The British Virgin Islands

General Country Information

Currency: US Dollar Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time– 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean TimeHolidays to Avoid: No restrictions

Key Government Office:

The Department of AgricultureParaquita Bay, Tortola.Tele: (284) 495-2532; Airport office Tel: (284) 494-3701, ext. 6449Fax: (284) 495-1269E-mail: agriculture@bvigovernment.org

Airlines that carry animals: Airlines that fly into Tortola either transit or originate from San Juan Puerto Rico.

Air Sunshine (www.AirSunshine.com) – Air Sunshine is a Charter Airline originating from San Juan to Tortola. You can either charter the entire aircraft or call in advance to see if any current charters have space for your client’s pet. No Restrictions.

Amerijet (www.Amerijet.com) – Amerijet, has flights from Miami to Tortola. However, this route stops in San Juan and does not have the facilities of personnel in San Juan to tend to animals. As a result you need to make a special request and arrange transit services in San Juan if flying from Miami.

Private Charters – There are a number of different charter companies based in Southern Florida who will be happy to charter a flight into Tortola for your clients’ pets.

Customs Clearance Procedures:

The veterinary division must be given 24 hours notice of a confirmed arrival date, time, airline and port of entry. Upon arrival, the animal is to remain in his/her kennel until granted entry into the country. If the import requirements are not met, the animal will be transported to quarantine to remain for a period of 3 to 6 months. This will be determined at the time of arrival and charges are the responsibility of the owner.

Quarantine:

Dogs and Cats that do not meet the import requirements are subject to 3 to 6 months of quarantine. The amount of time is up to the discretion of the Veterinary Inspector upon arrival. For more information regarding quarantine contact the following:

Government of the British Virgin Islands Veterinary Division - Department of Agriculture Paraquita Bay, TortolaTEL: (284) 495 – 2110/2451FAX: (284) 495-1936/1269Email: BVIGOV_Vet@Gov.vgImport Requirements:

The British Virgin Islands is a Rabies Free Territory. There are two sets of regulations regarding the importation of dogs and cats into the BVI. The first deals with pets from countries which are believed to be Rabies Free (rabies non-endemic) and the second set of regulations is for animals coming from countries with known outbreaks of Rabies (rabies endemic). Regardless of origination, an import permit application must be completed, submitted to the Department of Agriculture and permit must be recieved

Conditions for importation of dogs and cats from scheduled (rabies non-endemic) countries:-

Presently, this includes the following countries:

Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, St. Kitts, Anguilla, St.Lucia, St. Vincent, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Kingdom.

1) Animals must be accompanied by a Export Health Certificate issued by the *Veterinary Authority in the country of origin stating:

(a) Proper identification of animal(s): Animals must be permanently identified with a microchip transponder or tattoo.

(b) That the dog (s) and/ or cat(s) are healthy and free from symptoms of infectious or contagious diseases.

(c) That animal(s) is/are treated against internal and external parasites.

(d) That the dog(s) has/have been vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, and Lyme disease.

(e) That the cat(s) has/have been vaccinated against Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Leukemia.

(f) That the dog(s) / cat(s) has/have been in the country of origin/export for at least six months immediately preceding importation into the territory.

(g) That there has been no Rabies among un-quarantined animals in the country of origin/ export for the past 24 months.

2) Dog(s) / Cat(s) must be found clinically healthy on arrival.

3) All required conditions must be met, and all relevant documents (import permit, Veterinary Health certificate, Vaccination certificates,etc.) must be presented at port of entry in order to facilitate Veterinary clearance and to avoid measures such as animals being kept in a facility, deportation or euthanasia.

4) The Veterinary Division must be given at least 24 hrs notice of confirmed arrival date, time, airline/vessel and port of entry. This will facilitate unnecessary delays, and avoid detention of animal(s) for Veterinary clearance at port of entry.

5) There is a fee of ten (US$10.00) dollars for each animal on the permit.

6) Animal(s) must be kept in confinement (travel carrier) until granted entry into the country. Failure to do so can cause entry of animal(s) being denied.

Conditions for importation of dogs and cats from non-scheduled (rabies-endemic) countries:-

1) Animals must be accompanied by a Health Certificate issued by the *Veterinary Authority in the country of origin stating the following facts:

(a) Proper identification of the animal (s): Animals must be permanently identified with a microchip transponder or tattoo.

(b) That the dog (s) and/or cat (s) is/are healthy and free from symptoms of infectious or contagious diseases.

(c) Animal(s) is /are treated against internal and external parasites.

(d) Dogs(s) has/have been vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Lyme disease.

Cat(s) has/have been vaccinated against Feline Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Leukemia.

(e) That the area of origin is not currently under Rabies quarantine.

(f) That the dog (s) / cat (s) has/have had at least two inactivated rabies vaccines; the first not earlier than 3 months of age and another at least six months later.

(g) Four months after the first inoculation and at least one month after the second or subsequent vaccines, serological test has been carried out to determine the presence of adequate virus neutralizing antibody titers prior to departure. Animals will be permitted up to enter the British virgin Islands up to twelve months after the last booster shot, subject to positive blood tests (>0.5Iu/ml).

(h) That the dog (s)/cat(s) has / have been in the country of origin/ export for at least six months immediately preceding importation to the territory.

(2) Dog (s) / cat (s) must be found clinically healthy on arrival.

(3) All required conditions must be met, and all relevant documents (import permit, Veterinary Health certificate, Vaccination certificate, Lab test results, etc.) must be presented at port of entry in order to facilitate Veterinary clearance and to avoid the otherwise unpleasant, but necessary measures such as animals being kept in a facility, deportation or euthanasia.

(4) The Veterinary Division must be given at least 24 hrs notice of confirmed arrival date, time, airline/vessel and port of entry. This will facilitate unnecessary delays, and avoid detention of animal(s) for Veterinary clearance at port of entry.

(5) There is a fee of ten (US$10.00) dollars for each animal on the permit.

(6) Animal(s) must be kept in confinement (carrier) until granted entry into the country. Failure to do so can cause entry of animal(s) being denied.