St. Thomas is an island that is a part of the US Virgin Islands. This island, found in the Caribbean, is where you will find the capital of the territory, Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas, along with the other islands in the US Virgin Islands, is popular among American tourists because of its beaches and its rich history. Now if you’re planning to visit this destination, let us show you if you need a passport to go to St. Thomas.
But first, it would be good to talk about why St. Thomas is so popular. For one, it’s in the Caribbean. And when you talk about the Caribbean, you talk about some of the finest beaches in the world. St. Thomas is a popular spot among those who love the beach, snorkeling, as well as water sports such as kite boarding and wind surfing.
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.
Now, St. Thomas, being a part of the US Virgin Islands, is a US territory. Because of this, any US citizen who arrives at this destination from another US territory (such as the mainland, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) does not need to present any passport. If this describes your situation, then you wouldn’t need to bring a passport with you when you 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.
But why do others say you need a US passport to go to St. Thomas even if you’re an American? It’s probably because of the confusion that stemmed from the creation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI specifies that you need a passport when traveling to WHTI areas. Since WHTI areas include the Caribbean, some people assumed that it also includes the US Virgin Islands. Again, because the Virgin Islands are US territories, you don’t need to present a passport to go there.
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 USA passport. Just make sure that you bring any government-issued document with you to help prove your citizenship whenever it’s required.