Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Gov't Lifts Entry Ban On Work Permit, Exemption Holders; Adds $2,500 Quarantine Fee

Gov't Lifts Entry Ban On Work Permit, Exemption Holders; Adds $2,500 Quarantine Fee

Following days of intense criticisms, the Government has announced plans to lift the entry ban on work permit and work permit exemption holders from September 1 as part of a new wave of measures under phase 2 of the restricted border reopening plans.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie made the announcement last evening, August 15 following two-days of intense Cabinet meetings.

While the new phase begins September 1, the Premier announced that effective October 1, all category of persons except for Virgin Islanders, Belongers, Permanent Residents and Naturalised Citizens, will be required to contribute towards the costs for government quarantine accommodation, 24-hour security and meals in the amount of $2500.

According to Government, under phase 1 to date, there were 994 re-entry registrations and 783 of them have been verified by the Immigration Department and cleared for processing. Eighty-one registrations did not meet the requirements established for individuals to re-enter the Territory during Phase 1 of the Restricted Border Re-Opening Plan.

A total of 597 of these individuals have completed mandatory quarantine, including one person who had tested positive and remained in isolation until subsequently released following their recovery testing.

Full Plans That Take Effect September 1 As Announced By Premier Fahie

* We agreed to continue Phase 1 of the Protocols for the Controlled re-entry of persons (Virgin Islanders, Belongers, Permanent Residents and Naturalised Citizens) and approve Phase 2 of the Restricted Border Re-opening Plan, as amended, to take effect from 1st September, 2020;

* We decided that Phase 2 of the Border Re-opening Plan will accommodate persons in the following categories with requirements for entry:

* Work Permit Holder or Work Permit Exemption Holder on the basis that the employer must provide evidence of:
valid Trade Licence;
valid employment;
good standing Certificates (Social Security, Inland Revenue and National Health Insurance);
employees' certificate of earnings; and
valid COVID-19 operational certification.

* Immigration Status: Residing
Persons who have been granted permission to reside in the Territory for a definite period (i.e. people who are permitted to reside but not seek employment and individuals with Land Holding Licenses) must possess a valid:
permit to reside in the Territory of the Virgin Islands; and
Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence for those who own property in the Territory.

* Students of locally based Medical Schools and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College students must possess a valid:
acceptance letter from the institution;
permit to reside in the Territory, if already enrolled;
visa or visa waiver for persons travelling from countries requiring visa entry into the Territory;

* Exceptional approval for persons employed by the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Statutory Bodies, Agencies and Boards; and teachers (public and private) must possess a:
valid permit to reside in the Territory of the Virgin Islands;
employment letter or contract;
visa or visa waiver for persons travelling from countries requiring visa entry into the Territory;

* Dependents (spouses and children) of Belongers, Permanent Residents, work permit holders, work permit exemption holders must possess a:
valid permit/documentation to reside in the Territory of the Virgin Islands;
documented proof of being a spouse or child of a Belonger, Permanent Resident, work permit holder or work permit exemption holder;

* Persons desirous of conducting business in the Territory must possess proof of a:
valid letter of invitation from the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Statutory Bodies, Agencies or Boards;

* As a Cabinet, we decided that for all of the categories above, the approved COVID-19 entry into the Territory, measures must be adhered to such as:
mandatory quarantine;
social distancing protocols;
sanitisation and hygiene protocols; and
approved face covering (masks and shields)

* We also decided that the following special category of persons be allowed in the Territory for no longer than five days:
aviation crew:
must possess an Entry Certification issued by the Ministry of Health;
must possess a valid work permit;
must possess a negative COVID-19 test result within 48-hours before entering the Territory;
must be subjected to a COVID-19 test upon arrival in the Territory; and
if found positive, be in a secured quarantine for a period of 14 days or the duration of stay before departure from the Territory;
maritime crew:
must possess an Entry Certification issued by the Ministry of Health
must possess a valid work permit;
must possess a negative COVID-19 test result within 48-hours before entering the Territory;
must be subjected to a COVID-19 test upon arrival in the Territory; and
if found positive, be in a secured quarantine for a period of 14 days or the duration of stay before departure from the Territory;
healthcare practitioners/medical staff:
must possess a valid work permit;
must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 48-hours before entering the Territory;
must be subjected to a COVID-19 test upon arrival in the Territory;
if found positive, be in a secured quarantine for a period of 14 days or the duration of stay before departure from the Territory; and
must adhere to the respective established medical protocols;
emergency maintenance, repair and other technical personnel must:
possess a valid work permit or letter of invitation from the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Statutory Bodies, Agencies or Boards;
show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 48-hours before entering the Territory;
be subjected to a COVID-19 test upon arrival in the Territory; and
adhere to the respective established medical protocols;
other essential specialised workers, not mentioned are subject to approval by the Minister responsible for Immigration and Labour and the Minister for Health;
diplomats must possess a:
valid letter of invitation from the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Statutory Bodies, Agencies or Boards.

* Cabinet decided that for emergency medical procedures, approval will be granted by the Minister of Health;

* Cabinet further decided that the following special categories of persons will be allowed to enter the Territory by application to the Minister responsible for Immigration and Labour and Minister for Health with effect from Saturday, 15th August, 2020:
dependent (spouses and children) of Belongers, Permanent Residents, work permit holders, work permit exemption holders;
persons employed by the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Statutory Bodies, Agencies and Boards; and teachers (public and private);
persons who departed the Territory for medical purposes and those who accompanied those persons;
all other category of persons must apply from 1st September, 2020.

* We decided that, with effect from Saturday, 15th August, all qualified persons regardless of immigration status, who may be required to quarantine in private accommodation upon return to the Territory, would be required to contribute toward the cost for 24-hour security and other administrative expenses of $3500 per household, except for reasons such as medical or as otherwise exceptionally authorised by the Minister for Health; and that is if you select your private quarantine.

* Additionally, we decided that all qualified persons, regardless of immigration status, required to quarantine in government accommodation upon return to the Territory, will be required to contribute towards the cost of quarantine as of 1st October, 2020;

* We also decided that all qualified persons, except for Virgin Islanders, Belongers, Permanent Residents and Naturalised Citizens will contribute toward the costs for government quarantine accommodation, 24-hour security and meals in the amount of $2500, with effect from 1st October, 2020;

1. We decided that the Ministry of Health and Social Development instruct the Attorney General's Chambers to draft a new Immigration and Prohibition Order for the period from 15th August, 2020 to 31st August, 2020;
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×