Important Amendments to the BVI Beneficial Owner Regime

On 1 July 2025, key amendments to the beneficial ownership filing regime in the British Virgin Islands came into force under the BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (the 2025 Amendment). Together with the similarly titled regulations introduced in 2024, these are collectively referred to as the “BO Regs”.

Please refer to our earlier communication on the 2024 amendments to the BVI Business Companies Act (BCA) found here and to the Extension of Filings Dates – New Regulatory Filings June 2025 found here.

The 2025 Amendment addresses three aspects of the beneficial ownership (BO) regime:

• it creates additional exemptions from the filing regime as originally set out under the BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) Regulations, 2024;
• it provides additional legal protection to legal entities in relation to non-compliance with notices to confirm BO information in certain circumstances, as well as additional enforcement options that affect the rights of a delinquent beneficial owner; and
• it expands on the earlier provisions under the BO Regs which relate to accessing the Register of Beneficial Ownership.