The +1284 country code connects calls to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a British Overseas Territory of about 60 islands and cays in the northeastern Caribbean. Around 30,000 people live here, mostly on Tortola (the largest island and home to the capital, Road Town). The BVI is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), so you dial +1 followed by area code 284 and a seven-digit local number. The territory is known for two things: sailing (it calls itself the "Sailing Capital of the World") and offshore financial services. You might be calling a charter boat company, a registered agent for a BVI company, or family on one of the islands.
Quick answer: The British Virgin Islands uses area code 284 under the +1 country code (NANP). Phone numbers are 10 digits total: +1-284-XXX-XXXX. There is no trunk prefix. Landline numbers typically start with 4 or 4, and mobile numbers start with 3, 4, 5, or 5. The BVI is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round with no daylight saving.
How to call British Virgin Islands: quick reference
As a NANP territory, the BVI follows the standard North American dialing pattern. From the US or Canada, dial it like a long-distance call (billed at international rates by most carriers). From other countries, use your exit code, then 1284, then the seven-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1284 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-1284-[local number] |
| UK | 00-1284-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-1284-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-1284-[local number] |
| France | 00-1284-[local number] |
Understanding British Virgin Islands phone numbers
All BVI numbers follow the NANP format: +1-284-NXX-XXXX, where N is 2-9 and X is 0-9. The full international number is always 11 digits. The 284 area code covers the entire territory.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use prefixes in the 3xx, 4xx, and 5xx ranges. Common mobile prefixes include 340-346, 440-447, 468, 496-499, 540-544, and 547. The two mobile carriers split these ranges between them.
Landline numbers
Fixed-line numbers use 494-495 prefixes for most of the territory. Road Town and Tortola use 494-XXXX and 495-XXXX numbers. Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke share these same prefix ranges since the territory is too small for separate geographic codes. Some government and business numbers use 468 and 852 prefixes.
Mobile carriers in British Virgin Islands
Flow (formerly LIME / Cable & Wireless)
Flow is the incumbent provider, offering both fixed-line and mobile service. It traces back to Cable & Wireless Caribbean, rebranded to LIME, and then to Flow after Liberty Latin America acquired it. Flow operates the only landline network in the BVI and provides 4G LTE mobile coverage across the main islands. After Hurricane Irma destroyed much of the BVI's infrastructure in September 2017, Flow spent years rebuilding its network.
Digicel
Digicel is the second mobile carrier, operating in the BVI since the mid-2000s. It offers 4G LTE service and competes with Flow on pricing. Digicel does not provide landline service. Coverage on the main islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda) is good; smaller cays may have weaker signal.
Don't confuse +1284 with nearby codes
The BVI (+1284) sits right next to the US Virgin Islands (+1340). This causes the most confusion, since the two territories are separated by a short ferry ride but use different area codes.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +1 340 | US Virgin Islands | USVI is 340, BVI is 284 - neighboring territories with different codes |
| +1 242 | Bahamas | 242 vs 284 - both start with "2" but differ after that |
| +1 268 | Antigua and Barbuda | 268 vs 284 - nearby Caribbean NANP codes |
| +1 246 | Barbados | 246 vs 284 - both Caribbean "2xx" codes |
The BVI/USVI confusion is by far the most common. People visiting the Virgin Islands often hop between the British and US sides by ferry and mix up the area codes. British = 284. American = 340.
Time zone considerations
The BVI uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round with no daylight saving. During US summer (when the East Coast is on EDT, UTC-4), the BVI and New York are on the same clock. During US winter (EST, UTC-5), the BVI is one hour ahead of New York.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9am in Road Town |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (winter/EST) | +1 hour ahead | 8:00 AM |
| US East Coast (summer/EDT) | Same time | 9:00 AM |
| US West Coast (winter/PST) | +4 hours ahead | 5:00 AM |
| UK (winter/GMT) | +4 hours ahead | 1:00 PM |
| Central Europe (winter/CET) | +5 hours ahead | 2:00 PM |
| Japan | +13 hours ahead | 10:00 PM |
Communication in British Virgin Islands
Business hours
Most businesses operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Banks close at 3:00 PM. Government offices keep similar hours. The financial services sector (company registration agents, law firms, trust companies) follows London and New York hours and is generally reachable during the BVI business day. Sailing charter companies and tourism operators often work weekends, especially during the peak season (December-April).
Communication style
English is the official language. The local dialect has Caribbean inflections but is easily understood by English speakers. Business communication, especially in the financial sector, is formal and professional. For tourism-related calls, the tone is friendlier and more casual. WhatsApp is widely used for personal communication and even for booking excursions and restaurant reservations.
Network quality
Cell coverage on Tortola and Virgin Gorda is good. Smaller islands and remote anchorages may have weak or no signal. Hurricane Irma in September 2017 destroyed a huge portion of the BVI's telecommunications infrastructure; rebuilding took years and some remote areas still have less reliable service than before the storm. Anegada, the flattest and most remote of the main islands, can have spotty coverage. If you are calling someone on a boat or a small cay, they may only be reachable intermittently.
The BVI diaspora
Where they went
BVI-born residents who emigrate tend to go to the nearby US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas is a short ferry ride away), the US mainland (especially the East Coast), and the UK. The population is small enough that the diaspora is also small, but family connections between the BVI, USVI, and the wider Caribbean are tight. The territory also has a large expat population of workers from other Caribbean islands (especially St. Kitts, Dominica, and Jamaica) and from the US and UK who work in financial services and tourism.
Why they call
The financial services industry generates a huge volume of calls relative to the BVI's population. Lawyers, registered agents, and trust companies in Road Town field calls from clients in London, New York, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. On the personal side, the sailing season (November-July) brings charter clients calling to coordinate logistics. BVI Festival (August) and Christmas are peak personal calling periods. After Hurricane Irma, calls from concerned family abroad surged and remained high during the multi-year rebuilding process.
Dialing examples
Calling a Road Town office from the US
You need to reach a registered agent in Road Town, Tortola. Their number is 494-3000. From a US mobile, dial +1 284 494 3000. From a US landline, dial 1-284-494-3000. Your carrier will bill this at international rates.
Calling a mobile on Virgin Gorda from the UK
Your friend at a resort on Virgin Gorda has the mobile number 443-1234. From the UK, dial 00 1 284 443 1234, or on a mobile phone, +1 284 443 1234.
Calling a charter company from Germany
You are booking a sailboat charter based in Nanny Cay, Tortola. Their number is 494-5678. From Germany, dial 00 1 284 494 5678, or on a mobile, +1 284 494 5678.
Calling within the BVI
Local calls use just the seven-digit number: 494-3000. All islands share the 284 area code, so calls between Tortola and Virgin Gorda or Anegada use the same seven-digit format. There is no need to dial 284 for domestic calls.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing BVI (+1284) with USVI (+1340)
The British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands are neighboring territories separated by a narrow strait. Tourists often visit both on the same trip. British = 284, American = 340. If you are calling a business in Road Town (Tortola), use 284. If you are calling Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas), use 340.
Assuming domestic US rates
Like all NANP territories, the BVI uses +1 but is billed as international. Calls to +1-284 from a US phone incur per-minute charges unless your plan includes Caribbean calling.
Expecting signal everywhere on the water
The BVI is a sailing destination, and many people try calling friends or charter companies while at anchor. Cell coverage drops off quickly once you leave the main islands. Some anchorages between islands have no signal at all. Call from shore or from a marina for reliable connectivity.
Not accounting for hurricane season impact
Hurricane Irma (September 2017) leveled much of the BVI, including cell towers and landline infrastructure. While most service has been restored, the territory remains vulnerable during hurricane season (June-November). If you cannot reach someone in the BVI during a storm, telecom outages are the likely cause.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +1284 code?
The +1284 code is for the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a British Overseas Territory in the northeastern Caribbean. The 284 is an area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
What is the difference between BVI and USVI phone codes?
The British Virgin Islands use area code 284 (+1-284). The US Virgin Islands use area code 340 (+1-340). They are neighboring territories but have separate phone systems and area codes.
What time zone is the BVI in?
The BVI uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round with no daylight saving. During US summer, the BVI matches Eastern Daylight Time. During US winter, the BVI is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Is cell coverage reliable across all BVI islands?
Coverage on Tortola and Virgin Gorda is good. Smaller cays and remote anchorages may have weak or no signal. Anegada has spottier coverage. If you are on a boat between islands, expect gaps.
Did Hurricane Irma affect BVI telecommunications?
Yes. Hurricane Irma in September 2017 destroyed much of the BVI's infrastructure, including cell towers and landline networks. Most service has been rebuilt, but some remote areas still have less reliable coverage than before the storm.
See also: Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) | Bahamas (+1242) | All country codes