Bad bargain? Virgin Islanders still need visa to Guyana
Virgin Islanders still need a visa to travel to Guyana, despite the British Virgin Islands (BVI) lifting visa restrictions for Guyanese nationals in November 2024. This was highlighted in the 2025 Standing Finance Report, which noted that Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley is working to address the issue.
During Standing Finance Committee (SFC) meetings, where House of Assembly members convened with heads of government departments and statutory bodies, Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn questioned why the Wheatley administration did not ensure reciprocity when removing visa requirements for Guyanese nationals.
Questioning why the government didn’t negotiate reciprocal arrangements, Penn said one-sided visa deal is a concern for Virgin Islanders and criticised the government for not making the issue public.
In response, Premier Wheatley stated that he had already contacted Guyana’s President to discuss the matter. He suggested that Guyana may have imposed visa restrictions on Virgin Islanders in response to the BVI’s earlier decision to require visas for Guyanese nationals. Wheatley also emphasised the importance of travellers verifying visa requirements before making travel plans. He added that a decision on whether to publicly address the matter would be made following further consultation.
The BVI’s visa exemption for Guyanese nationals was formally announced in November 2024 under section 37(4) of the Immigration and Passport Act (Revised Edition 2013). The exemption allows Guyanese nationals to enter the territory visa-free for up to six months for business or tourism.
The move followed Premier Wheatley’s announcement that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BVI and Guyana was being developed to enhance travel, tourism, and economic collaboration. The visa exemption policy had been in progress for nearly a year and was designed to support free movement and strengthen ties with Guyana, particularly given the significant Guyanese community residing in the BVI.
Wheatley expressed optimism about the policy, highlighting its role in fostering regional cooperation and economic benefits. However, the lack of reciprocity remains a point of contention for Virgin Islanders.
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Crazy thing is we didn’t even notice because we don’t go to Guyana.
speak for yourself
The way things are going in Guyana with the oil discoveries, it won’t be long before BVIslanders are heading down there to wait tables, clean homes, and dig ditches.
I doubt it but we shall see… we dont even do that here and is guyana we travelling to to do it? Dont fool yourself the gyd not going to be worth more than usd no time soon peobably not ever.
Big man,, never say never,
You may be surprised..
The safest (and least safe) Caribbean islands
Aruba – safety score: 90
Bermuda – 90
British Virgin Islands – 89
Barbados – 80
Bonaire – 80
Curacao – 80
Dominica – 80
Grenada – 80
Anguilla – 70
Montserrat – 70
Saint Kitts and Nevis – 70
Saint Lucia – 70
Jamaica – 55
Dominican Republic – 54
Cayman Islands – 50
The Bahamas – 49
Cuba – 47
Belize – 43
Trinidad and Tobago – 43
Haiti – 42
Puerto Rico – 34
Source: Travelsafe Abroad
Guyana isn’t an island
Is USVI?
Their ministers side thing not from BVI.
Another one of Lorna’s messes. Why they went down Guyana? Can someone tell me?
Guyana discovered a lot of oil. So BVI businesses went to Guyana and opened branches. Check it out for yourself. There is a computer store, insurance company that were quite public in their announcement that they went to Guyana and opened business. There has even been a few Guyanese nationals that resided in the BVI who returned to Guyana and went into business there. There is even a local church that sent one of their parishoners to Guyana and set up a branch church. None of them went there because there is no benefit. Visa or no visa.
don’t forget to mention the many Guyanese nationals that have been getting quite a bit of recognition in the bvi through promotions on the job, law enforcement, pageantry and so on.
That is great. Show what a bunch of @$$*$ we are.
I visited Guyana recently using my BVI passport and did not need a visa so that is not true
That’s not true. NO visa needed
What we going Guyana for?
And people from the UK are not given VI passports despite the UK giving VIslanders UK passports. That is really how you want things to work?
You always commenting this nonsense like you are UK person trying get a BVI passport. They are our colonizers, not the other way around. They owe us. Imagine if UK people could’ve gotten BVI passports imagine how many British would be down here colonizing again.
So it is how you want it to work?? You may want to rethink it. Visas for VIslanders because you gave them visas, so pasports for people from Uk to get VI passports. Dont know where you from either but the thinkin bis pretty backward.
You ever been UK?
Give me a f**king break man. Who going to Guyana? For what? A few with family and business, that’s it. Move on to something with sense please.
The trip to Guyana was a success ayo deaf!?
@Miss You miss the point
Lorna with her nonsense
does not exist in international travel regulations!
Guyana dont have nothing…That oil belongs to the USA…Guyana get spits
Lie , thief , and always kno , but yet Jim Jones out smarted them and was allowed to build ” Jones town ” and look at what happened innocent man, woman and children were poisoned ,shot all because of those know it all , can do it all sweet talking guy & eez ,they are blight
I have been travelling to Guyana for Years and not once was I asked to show a Visa. I don’t know who started this BUT it is not True.
Guyana has nothing other than a set of man thieves. Nobody going there anyhow
If a Virgin Islander travel with the UK passport, there would be no visa required.