6 November 2026                                                                                                       

Ministry of Finance Launches CRVL Portal for Vessel Licences and Cruising Permits

The Ministry of Finance has launched the Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL) Portal which will  allow vessel owners, operators and local agents to apply for CRVL licences and purchase Cruising Permits online  at crvl.gov.vg. 

The CRVL Unit will go Live from Saturday, 7 November 2026, and all new applications, renewals and related requests must be submitted through this new portal.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley said; “The marine tourism sector is the cornerstone of our economy, and the owners, operators and agents who sustain it, deserve a licensing service that keeps pace with their business. With the CRVL Portal, they can now apply for a CRVL licence and purchase Cruising Permits from anywhere, at any time. This is a practical step towards making the Virgin Islands an easier place to do business, and a clear demonstration of this Government’s commitment to modern, accountable public service.”

Applicants can apply for all nine CRVL licence types, including home based and foreign based day charters, term charters and water taxis, Large/Mega Yacht licences, Intra-Trading permits and Importation Permits. Applicants will be expected to complete a four-step online form, may save drafts at any stage, upload supporting documents and track the progress of their application in real time. 

The review of each application generally takes five to seven business days, after whichan  email notifications will be  issued at each key stage. No payment is required at submission; fees are paid securely online only after approval, and the licence is issued immediately upon payment and may be downloaded in PDF format at any time.

Holders of a valid CRVL licence can also purchase Cruising Permits directly from their licence page, without a separate application. Cruising Permits are short-term permits charged by the day and by the number of passengers. Applicants enter the cruising dates, the captain's name, the number of passengers and the charter type, bareboat or crewed, and the exact fee is shown before payment. All purchased permits are recorded on the licence page for easy reference.

Financial Secretary Mr. Jeremiah Frett added that, “Behind this launch is a stronger, more efficient system, which reduce processing times, improves the accuracy and security of every transaction, and gives both applicants and the CRVL Unit real-time visibility from submission to issue. I commend the CRVL Unit and our partners for their dedication in delivering this platform, and I encourage all stakeholders to register and make full use of it.”

The Portal also simplifies licence renewals.  Licence holders will receive reminder emails 90, 60 and 30 days before expiry and can start a renewal directly from the licence page, with existing information and valid documents carried over automatically. Renewing early does not shorten a licence, as the renewed licence runs for one year from the original expiry date.

Pursuant to Section 10 of the Cruising and Home Port Permit (Amendment) Act, 2025 (No. 14 of 2025), foreign-based operators are required to appoint a local BVI agent to submit applications on their behalf. A searchable list of registered local agents is available within the Portal.

All first-time users, including vessel owners, operators and local agents, are encouraged to register for an account on the Portal before submitting an application. The CRVL Portal Applicant Manual provides step-by-step guidance on account registration, application submission, status tracking, online payments, renewals and Cruising Permit purchases. The CRVL Unit will continue to respond to general enquiries by email at crvl@gov.vg or by telephone at (284) 468-2232 or (284) 468-3297.

The Government of the Virgin Islands thanks all CRVL stakeholders for their cooperation and remains committed to delivering efficient, transparent and accessible public services through its continued programme of digital transformation.

For Additional Information Contact:

Berta Mckelly Adams

Information Officer

Department of Infrmation and Public Relations

Telephone: 468-2730

Email: bmckelly@gov.vg