The Government of the Virgin Islands has announced a new Cabinet Order exempting certain young children from the requirement to hold a visa when entering or remaining in the Territory. Photo: VINO

Under the order, children under 11 years old who were born in the Virgin Islands to parents ordinarily resident in the Territory are exempt from the visa requirement under section 37(1) of the Immigration and Passport Act, Revised Edition 2013. The exemption applies where the child does not hold a certificate issued under section 16 or section 18 of the Act. Photo: Internet Source

Under the order Cabinet made and gazetted on October 29, 2026, children under 11 years old born in the Virgin Islands to parents ordinarily resident in the Territory are exempt from the visa requirement under section 37(1) of the Immigration and Passport Act, Revised Edition 2013. The exemption applies where the child does not hold a certificate issued under section 16 or section 18 of the Act. 

Legal basis

Cabinet made the order using its authority under section 37(4) of the Immigration and Passport Act. That provision allows Cabinet to exempt any person, or class of persons, permanently or for a limited period, from requirements to possess travel documents including a visa listed in section 37(1).

The measure is therefore aimed at a specific group: young children born locally to ordinarily resident parents who have not themselves received the relevant residence or belonger-status certificates under sections 16 or 18.

What it means

In practical terms, eligible children will not need a visa solely because of the Immigration and Passport Act’s visa requirement. The order does not remove all immigration controls or automatically confer belonger status, citizenship, or a residence certificate; it specifically removes the visa requirement for the defined class of children.

The Government has previously used section 37(4) to create targeted visa exemptions, including for cruise passengers staying in the Territory for 24 hours or less and for nationals of specified countries.

Policy context

The exemption appears designed to reduce administrative barriers for families whose young children were born in the Virgin Islands but do not yet hold certificates under sections 16 or 18. It aligns with broader immigration-policy discussions concerning children born in the VI to non-belonger parents and their pathways to residence status. 

Families who believe their child may qualify should confirm the child’s birthplace, the parents’ ordinary residence status, and whether the child holds a section 16 or section 18 certificate before travel or immigration processing.