Also bring your birth certificate if you have one. The more proof you have that you are a citizen, the better.

Hello Brendon,

While you won't have any trouble entering the US Virgin Islands from the US mainland with the identification you named because no one is going to ask for it except the ticket person at the airline counter to verify you are who the ticket is made out to, and if security is up the ticket person at the gate - you can not use either one of those forms of id to LEAVE the USVI.

When leaving the USVI you pass through immigration and they have four aceptable ids for showing nationality:

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 with government issued photo identification (this applies to Canadian and United States citizens only)

4. A Certificate of Naturalization, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

And thats it. While I have gone through and just had them ask, rather then checking documents the majority of time they ask for your documents and sometimes ask questions like what you were doing in the USVI ect. You need to get the correct forms of id if you intend on leaving the USVI.

Here are more complete details:

Entering the USVI from a US Airport: U.S. citizens are not required to have passports or proof of citizenship when entering into the U.S. Virgin Islands from a U.S. airport. Please note however that airlines have different policies and may ask for proof of identity at check-in.

Entering the USVI from a Foreign Airport: All arrivals from foreign airports are required to show proof of citizenship and pass through customs.

Leaving the USVI, Returning to the US Mainland: All persons leaving the USVI, whether American citizens or not, must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the USVI 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 with government issued photo identification (this applies to Canadian and United States citizens only) 4. A Certificate of Naturalization, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Why do you need proof to Leave? Because of the location of the Virgin Islands, there is a required pre-clearance for all flight destined for the USA and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands is considered a 'port of entry' to the mainland, which means you are reentering the U.S., this requires proof of citizenship.)

Citizens of any country other than the U.S. should follow U.S. travel regulations and requirements for entry into the USA.

If you have any questions, you may call the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization office in St. Thomas at (340)774-4279.

--Islander

<Leaving the USVI, Returning to the US Mainland: All persons leaving the USVI, whether American citizens or not, must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the USVI 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 with government issued photo identification (this applies to Canadian and United States citizens only) 4. A Certificate of Naturalization, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Thanks for this info Islander.
My husband, bless his sole, cannot find his current passport. He has his original birth certificate - not certified - and several cancelled passports.
Do you think this would suffice?
Ellen

Hello Ellen,

His original birth certificate - does it have a raised seal on it? Is it the actual certificate or a photocopy. If its the orginal one that is fine along with a government issued photo id like a drivers license.

--Islander

Along the same lines as the original question,..My wife, four children, and myself are coming down in March for our first trip to the VI and camping (cottages) at Cinnamon Bay. We are US citizens. Our two older children have passports. My wife and I will be bringing raised seal birth certificates and drivers licenses with photos. My question - our two younger children, ages 8 and 13, will only have raised seal birth certificates, no photo ID's. Do you think this will present a problem for them/us we we try to leave? If so, any ideas to to avoid potential problems? I've searched this board for a similar qusetion but haven't found anything. Thanks in advance for any help.

By the way, I've been reading this board for a while now while planning our trip. It is extremely helpful and full of great ideas and advice. My thanks to ALL who answer the many questions. This type of trip is a probably "once in a lifetime" thing for us and we are very excited about visiting STJ, and, about getting out of the northeast US cold for a while!

Hi Islander!!
It's the actual OLD original paper birth certificate!
But, the good news is, he finally found it yesterday in one of his jacket pockets!
For once, my threats paid off!! :-))
Thanks for all your help Islander, we leave 3/2 - I'll write a TR when we return!
Ellen

Hello Ted,

For small Children their raised sealed birth certificate is sufficient. For older children in their teens it is recommended they bring their schools ids if they have them along with the birth certificate.

Have a wonderful time and glad the board and site were help to you!!

--Islander

WoW! You mean I got here and now I can't leave becasue I don't have a current passport! Yikes, guess I need to get to that passport office if I ever imagine that I'll leave....but then, I'm not really planning on leaving!!!!!!! LOL

We're going to Orlando in the last week of May and then to St. Thomas for the month of June. We wanted to hop over to Puerto Rico to see a friend sometime during the month. I wondering what would be the least expensive way to travel between St. Thomas and PR. I read that the boat goes there on Fridays every 2 weeks, is that reliable? And, any suggestions for airlines to get from Orlando Florida to either St. Thomas or PR?

Thanks

Boats aren't very reliable. From Orlando to PR, they have ATA, Delta, PanAm, Spirit, and American. I would consider ATA, PanAm, and Spirit to be discount airlines, so you might get better deals with them. PanAm doesn't fly out of Orlando International though, they fly out of a smaller airport in the Orlando area. (Orlando Sanford)

The only airline you could take from the Florida-area to St. Thomas would be American Airlines, since other airlines fly to St. Thomas from cities further north. Since it seems that a lot of discount airlines fly from Orlando to PR, you're best bet may be to take a discount airline into PR, and fly to St. Thomas on a separate ticket. Airlines that travel between PRand St. Thomas are (to my knowledge), American Eagle, American Airlines, Caribbean Sun, and if you don't mind smaller planes (9 seats or less), you could take Cape Air, Air Sunshine, or Air St. Thomas. Seaborne Airlines also flies between San Juan and St. Thomas, but you would have to arrange for a taxi from the airport in San Juan to the port of Old San Juan, where the seaplane is at.

So basically you have two options:
1. Fly American Airlines into St. Thomas (by way of either Miami or San Juan)
2. Fly into San Juan on one of the airlines I mentioned, and then take another airline from San Juan to St. Thomas

I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hello Footloose,

Here is the ferry information -

Transportation Services operate a ferry between Cruz Bay, St. John; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The trip takes two hours each way. Tickets are $60 one way and $100 round trip. The ferry leaves twice a month on Friday in the mid-afternoon. It returns on Sunday. Advance purchase is required. It is suggested you call (340)776-6282 for more details and specific dates and times.

If you already have your tickets so only need the Stt -PR-Stt part to visit your friend you might wait untill you are on St. Thomas and then call the ferry folks and see if they are running when you are on-island and if the date works for you. Its $100 round trip so not exactly very cheap considering sometimes you can find flight specials for $99-120. Definately check the various airlines Dominic mentioned and see if you can get a deal on a flight over.

--Islander

do you need a passport to visit the nearby Bvi

Hello Mike,

All visitors with the exception of US and Canadian Citizens are required to carry a valid passport. Visitors from certain countries may also require visas.

Requirements for US and Canadian citizens are as follows:
1. A US or Canadian passport; or
2. *An original or certified copy of their birth certificate; or
3. *A US or Canadian Naturalization Certificate
* Items 2 and 3 must be accompanied by a current picture identification e.g. a driver's license.

--Islander