British Virgin Islands

About the Flag

The British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) are an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom (UK) located in the Caribbean Sea east of Puerto Rico. Road Town is the capital, and English is the official language. The Queen of the UK represented by the Governor is the Head of state, and the Chief Minister is the head of government. There is a unicameral Legislative Council and an Executive Council. The legal system is English law. The British Virgin Islands are a member of CARICOM and OECS and, through the United Kingdom, a member of the British Commonwealth, the EC, NATO, the OECD, the UN, and the IMO.

The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, is largely dependent on the tourism and the international financial services industries.

Breeding livestock is the most significant agricultural activity. The US Dollar is the official currency of the Territory. Chief trading partners are the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The principal exports are rum, fresh fish and livestock. The main port is Port Purcell on the island of Tortola.

Vessels are registered in BVI are British Ships and, except for fees, the procedure is basically identical to the main UK system. The law covering the registration of ships is the BVI Merchant Shipping Act 2001 which is modeled after the UK Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Registration and ship safety and environmental protection regulation mirror corresponding UK regulations.

The BVI Registry specializes in the registration of yachts.