BVI company help: answers by topic

Which documents does the BVI registered agent need from me?

A passport copy and a recent proof of address for every director, shareholder and beneficial owner, a short description of what the company will do, and a note on where its money comes from. The agent may also ask for a bank or professional reference and a CRS tax residency self-certification. If a shareholder is a company, add its registry documents and a chart that goes up to the individuals. You upload all of it in the client portal after checkout.

Do my documents need to be certified, and when is an apostille needed?

Some agents and banks accept clear scans, others want copies certified by a lawyer, notary or accountant, and we tell you which applies before you send anything. An apostille matters on the way out: the BVI is covered by the Hague Apostille Convention through the United Kingdom, so apostilled BVI company documents are accepted in other member countries without further legalisation.

Certification and apostilleSource: Status table: Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) (accessed Sep 2026)

What must a BVI company name end with?

A company limited by shares ends in Limited, Corporation or Incorporated, or a foreign equivalent such as Société Anonyme or Sociedad Anónima, or the abbreviation Ltd, Corp, Inc or S.A. The name cannot match an existing company, and words such as bank, insurance or fund need consent or a licence (confirm with your specialist). Give us up to three names and we check them with the registry before filing.

Source: BVI Business Companies Act (Revised Edition 2020), Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

Why does the number of authorised shares change what I pay each year?

Because the BVI government fee has two bands, split at 50,000 authorised shares, and the higher band costs much more every year. Our Starter price assumes up to 50,000 shares, which is enough for most holding companies. If you need more, say so at checkout and we quote the higher fee before you pay.

Source: BVI Business Companies (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order, 2022 (S.I. No. 4 of 2022), Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

When will I be invoiced for the BVI renewal, and how do I pay it?

Before the government due date, which is 31 May if the company was incorporated between January and June, or 30 November if it was incorporated between July and December. You pay by card, PayPal or bank wire in the client portal or on the Renew & pay page. If you pay by wire, send it early so the funds arrive before the due date.

Renew & paySource: BVI Business Companies Act (Revised Edition 2020), Schedule 1 annual fee dates, Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

Where do BVI companies usually open accounts, now that the BVI is on the FATF list?

Mostly with banks or electronic money institutions (EMIs) in the country where the business actually happens, such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Europe. Since June 2025 the BVI has been on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, so allow extra time for enhanced due diligence and expect a few institutions to decline. We check which ones currently accept BVI companies with your profile before you apply. The bank decides.

Business account supportSource: Black and grey lists (jurisdictions under increased monitoring), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (accessed Sep 2026)

What do banks ask a BVI holding company to show?

Expect the certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, a recent certificate of incumbency from the registered agent, the registers of directors and members, and a chart of the whole group. Banks also ask for source-of-wealth evidence for the owners and, more and more often, the receipt for the latest economic substance filing. Having these ready before you apply saves most of the back-and-forth.

When is the BVI economic substance report due if my company has no relevant activity?

It is still due: every BVI company reports each financial period through its registered agent, and a company with no relevant activity simply says so. The report goes to the International Tax Authority, generally within 6 months after the end of the financial period (confirm your exact date with your specialist). In May 2026 the ITA suspended late penalties while it fixed errors on its new filing platform, so check the current position before relying on that relief.

Source: Economic substance, BVI International Tax Authority (accessed Sep 2026)

What is the BVI annual financial return, and who sees it?

It is a yearly summary of the company's financial position that you give to the registered agent within 9 months after your financial year end. It goes to the agent, not the public register, and the agent keeps it for at least 5 years. The agent must report companies that do not file, so a missed return can lead to penalties from the regulator. We prepare it from your bank statements and records if you use our bookkeeping.

Accounting supportSource: BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2022 (annual financial return), Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

A shareholder or beneficial owner is changing. What do I have to file?

Tell us before the change happens. New owners go through KYC, and the updated beneficial ownership information must be filed with the Registrar within 30 days of the change. We also update the register of members and, where directors change, the register of directors, so the registry, the agent and your bank all hold the same picture.

Corporate changesSource: BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) Regulations, 2024, Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

Which documents will I have once the BVI company is formed?

The certificate of incorporation, the memorandum and articles, the first resolutions, the register of directors, the register of members and share certificates, all in your client portal. Banks and foreign authorities often ask for a certified or apostilled set, which we can order at the same time for a fixed fee from US$350.

Order an apostilled set

How do I move my BVI company to OCC from another registered agent?

The company resolves to change its registered agent, we complete our due diligence on the owners, and the change is filed with the Registrar. Your current agent must be paid up to date before it releases the company's records, so ask it for a statement first. Most transfers take a few weeks, depending on how quickly the current agent responds.

Transfer your companySource: BVI Business Companies Act (Revised Edition 2020), Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)

What happens if a BVI company is struck off, and can it be restored?

The Registrar can strike off a company that does not pay its annual fee or has no registered agent. Under the rules in force since 2023, a struck-off company is dissolved at the same time, and restoring it means an application, a restoration fee and payment of every unpaid fee and penalty within a limited period (confirm the current window with your specialist). If you no longer need the company, a planned strike-off costs less than letting it lapse.

Close a company properlySource: BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2022 (striking off, dissolution and restoration), Attorney General's Chambers, Virgin Islands Laws Online (accessed Sep 2026)