British Virgin Islands
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CUSTOMS BROKERAGE / SHIPPING AGENT

Clearing Cargo in the BVI


Disclaimer
The information on this page was written by Digital Freight Management Solutions and is our summation of the BVI clearance process. It is meant only as a guide and does not represent or supersede any information provided by BVI Customs.

All goods imported into the BVI are liable for customs duties with some exception. These goods can be declared by the importer or a customs broker acting on his/her behalf. Here is a quick overview of the steps involved. Note that Steps 1 and 2 are interchangeable.

  1. Collect the release documents from your shipping carrier/agent
    Collect the release documents from your shipping carrier/agent. These consist of the Bill of Lading and one or more of:
  2. Obtain an Importer Id
    Obtain an Importer Id for the consignee (importer) named on the Bill of Lading. Skip this step if you already have an Importer Id for your selected customs broker.
    • You must fill out a CAPS Trader Registration Form and submit it to the Customs CAPS office located on the 3rd floor of the Qwomar Building. A valid government issued picture ID is required and for businesses, a copy of your current Trade License is also required. The process usually takes a few minutes and there is no cost.
    • If you already have an Importer Id and you wish to have your Trade Declaration (T-12) prepared by another customs broker/preparer, you will have to request that access to your Importer Id be given to that person or entity at the CAPS Office. You only need to do this once per customs broker.
  3. Submit the required documents to your customs broker/preparer
    Submit the Bill of Lading, Cargo Release, Freight Invoice (if applicable) and Cargo Invoice(s) to your customs broker/ preparer. Trade declarations are now completed and submitted online through the Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS). Once a declaration has been reviewed and approved by customs a payment summary is sent to the preparing agent. If there is a problem with the submission a query report is generated that lists the offending issue(s) that must be corrected before the declaration can be re-submitted for approval.
  4. Collect your completed Trade Declaration (T12)
    Once the declaration has been approved by customs, collect the completed Trade Declaration (T-12) from your customs broker.
  5. Pay outstanding duties and collect your cargo
    Proceed to the Customs building at Port Purcell to pay any outstanding customs duties and/or port fees and collect your cargo.

Glossary

Document / Reference Description
Bill of Lading ( B/L ) Issued by the shipping carrier or its agent and specifies the details of the shipment including (1) the names of the shipper and consignee (importer), (2) the names of the departure and destination ports, (3) the dates of departure and arrival, and (4) an itemized list of the goods being shipped along with the weight and volume of the cargo.

An Express Release Bill of Lading indicates that the shipper authorizes the goods to be released to the consignee (importer). It is either the case that there is no outstanding payment pending or a level of trust exists between shipper and consignee.

An Original Bill of Lading indicates that the shipper authorizes the goods to be released to the consignee only when an original Bill of Lading is presented. It is more likely the case that there is payment pending between shipper and consignee. Goods are not released unless the original Bill of Lading is presented (by way of the shipper) or the shipper instructs the shipping line to change the Bill of Lading to an Express Release.
Cargo Release Issued by the shipping carrier or its agent and indicates (stamped or signed) that a shipment is authorized to be released to the consignee. It may contain overlapping information found on the Bill of Lading and for some carriers it is a stamped/signed copy of the Bill of Lading.
Freight Invoice Issued by the shipping carrier and details the freight rate and applicable fees to ship the cargo. Note: In some cases, the freight cost is included in the Bill of Lading.
Cargo Invoice(s) Details the cost of the goods being shipped:
  • For general merchandise this may consist of one or more consumer receipts/invoices.
  • For vehicles, this is a Bill of Sale. Before a trade declaration can be completed, the vehicle must be examined by a customs officer who validates and signs off on the value.
  • For personal effects including barrels where a commercial invoice or receipt is not applicable, the items must be examined by a customs officer who validates and provides an estimated value or signs off on the given value(s).
Importer Id Trade declarations are now completed and submitted online through the Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS). All persons or entities importing cargo into the BVI must register with the Customs Department to obtain an Importer Id (Trader Identification Number).