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 why is St. Thomas so popular in the first place? For some, it’s because it is ideally located in the Caribbean. Just the mere mention of that word can make one easily imagine about white sand beaches and an ideal island getaway. Because of its warm waters, St. Thomas is popular not only among beachgoers, but also those who love water sports such as windsurfing and kite boarding.

Aside from that, St. Thomas also has a rich history behind it. This island is one of the first few islands discovered by Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century. Eventually, this became a Danish territory before being finally acquired by the United States in the first half of 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.

Chances are that somebody told you that you need a new passport to visit St. Thomas even if you’re a US citizen. This can be confusing. The confusion likely started when the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was enforced recently. According to the WHTI, you’ll need to present a passport book or a passport card when visiting territories including those in the Caribbean. And since St. Thomas is in that area, people assumed that you’ll also be required to present your passport there. But St. Thomas is a US territory, and you therefore don’t need a US passport to get there.

Should you decide to bring a passport with you, make it the passport card. Why bring a passport card? That’s because passport cards are more lightweight and convenient to bring compared to passport books. Passport cards are so small, you can slip them into your wallet. Also, applying for a passport card is cheaper than applying for a passport book.

Now you know that you don't need a new passport to go to St. Thomas if you're a US citizen. But also remember that you should come from another US territory for this to apply to you, otherwise you will be required to show your US passport. Also keep in mind to bring any government-issued document with you that proves your citizenship.