1. Go to the office of the Department of Trade on the 1st floor and collect an application form and a checklist. You may also download the form online.
2. Submit the completed form to the Department of Trade. An Officer will check the application to ensure that all necessary documents are included. Lack of proper submission will result in application being returned to the applicant unprocessed.
3. Once your application is processed, you will be asked to come back to the office to pay the fees and collect your Trade License.
4. Lastly, you should then register your business with Inland Revenue and Social Security.

• Completed application form
• For applicants who do not have a belongers status, two character references, a statement of financial ability and police record must be submitted.
• A cover letter and supporting documents providing details and information is also required to accompany every application form.

Trade License Checklist Fillable Version (PDF)

Department of Trade & Consumer Affairs
Second Floor, Sebastians Building
Road Town, Tortola
Virgin Islands (British) VG1110

Telephone: 1(284) 468-2008
Fax: 1(284) 468-2918

Email Address: bvitrade@gov.vg
Contact Form

Business Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cashier 9:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m

Owners of the following businesses must apply for a trade license before starting operations:

• Agents travelling agent, ticket agents, etc.
• Commercial the majority of businesses fall in this category
• Entertainment discotheque, nightclubs, amusement parks, etc.
• Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Guest Houses and Apartments;
• Manufacturing tiles, blocks, distillers of alcohol, etc.
• Professionals - accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc.
• Trade contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc.

Trade license fees are paid on an annual basis and depend on the category of business and whether you are a BVIslander or not.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

• Trade License Application Form Fillable Version (PDF)
• Construction Form Fillable Version (PDF)
• Charter Yacht Operation Fillable Version (PDF)

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Please provide instructions on obtaining the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

• Type of Business
• Location
• Applicant's name
• Mailing Address
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Nationality
• Status in the B.V.I
• Telephone number
• Relationship with the business you are applying for (owner, Manager, agent,lawyer, etc.)
• Business Information:
  • Percentage of shares held by B.V. Islanders and Non-B.V. Islander
  • Type of proposed activity for which licence is requested
  • Number of persons you intend to employ
• For firms or corporation:
  • Date of incorporation
  • Officer(s) or employee(s) who shall exercise the power to be conferred by the licence
  • Shareholders (Name and Nationality)
  • Name of Manager/If other than licensee, officer or employees of business firm or corporation
  • If foreign based, name and address of foreign company
  • Source of financing

Complete the application form in duplicate. Do not forget to sign the form.

Following is a procedure on how you can apply for a Trade License in British Virgin Islands.

Enter other informations which might help

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• British Virgin Islands Government Website:

http://www.bvi.gov.vg/content/trade-license

More information which might help people.