FAQs

If the shareholder is an individual, full details about the person, (including references, resumes, certified copy of passport photo/details page and other supporting due diligence information) must be provided to the BVI FSC. Full requirements are outlined in the Guidelines for the Approved Persons Regime.

If the shareholder is a company, evidence of incorporation, articles of association of the company, names and addresses of ultimate beneficial owners and other supporting information must be submitted to the BVI FSC. Full details may be found in the Guidelines for the Approved Persons Regime published by the BVI FSC.

If the shareholder is a trust, a copy of the trust deed must be submitted to the BVI FSC. The trust deed should provide details on the trustee, protector, beneficiary, etc. Explicit due diligence requirements that relate to trusts as shareholders may be found in the Approved Forms and Related Guidelines published by the BVI FSC.

When changing a shareholder/beneficial interest of a licence holder, the Commission must be presented with a breakdown of the Company's proposed shareholding (which must indicate the number and percentage of shares held by each proposed shareholder). Also, information on the new shareholder must include the following:

• Two character references
• A police certificate/affidavit as to non-criminal record
• A completed personal questionnaire
• Notarized copy of individual passport identification page(s).
• Complete resume

Under the Banks and Trust Companies Act, 1990 General Banking Licence holders are required to have a minimum fully paid up capital of not less than US$2,000,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, or such sum as the Commission, by order determines, and has deposited or invested the sum of $500,000 in such manner as the Commission by order, prescribes.

Under the Banks and Trust Companies Act, 1990 Restricted Class I and Restricted Class II Banking Licence holders are required to have a minimum fully paid up capital of not less than US$1,000,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, or such sum as the Commission, by order determines, and has deposited or invested the sum of $500,000 in such manner as the Commission by order, prescribes.

The Financial Services Commission adopts the guidelines as set by the Basel Committee for bank regulation and supervisory practices for the calculation of the capital adequacy ratio. The Basel Committee recommends a minimum capital adequacy ratio based on risk weighted assets of 8%.

The Banks and Trust Companies Act, 1990 is a fairly large document with several amendments. Many service providers unofficial consolidated copies available for their clients. In so far that a specific issue may be in question, the FSC can arrange to mail or fax you a copy of relevant sections.

If you do not have enough funds in your deposit account to support the transactions you are trying to complete you have several options:

• increase your deposit account through a payment at the Registry
• select an alternative payment method e.g. credit card
• remove some items from your transaction list to reduce the transaction total

For existing name reservations, please add foreign character names PRIOR to submission for incorporation. Foreign Character Names cannot be submitted separately except for Change of Name filings. For applications with foreign character names that were not attached to the name reservation, prior to 29 January 2007, please send foreign characters to [email protected]

Failure by a company to appoint a registered agent within the prescribed timeframe means that the company cannot effect any transaction which under the Act can be effected only by a registered agent. In addition, the company may be in violation of its obligations under the Act and is therefore liable to be struck off the Register.

The amendment would NOT serve to revive any entitlements that were extinguished when the bearer shares were disabled. This would require an application to the Court for an extension of time to deposit the shares with a custodian or to convert the shares to registered shares. The amendment would relate to the issue of prospective bearer shares and the conversion/exchange of same to/for bearer shares.

The BVI FSC is the regulatory authority for captives and the insurance sector generally as well as all other regulated financial services activities

The BVI FSC’s criteria for assessing fitness and propriety of entities and individuals is set out in the Regulatory Code, 2009. Fitness and propriety requires a review of several components including honesty, integrity and reputation, competence and capability and financial soundness.

The annual licence fee for a:

1. Company Management Licence: five hundred dollars (US$500) plus ten dollars (US$10) for each company under management.
2. General Trust Licence: ten thousand dollars (US$10,000).
3. Restricted Trust Licence: three hundred dollars (US$300).

Payment of these annual licence (renewal) fees are due during the month of January.

Documentation required for the appointment of a director/senior officer:

• Two professional character references
• A police certificate or notarized affidavit as to non- criminal record
• A completed personal questionnaire
• Notarized copy of individual passport identification page(s).
• Detailed resume

Application forms are available on the website. However, potential applicants are asked to note that applications should be forwarded to the Commission either through a Legal Advocate or Registered Agent. A list of each can be found on this website.

Official documents issued by the FSC will be issued by hard copy original and bear an electronically affixed signature.

All companies on the Register are BVI Business Companies or Local (Cap. 285) companies. Filings for IBCs or filings not in the BC approved format will not be accepted.