West End, at Soper's Hole on Tortola's western tip, is the BVI port of entry closest to St John and St Thomas, and the usual first or last stop for yachts running to and from the US Virgin Islands. Customs and Immigration are at the West End ferry terminal on the harbour's north shore, where the clearance dock is shared with the USVI ferries. A local agent can prepare the formalities and time your arrival around the ferry schedule.
Soper's Hole is a working ferry harbour as well as an anchorage, and the clearance dock belongs to the terminal rather than to the marina. Tell us what the passage is and we brief an agent who deals with this office regularly, so the paperwork is ready when you land and the clearance is timed around the ferry schedule.
West End is the natural choice when you are arriving from or leaving for St John and St Thomas. If you are bound for Virgin Gorda, the North Sound or the eastern islands, another office may sit better on your route, and we will say so.
Vessel registration, the people aboard with their passport details, where you have come from, where you are bound and when. Where crew hold nationalities that affect entry to the United States, say so early: that shapes the departure leg rather than the BVI arrival.
The agent assembles the crew list and vessel papers, works the formalities through the terminal office and settles the charges assessed on arrival. The officers can still ask for the captain in person or for passports to be produced, and you will know in advance if that applies.
The captain, or a crew member carrying all the required documents, clears in for the whole crew at the ferry-terminal office, so keep these to hand.
Soper's Hole is deep and the entrance is straightforward, but the current runs hard across the mouth and ferries move in and out constantly, so line up your approach early.
Everyone aboard completes their own Online ED Card and holds on to the barcoded email it returns. From St John the passage runs under two hours, so this is done alongside in the USVI, not on the way across.
Raise the port office on VHF 16 to obtain the entry permit, moving to 17 when the Ports Authority asks for the reason for entry. The Q flag stays up and nobody but the person clearing leaves the yacht.
Anchoring space in Soper's Hole is limited and much of the harbour is taken up by moorings, so plan to pick up a ball or berth rather than assuming you can anchor. The Customs dock sits at the ferry terminal on the north shore, with dinghy access alongside.
The captain, agent or a crew member carrying all the documents presents the passports, ED Card receipts and vessel papers. Because the same counter processes scheduled ferry passengers from the USVI, arriving behind a ferry is the single biggest cause of delay here.
Customs assesses the charges that apply to the vessel and the people aboard, and any cruising permit, National Parks mooring permit and Ports Authority charges are settled at clearance. Your agent will have the amounts before you arrive.
Outbound clearance is completed at the same office and the vessel leaves BVI waters within 24 hours of being cleared. On arrival in the USVI you report to US Customs and Border Protection, at Cruz Bay on St John or Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas.
Customs and Immigration occupy the West End ferry terminal on the north shore of Soper's Hole, with the clearance dock alongside. Yachts moor or anchor in the harbour and come ashore by dinghy rather than berthing at the terminal. Only the person handling clearance goes ashore until entry is granted.
The same counter processes scheduled ferry passengers from St John and St Thomas, and a ferry arrival can hold up a yacht clearance considerably. Allow time either side of the ferry movements. Attendance outside normal operating hours is arranged in advance and carries additional charges.
West End handles arrival and departure clearance, but Customs business beyond that is concentrated at Road Town. A temporary import permit for a yacht staying on in the territory is obtained there, and immigration extensions are dealt with at Road Town or Spanish Town.
The harbour is deep and the entrance straightforward, but currents run strongly at the mouth and ferry traffic is constant. Moorings cover much of the anchorage and free space is limited, so arrange a ball or a berth at Soper's Hole Marina rather than relying on finding room to anchor.
Yes. West End, also known as Soper's Hole, is one of the four working BVI ports of entry. Customs and Immigration are at the West End ferry terminal on the north shore of the harbour, with a clearance dock used by both ferries and yachts.
Clearance is at the terminal office on the north shore. You take a mooring or anchor in Soper's Hole and come ashore by dinghy to clear; you do not proceed to a marina berth elsewhere in the territory before clearing in. Free anchoring space is limited because moorings cover much of the harbour, so plan on picking up a ball.
It sits on Tortola's western tip, the shortest crossing from St John and St Thomas, which makes it the natural first BVI stop inbound and the last one outbound. You are not obliged to clear back in where you cleared out, so many crews clear out at West End and return through Great Harbour or Road Town.
No. West End handles arrival and departure clearance. A temporary import permit for a yacht staying on in the territory is obtained at Road Town, and immigration extensions are dealt with at Road Town or Spanish Town. If either applies to your stay, plan the trip to take in the right office.
Office attendance at West End can vary, particularly during evenings and weekends. A local agent can confirm the current schedule before arrival; ferry movements should also be considered, as scheduled services can temporarily occupy the clearance counter.
Use this page for clearing in or out at West End (Soper's Hole) and other BVI yacht-paperwork assistance.