.

For departures from USVI, CBP does not issue exit clearance for pleasure craft bound to the BVI. You must clear into the BVI on arrival, and when returning to USVI you must report via ROAM or in person as directed.

For USA Passport Holders

State Department guidance indicates passports must be valid at time of entry, with BVI admission typically up to one month for tourists.

For Non-USA Passport Holders

For non-US visitors under VWP, the stay authorisation in the USVI is up to 90 days from first US admission. Note also the US Government’s ‘six-month rule’ regarding passport expiry, which varies by nationality.

Arriving in the BVI

You must clear into the BVI at an official port of entry (e.g. Road Town, West End, Jost Van Dyke, Spanish Town).

Present:

• Valid passport expiring in not less than six months time
• Completed immigration and customs forms
• Proof of onward travel or return (often not enforced for yacht crews but can be requested)
• Crew list

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens of certain countries require a BVI visa before arrival — this is separate from any UK or US visa.

Returning to the USVI

You must clear out with BVI Customs and Immigration, then re-enter the USVI through a CBP port of entry. Non-US passport holders may require a USA visa, or ESTA if eligible under the Visa Waiver Program.

Sailing Between USVI and the Spanish Virgin Islands (Culebra, Vieques, Puerto Rico)

This is a domestic US voyage. After you have been properly admitted to the United States (for non-US citizens, that means a valid visa or VWP admission within the 90-day limit), there are no additional immigration formalities moving between USVI and the Spanish Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico.

CBP requires pleasure craft to report arrivals. Use CBP ROAM. If ROAM is unavailable or you are instructed to call, Puerto Rico CBP provides arrival phone lines and inspection sites.

Extra Considerations

• Fees apply in both directions for customs, immigration, and cruising permits.
• Allow time for clearance at busy ports, especially during peak charter season.
• Weather and sea conditions can impact timing, so plan your clearance days accordingly.
• Fly yellow (Q flag) until cleared in each territory.

Final Word

This is a guide only sourced from published material effective August 2025. Talk to us as your trusted broker and we’ll help you work through the process of getting between international Virgin Islands waters from whichever starting point you choose to sail.

BVI Photo by Nick Rickert on Unsplash
Charlotte-Amalie St Thomas photo courtesy Visit USVI