Gov’t retracts after abruptly ending indefinite work permit exemptions
The government has withdrawn a public notice that declared indefinite work permit exemptions invalid, following public concern over its contents.
In a statement on November 12, the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation confirmed the retraction.
“The Ministry wishes to advise the public that the bulletin previously issued regarding the validity of Indefinite Work Permit Exemptions has been retracted,” the statement read.
It added, “The Ministry acknowledges that the information contained in the earlier notice caused public concern and confusion. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or distress this may have caused.”
The notice was retracted pending further clarification as officials thanked the public for its patience and understanding.
The retraction came just one day after an earlier bulletin dated November 11, 2025, stated that “Indefinite Work Permit Exemptions are no longer valid.”
That notice said persons holding indefinite exemptions under the categories of Marriage or Minister’s Discretion were required to submit renewal applications, while those under the Education category would have to apply for a work permit. It reminded residents that “approval of a work permit exemption is a privilege and it does not represent a status.”
The original announcement prompted widespread confusion, as indefinite exemptions had previously been granted under earlier labour policies that allowed open-ended permission to work without renewal.
In recent years, government reforms have shifted towards limiting the duration of such exemptions. In 2021, then-Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley announced that indefinite work permit exemptions would cease and be replaced with fixed-term approvals. At the time, the Cabinet also narrowed the categories of eligibility to three: Marriage, Education, and Minister’s Discretion, with a maximum six-year limit for marriage-based exemptions.
More recently, the government introduced significant fee increases for immigration and residency services, raising the cost of Belonger and residence certificates as part of efforts to streamline and modernise immigration operations.
The Ministry has not provided a timeline for its promised clarification on the status of indefinite work permit exemptions.
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This shows that there is no planning and organization within the government. It’s child play. They had no basis for their decision but pull backed because they knew the public would speak out about it. Can’t wait to get rid of them
A few other items seem to have been retracted suspended or under never ending incubation.
Trade Commission Act
Investment Act
Business Licensing Act
Minimum Wage
2007 Constitution when it suits them
BVI international Arbitration Centrr (BVIIAC)
Whistleblower Act
Freedom of Information Act
2039 Constitution
Set of clowns…. but guess what? you all gonna vote them back anyway …so why complain? The best example of ignorance is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
These politicians afraid to make decisions to protect Bvislanders????
It needs to be phased out anyway.
so someone does not want to become a belonger through marriage and is happy to get a yearly stamp and a work permit exemption , so why now are you forced to become a belonger when they are still doing applications from 2016?
How.can a nation progress and be unified with the following distinct layers with the name calling and disrespect for each other
The deep underlying dislike is destroying the nation
Indigenous
Belonger
Anchor babies
Work Permit Holders
Can a nation ever be unified like this ? Each one is treated with distinction through disrespect
Can a march for a common goal get the population to be behind them
Only a fool will follow
People in each status feel used and abused
It is the society that we have created in which to live with the values even the church has created
Hurricanes Irma and Maria have not shown us yhe strength that lies with respecting each other?
More incompetence.