Governor approves law for ‘residency by birth’

Governor Daniel Pruce has officially assented to the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act, 2024, which includes provisions for granting Residence Status to children born in the BVI to non-Belonger parents.

Under the new legislation, this benefit is non-automatic and will require persons to apply for this category of residency status.

Overall, the law introduces a suite of new measures to enhance the immigration process in the Virgin Islands and is expected to improve transparency and fairness in immigration policies. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley expressed optimism about the new law, stating that it represents “a significant step forward in ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the immigration process.”

He highlighted that these amendments align with the recent Commission of Inquiry recommendations, which had called for more explicit guidelines in awarding residency and Belonger status.