U.S. citizens are not required to have passports or proof of citizenship when ENTERING the U.S. Virgin Islands from a U.S. airport. All arrivals to the U.S. Virgin Islands from foreign airports are required to show proof of citizenship and pass through customs. All persons leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands, whether American citizens or not, must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the islands to return to the mainland.

Accepted documents for Proof of Citizenship for Americans: 1. A passport issued under competent authority, 2. An Alien Registration Card (this applies to United States of America permanent residents only) 3. A certified copy of a birth certificate and government issued photo identification like a driver's license 4. A Certificate of Naturalization, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

--Islander

Do you know if this is going to change? I keep hearing about some new law that is going into effect that will require everyone to have passports.

Having a passport is a good thing. Highly recommend going ahead and getting one.

However if you limit your travels within the US and the USVI you will not need one.

However you will not be able to do day trips to the BVI.

If you have time just get one

It used to be that one could travel fairly freely in the Caribbean without a passport - those days are gone.

Hello Bridetobe,

You are hearing about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Visit http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2225.html for FAQ about the initiative and what its about.

To answer your question here is one of the FAQ questions from that page:

Will this requirement apply to travel between the United States and Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands?

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will not affect travel between the United States and its territories. U.S. citizens traveling between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will continue to be able to use established forms of identification to board flights and for entry.

If traveling outside the United States or a U.S. territory, a passport or other secure document will be required. For example, a person may travel to and from the United States to the U.S. Virgin islands without a passport or other secure document, but under proposed regulations, a passport or other secure document would be required to re-enter the U.S. Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands or another country as of December 31, 2006.

--Islander

We just returned from St Thomas and wanted to add one thing. We did not have passports, we used our licence to enter the USVI. No problem. We were told by AA that we did not need ID's for our children 16 and under...that was true going but we did need ID's for the children on our way home. Luckily the officer asked if we had health cards for the kids which I did. They used these as ID's for the kids. So be prepared for everyone in your party to show IDs, adults as well as children.

I never bother paying any attention to this issue. No need to, since I have a passport. In general, a passport makes travelling go smoother.

I agree Nick
In time it will be a requirement. Never know when you will get a chance to go to Europe lol.
Got our new ones in less than a week.