BVI News

It’s ready! Residents, visitors can now book trips via BVI Gateway

Screenshot of the BVI Gateway homepage captured Monday night, November 23, 2020.

The government has launched BVI Gateway — the online portal which all residents and non-residents must use to register before travelling to the BVI amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The portal was launched yesterday, November 23 — some two weeks after its proposed launch date of November 2. The launch also comes one week before the official reopening of the local tourism industry on December 1.

Last week, the BVI Chamber of Commerce & Hotel Association said business owners were asking about the online portal as no explanation was provided by the Andrew Fahie-led government.

But with yesterday’s launch of the portal, residents and non-residents can upload the relevant documents at least 48 hours before their intended flights to the BVI. These documents include negative COVID-19 test results; without which persons will not be allowed to enter the territory. 

Information on the BVI Gateway site also says travellers to the British Virgin Islands are required to obtain a BVI Gateway Travel Authorisation Certificate prior to arrival.”

Each traveller including children must complete or have completed an application to obtain a travel certificate for presentation to airline authorities.

For visitors, proof of travel insurance will also be compulsory for travel after December 1. The Health Minister recently said this is important as visitors may utilise their travel insurance coverage to airlift themselves out of the territory in case they test positive for COVID-19.

He also said the travel insurance will help to cover the cost of the additional 10 days in quarantine if they test positive upon arrival in the BVI.

 

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18 Comments

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  1. Fair is fair says:

    The government did a lot of bad things in the past months including the delays on this portal.

    But fair is fair, the portal itself looks and works quite good.

    Now let’s see if they manage to respond in time, fingers crossed.

    Like 7
    Dislike 3
  2. Wow says:

    Try to register,no reply

    Like 10
  3. Hmm says:

    3 weeks late, finally up and no response. How is one supposed to upload a Civid test and get a response so that one can start their trip. This is way too complicated for the ***** to handle. Ever go to a government office? They still use ledger books like the rest of the world did in 1950. You expect this website to work when they don’t use computers for anything else important. Good luck with your vacation. Go elsewhere where the people are inviting. There is no BVILOVE !!

    Like 13
    Dislike 5
  4. James Hall says:

    Great- but the application form first page does not work – there is no selection for the island of residence and the birth date block will not open???? If you can’t complete tat you cannot go on??

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  5. Ha,ha says:

    A other joke from BVI

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  6. Anonymous says:

    Guys; you are have the door almost ready to open but yet your guestts are getting the door slammed in their face when they try to use this portal. Government of this great island, what the heck did you spend OUR hard earned money on…..the portal will not let visitors enter and save their information. Rather it just allows them to spend their valuable time entering information and then it will not let them save the info but just kicks them out and asks them to apply for another “one time password”. Brothers and Sisters, we have to do better if we want our economy to sustain with tourist dollars. Tourists will not give us a second chance on this portal after awaiting its’ arrival for more then 3 weeks.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
    • Portal says:

      This portal is way beyond the capability of the Belonger to administer. They have done their best to keep tourists out and are continuing to do so. If you have reservations cancel them. There is no way that you can upload a Covid test and be granted entry in the time allowed. These people are simply not educated enough to handle this. Spend your vacation and tourist dollars elsewhere where they will appreciate you.

      Like 6
      Dislike 4
  7. Anonymous says:

    Steering Committee please note that this Portal Application roll out does not work. We are 2 weeks from visiting and can’t navigate or save our docs to the site. You have specified that “engineers were working on issues” thus the lateness of the portal going live, however check the postwrite on the site, it specifies last updated in Sept so who is blowing smoke up who face?

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
    • Doh says:

      The steering committee is driving a clown car with 20 people inside and no steering wheel. What makes it better is everyone is shouting directions, no one is listening.

      What do you effin expect from your government? Pure incompetence….

      Like 5
      Dislike 1
  8. Jericho says:

    My question to you today is who the world belong to? did anyone in Government prayed ask God for direction when you making these laws are they in line with the scripture?
    Psalms 24 says the earth is the Lords and the fullness there of and because of our sins HE (JESUS) GOING TO SPEW US OUT OF HIS MOUTH
    Open border or not we going to die and leave everything that we own. We need to prepare our hearts to meet God! Not barring people out because of the plague it not a pandemic its a plague. It in the air all around us.

    Like 3
    Dislike 4
  9. Doh says:

    Click on analytics tab. Then watch the numbers reported.

    Oops.

  10. Visitor says:

    Not at all user friendly… should give user an account so that documentation can be pre-loaded …..
    Not holding out any hope for the app …

  11. JB says:

    I need to get a COVID test within 5 days of travel, the test result take 3 to 5 days to get. The website requires that all information be submitted at least 48 hours prior to travel.

    Do the math. This cannot be done!

  12. So says:

    This is another approval a poor expat have to get to travel, immigration now this. Expat should have never been locked out in the first place they should have been allowed fair entry just like the locals and belongers.

  13. MD says:

    A 3 day window for a Covid PCR test is a potential deal breaker for tourists. Turnaround time from major labs is 24-48 hours at best, some people wait far longer. A 5 day window as required by USVI is realistic. As a frequent BVI tourist, I’m not willing to chance the probability of a test result being too late for the planned travel given the 3 day window. As people become vaccinated, I wonder what the protocol will be for the vaccinated?

  14. @Visitor says:

    The website wasn’t meant to be user friendly. They don’t want you to visit. The government bowed to those that wanted to open the Territory to tourists yet they have made it impossible for anyone to seek the documentation to enter. If you one day happen to get in, be prepared for the bed checks. They’ll be knocking on your door in the middle of the night. It’s just the way they are. The need to feel the power.

  15. Oh says:

    Make it more and more difficult to visit a country that is less and less attractive to tourists every year. Good plan.

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