St. Thomas is one of the most popular places in the Caribbean. It is an island that forms a part of the US Virgin Islands. Also, this is where the capital of the US Virgin Islands is found, Charlotte Amalie. This island has great beaches and a relaxed atmosphere, making it a popular destination among many American tourists. In this article, we’ll tell you if you need a passport to go to St. Thomas.
Now why is this destination so popular in the first place? The main reason for this, of course, is that it is located in the Caribbean. And if you know your beaches, you’ll know right away that the Caribbean has some of the best beaches anywhere in the world. That’s the reason why many tourists flock to St. Thomas every year especially those who love the beach, as well as water sports such as windsurfing and kite boarding.
St. Thomas is also a great destination for those who love history. For one, St. Thomas is one of the first islands that Christopher Columbus discovered in the late 15th century. St. Thomas eventually became a Danish colony until it was sold to the US in the 20th century.
Today, St. Thomas is a part of the US territory called the US Virgin Islands. And since this is a US territory, any travel made here by a US citizen from another US territory is considered a domestic travel. And if this profile fits you, then you don’t need a passport to visit St. Thomas.
However, keep in mind that you be required to submit proof of your citizenship before leaving the territory. Because of that, you need to bring with you a document that proves that. You can present any of the following documents: your birth certificate as well as any government-issued ID such as your driver’s license. Of course, you can also present your US passport.
Why do some people say that you need a passport to go to St. Thomas? It’s more because of the confusion that arose once the passport requirements by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) were enforced. For these people, since the US Virgin Islands is found in the Caribbean, the territory is also covered by the WHTI’s requirements. But again, if you are coming from a US territory, you will not need to bring a passport with you.
However, if you do decide to bring a passport with you, you can simply bring a passport card. If you don’t know what it is, then let’s talk about it here in general. The passport card is a type of passport that you can use in WHTI territories. So why do you need this? First, because the passport card is small. Thus, it is more convenient to bring than your regular passport book. Applying for a passport card is also cheaper than a passport book.
Again, do you need a U S passport to go to St. Thomas? Not if you are an American Citizen coming from another US territory, otherwise you will need to bring your us passport. Just make sure that you bring any government-issued document with you to help prove your citizenship whenever it’s required.