Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Jul 25, 2025

New Conditions Under Revised Work Permit Exemption Policy

New Conditions Under Revised Work Permit Exemption Policy

A new work permit exemption policy took effect on August 23, 2021, with new qualifying conditions.

Notably, the policy no longer lists the length of time resided in the Territory as a qualifying condition. The revised categories of Work Permit Exemption are exemptions by marriage, education; and minister's discretion.

However, all outstanding applications submitted in 2020, and January to June 2021 are to be processed (approval or denial) by 1st September, 2021, under the previous policy.

The new policy was approved by Cabinet on August 18 and will see the previous policy being revoked. According to Cabinet, the new policy is to better reflect the Government's ever-evolving strategy on Immigration and Labour reform in the Territory, and to streamline and reduce the illegal trends associated with Work Permit Exemption holders, relating to illegal work and movement throughout the Territory.

Cabinet also approved non-refundable fees for all categories of exemptions. A new work permit exemption application fee is set at $100.00 per application; renewal work permit exemption application fee $100.00 per application; new work permit exemption and card fee - four hundred dollars $400.00 per application; and renewal work permit exemption and card fee - $400.00 per application.

Additionally, a revised work permit exemption form was approved. All applications for Work Permit Exemptions are to be received and processed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration only, and approved by the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, unless otherwise instructed by the Cabinet.

Applications Via Marriage


According to Cabinet's approval, an application can be made immediately following marriage to a BVIslander or Belonger. An approved person will receive a fixed period of six years, maximum. At year five, an application for Belonger by Marriage should be made with the Immigration Department.

Under an application via marriage, Cabinet stipulated the need for a letter of intent from a local employer for an applicant, who is currently unemployed and living in the Territory as a dependent of the spouse. Further, applications from spouses residing outside of the Territory will be denied.

"This category of exemption will be linked to a specific employer. Any change in employer/employment, prior to the expiration of the exemption, will result in the exemption being automatically cancelled," Cabinet outlined.

It was further stated that the awarded exemption is to be considered revoked if divorced, legally separated or residing outside of the Territory, as per Section 16(9) of the Immigration and Passport Act, for over 90 days without previous permission, provided that a work permit exemption will not be revoked if the holder has, at any time obtained a protection order against their spouse under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, 2011;

Minister's Discretion


Under the revised policy, the Minister can grant an exemption of work permit to any person he/she sees as deserving, at his/her discretion.

"A person falling into this category would not be eligible for exemption by marriage; this category of exemption will be linked to a specific employer. Any change in employment prior to the expiration of the exemption will nullify the exemption previously awarded," Cabinet approved.

According to the Cabinet decision, a person is only eligible to reapply after a period of one year has passed from the date of the originally denied application; the option to apply for a renewal of an expired work permit exemption; and to be revoked if residing outside of the Territory, as per Section 16(9) of the Immigration and Passport Act, for over 90 days without prior permission.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
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
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
×