Everything You Need To Know If You Need A United States Passport To Go St. Thomas
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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.
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.
Then there’s also St. Thomas’ rich history. If you’re a history buff, you’ll likely be excited to visit St. Thomas when you find out that it is one of the first islands discovered by Christopher Columbus. The island was later on colonized by Denmark, who eventually sold it to the United States in the early 20th century.
Today, St. Thomas is a US territory because it is a part of the US Virgin Islands. And since this is a US territory, you will not need to present a passport when you arrive here, granting that you are a US citizen and have come from another US territory (e.g. the US mainland, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.). So if these things apply to you, then you don’t need a passport to visit St. Thomas.
However, you should know that before you leave St. Thomas, you will be required to present any document issued by the US government that will establish your citizenship. Again, this doesn’t necessarily have to be your US passport. Alternatively, you can present any of the following documents: your birth certificate, or any US government-issued ID such as your driver’s license.
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.
But you are of course free to bring your passport with you. For your convenience, you could just bring your passport card, rather than your passport book. Now what is a passport card? It’s a lightweight alternative to the passport book that you can bring when traveling by land or sea to WHTI areas. So if you want to travel light, the passport card can easily slip into your wallet.
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 new passport. Also keep in mind to bring any government-issued document with you that proves your citizenship.
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