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Confirm West End suits your route
West End is ideal when arriving from or leaving for the USVI. If you are heading to Virgin Gorda or the North Sound, another port may be closer.
Soper's Hole · Tortola West End · BVI port of entry
West End (Soper's Hole) Yacht Clearance
West End, also called Soper's Hole, is a recognised BVI port of entry on Tortola's western tip. The Customs and Immigration office sits at the West End ferry terminal, making it the natural place to clear in or out when sailing between the BVI and the US Virgin Islands.
West End, TortolaListed by BVI Tourism as a port of entry. Confirm current availability, attendance and procedures before arrival.
TortolaWest End, Tortola and nearby yacht locations
Manual reviewEach request is assessed before an agent introduction.
Clearance checklist
What to have ready before clearing at West End
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.
✓A valid passport for everyone aboard, plus any visa required for entry
✓Crew and passenger list
✓Vessel registration papers and registration number
✓Online ED Card receipt, completed within 72 hours before arrival or on arrival before seeking entry
✓Proof of ownership or authority to operate the yacht
✓Valid yacht insurance
✓Previous port clearance or outbound clearance record where issued
✓Charter agreement and applicable permit details for charter or commercial vessels
Local assistance
How our West End clearance service works
We review your request and may introduce a local agent who handles clearances at West End and can confirm current hours, permits and charges at Soper's Hole.
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Send yacht and crew details
Provide the vessel registration, people aboard, last and next port, and your expected arrival or departure time.
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Coordinate locally
A local agent confirms the ED Card, cruising permit, office hours, after-hours overtime and current fees.
Local process
Clearing in step by step at Soper's Hole
West End is a straightforward, deep entrance, though currents and ferry traffic can be strong at the harbour mouth.
File the ED Card first
Complete the online ED Card at bviedcard.gov.vg before you arrive, so your immigration and customs receipts are ready to show at the counter. Have your vessel registration number to hand.
Enter under the required arrival signals
Sail into Soper's Hole following current arrival-signalling instructions, including use of the Q flag where required. Follow the current port-entry and communications instructions for the day of arrival.
Moor or anchor to go ashore
Pick up a mooring or anchor in the harbour; do not berth at a marina before clearing. Secure the tender and equipment while ashore.
Immigration, then Customs
The captain, or a crew member carrying all the required documents, takes all passports, the ED Card and boat papers to the office at the ferry terminal to clear the whole crew. West End also handles scheduled ferries, so allow extra time during busy ferry periods.
Pay permits and levies
Settle the cruising permit, environmental levy, VISAR contribution and any National Parks fees at the Treasury / Ports Authority cashier.
Clear out when you leave
Returning to the USVI? Clear out in person and depart within about 24 hours. You may clear back in at a different BVI port.
Route planner
Sailing to and from West End
West End's position on Tortola's western tip makes it the closest BVI clearance to the US and Spanish Virgin Islands. Tell us your last and next port so the right steps can be confirmed.
Arriving from the USVI
Coming from St John or St Thomas, West End is often the first BVI stop. You must clear in here before continuing to Norman Island, Road Town or beyond.
Clearing out for the USVI
Clear out at West End, then meet US Customs and Border Protection requirements on arrival in the USVI — clearing in at Cruz Bay (St John) or Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas). Some travellers can report via the CBP ROAM app; confirm current CBP requirements for your crew.
Onward within the BVI
After clearing at West End you can continue the planned itinerary, subject to the issued clearance and any local restrictions, to Jost Van Dyke, the Bight or Virgin Gorda without clearing again until you leave the territory.
Keep your paperwork aboard
Retain the stamped clearance, cruising permit and ED Card records for inspection at later anchorages.
Nearby locations
What's at West End and other clearance options
Soper's Hole has the Customs dock at the ferry terminal on the north shore, and Soper's Hole Marina with fuel, water, provisioning and Pusser's Landing across the anchorage. If West End does not suit your route, these are the other BVI ports of entry.
Road Town, Tortola
About 8 nautical miles east on the south coast, in the capital, and well placed for yachts heading to the eastern islands.
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
A short hop north-west. A popular first clearance for yachts crossing from St John, and a good alternative when West End is busy.
Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda
A North Sound clearance office (Bitter End / Leverick Bay area) that is described by BVI Tourism as reopening soon and should not be relied on for clearance until its availability is confirmed. Confirm it is operating before planning to clear there.
Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
At St Thomas Bay, Spanish Town, close to The Baths — convenient when clearing in near the south-eastern islands.
Route-specific guidance
West End arrival and departure
Crew nationality affects the USVI leg. US entry rules for non-US citizens arriving by private vessel are strict and differ from the rules for commercial-carrier arrivals, so check current US Customs and Border Protection guidance for your crew before you sail.
Clearing in at West End
File the ED Card, enter under the required arrival signals, moor in Soper's Hole and have the captain (or a crew member carrying all the required documents) clear all crew at the ferry-terminal office before moving on.
Request West End arrival assistance →Clearing out for the USVI
Clear out in person at West End, leave BVI waters within about 24 hours, then meet US Customs and Border Protection requirements at Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie.
Request West End departure assistance →British Virgin Islands requirements
Rules that apply at West End
Office location and hours
Customs and Immigration are at the West End ferry terminal on the harbour's north shore. Published clearance hours for West End vary between current BVI sources, particularly for weekend and evening attendance, so confirm the current hours before you plan your arrival. Overtime charges apply for clearance outside normal working hours.
ED Card and vessel notification
The digital ED Card at bviedcard.gov.vg can be completed within 72 hours before arrival or on arrival before seeking entry. BVI Tourism also currently publishes SailClear instructions for private cruisers but notes that the process should be reconciled with the newer ED Card; confirm the current yacht-specific notification requirement before sailing.
Authority charges and permits
Applicable Customs, permit, levy, overtime and other authority charges may depend on the yacht, timing and itinerary. Confirm current requirements and amounts before arrival.
Practical harbour notes
The entrance is deep but currents and ferry traffic can be strong at the harbour mouth. Paid moorings are available in Soper's Hole, with availability and rates subject to change, and anchoring space is limited. Secure the tender and equipment while ashore. These are practical observations, not clearance requirements.
Skipper preparation
Practical points for a smooth West End clearance
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Complete the ED Card before you reach the port, so your receipts are ready at the counter.
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Clear in before berthing at a marina (unless using a ship's agent), and allow extra time during busy ferry periods.
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Confirm current opening hours and after-hours overtime; published times change.
FAQ
West End, Tortola Yacht Clearance questions
Is West End (Soper's Hole) a BVI port of entry?
Yes. West End, also known as Soper's Hole, is a recognised BVI port of entry. The Customs and Immigration office is at the West End ferry terminal on the north shore of the harbour, with a clearance dock used by both ferries and yachts.
Where do I clear in at West End and can I anchor first?
Enter Soper's Hole following current arrival-signalling instructions, including use of the Q flag where required and go to the Customs and Immigration office at the ferry terminal on the north shore. You may pick up a mooring or anchor in the harbour to go ashore and clear, but do not proceed to a marina before clearing in unless you are using a ship's agent. The captain, or a crew member carrying all the required documents, can clear the whole crew. West End also handles scheduled ferries, so allow extra time during busy periods.
What are the clearance hours at West End?
Published clearance hours for West End vary between current BVI sources, particularly for weekend and evening attendance, so confirm the current hours before you plan your arrival. Overtime charges apply for clearance outside normal working hours.
Is West End a good place to clear when sailing to or from the USVI?
Yes. West End is on Tortola's western tip, closest to St John and St Thomas, so it is a natural place to clear out of the BVI before sailing to the USVI or to clear in on arrival. You do not have to clear back in at the same port you left from.
What does this website do for West End clearance?
British Virgin Islands Yacht Clearance is an information and agent-referral service, not a government authority. It reviews your request and may introduce you to a local agent serving West End who can confirm current procedures, hours and charges.
Personal clearance support
Send the voyage details once. We help route the request.
Use this page for clearing in or out at West End (Soper's Hole) and other BVI yacht-paperwork assistance.