Do I need a passport to go to St. Croix?

U.S. citizens flying directly from the mainland or Puerto Rico do not need a passport. A TSA-approved photo ID is enough, since St. Croix is U.S. territory. Non-U.S. citizens need a passport, plus either an approved ESTA or a U.S. visitor visa depending on nationality.

Is St. Croix part of the United States?

Yes. St. Croix is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an unincorporated U.S. territory under U.S. Customs and Border Protection. There is no separate St. Croix visa system.

Is St. Croix international travel for Americans?

Not when flying directly from the mainland or Puerto Rico. That counts as domestic travel for immigration purposes. Connecting through a foreign country makes that leg international.

Do Europeans need ESTA?

Yes, if their country is part of the Visa Waiver Program. A valid passport plus an approved ESTA is required, the same as any other U.S. entry point.

Do Canadians need ESTA?

No. Canadians are not part of the Visa Waiver Program and don't use ESTA. A valid Canadian passport is required, with no visitor visa needed for short tourist stays.

Is there a St. Croix customs declaration form?

Not for mainland arrivals. On departure to the mainland, travelers go through an agricultural and customs pre-clearance screening at the airport.

Do I go through customs when returning to the mainland?

Yes. Expect an agricultural and customs screening at STX before boarding, mainly checking for restricted plants and produce.

Can I bring fruit home?

Most fresh fruit, vegetables, and plants are restricted from entering the mainland from the USVI. Some commercially packaged foods may be allowed, but all agricultural items must be presented for USDA inspection before you board.

What airport serves St. Croix?

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX), located approximately six miles southwest of Christiansted.

Do people drive on the left?

Yes. Uniquely for a U.S. territory, traffic drives on the left, even though most cars have left-hand steering wheels. Extra caution is warranted at intersections and roundabouts.

Is the U.S. dollar used?

Yes, the U.S. dollar is the currency throughout St. Croix and the rest of the USVI.

Is St. Croix safe for tourists?

St. Croix is a popular, generally safe destination for tourists. As anywhere, use standard precautions: secure valuables, avoid isolated areas at night, and stay aware in unfamiliar surroundings.

How many days should I spend?

Most visitors find 4–7 days enough to split time between Christiansted, Frederiksted, a Buck Island trip, and beach time on the North Shore or East End.

Can I visit Buck Island without a boat?

No. Buck Island Reef National Monument is reachable only by boat; guided snorkel and sail trips depart regularly from Christiansted.

A rental car gives the most flexibility for exploring beyond the main towns, but be ready for left-side driving in a left-hand-drive vehicle. If that sounds stressful, a local driver is a comfortable alternative.

How early should I arrive at STX?

For domestic mainland flights, arriving 90 minutes before departure is typically enough at this small, single-terminal airport.

St. Croix · U.S. Virgin Islands

Last updated: August 2026 · Checked against U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State and USDA APHIS guidance.

St. Croix Entry Requirements, Customs & Travel Guide 2026

Danish street names, Caribbean heat, American road signs. St. Croix is a U.S. territory rather than a foreign country, which is why so much of the advice about it starts and stops at "no passport needed." That only holds for some travelers. Americans mostly need ID. Canadians need a passport. Anyone flying in from the UK, the EU or elsewhere clears the same rules that apply at Miami or New York. Here is what that means for you.

Territory: U.S. Virgin Islands
Airport: Henry E. Rohlsen (STX)
Currency: U.S. Dollar
Language: English
Driving side: Left
Main towns: Christiansted & Frederiksted
Entry authority: U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Best time: Dec – Apr

St. Croix does not have a separate tourist visa system. Because it is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, foreign visitors are subject to applicable U.S. immigration and entry requirements administered by CBP. The same ESTA, visa waiver, and visitor visa rules that apply to any other U.S. port of entry.

What do I need, based on my nationality?

Requirements follow your citizenship, not your destination. St. Croix plays by the same rules as any other point of entry to the United States.

No passport needed

U.S. Citizens

No passport required for direct travel from the mainland or Puerto Rico. A TSA-approved photo ID (REAL ID license or passport) is required to board.

Passport only

Canadian Citizens

A valid Canadian passport is required. No visitor visa needed for short tourist stays. It is the same as entering any other part of the U.S.

Do U.S. citizens need a passport for St. Croix?

No. Not for a direct flight from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. St. Croix is U.S. territory, so this is legally domestic travel. What you do need is a TSA-approved photo ID: a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, a U.S. passport, or another federally accepted ID. Airlines check this at the gate, not an immigration desk, because there isn't one on this route.

When Americans should still bring a passport

Connecting through a foreign countryIf your routing passes through, say, a foreign hub airport, that leg is treated as international travel and a passport is the safer document to carry.
Island-hopping to the British Virgin IslandsA short ferry ride from St. Croix or St. Thomas to the BVI is genuinely international travel and requires a passport.
As a backup IDA passport is the most universally accepted ID if your driver's license isn't REAL ID-compliant or you'd rather not rely on a single document.

Requirements for Canadian citizens

Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport to enter St. Croix, the same as entering any part of the United States. Canadian citizens generally do not need a U.S. visitor visa for tourism, but must present the required travel documentation and meet U.S. admission requirements. Check current CBP and U.S. State Department guidance before departure.

Requirements for British and Visa Waiver Program travelers

If you hold a passport from the UK or another country in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you need that passport plus an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), applied for online. Not every European country is in the program, so check the official VWP list before you book. Apply well ahead of your trip and wait for approval before you fly. ESTA generally covers stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business. It is the same process as flying into any other U.S. city; St. Croix has no separate waiver of its own.

Who needs a U.S. visa?

If your country is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, you will generally need a U.S. visitor visa (B-2) to enter St. Croix, applied for in advance through a U.S. embassy or consulate.

There is no separate St. Croix or U.S. Virgin Islands tourist visa. The standard U.S. visa process applies. Build in several weeks to months for visa appointments and processing depending on your home country.

Is there a customs form for St. Croix?

It depends on where you're traveling from. Travelers arriving in St. Croix directly from the U.S. mainland generally do not complete an arrival customs declaration, since the trip is domestic.
Travelers arriving from outside the United States may be subject to standard CBP inspection. And travelers leaving St. Croix for the U.S. mainland must present any food, plants and agricultural products for USDA inspection before boarding.

Arriving from the U.S. mainland

Treated as a domestic flight. Show your TSA-approved ID at the gate; there's no immigration or customs desk on arrival in St. Croix.

Arriving from another country

Arriving from outside the United States, whether by way of a foreign hub or by boat from a neighboring non-U.S. island, your trip may involve U.S. immigration and customs inspection. What that looks like depends on your itinerary and point of entry, so check your airline's and CBP's instructions before you leave.

What can I bring back from St. Croix?

Before boarding a flight to the U.S. mainland, expect a short agricultural and customs screening at STX. USDA requires travelers leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands to present food, plants and agricultural products for inspection, and many agricultural items are prohibited or restricted from entering the mainland.

Restricted or prohibitedMost fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, flowers, and many animal products are restricted from entering the mainland from the USVI.
Often permitted, still inspectedSome commercially packaged and thoroughly cooked foods and other approved products may be allowed, but all agricultural items are subject to inspection. For rum and other alcohol, check applicable airline and federal requirements before traveling.
When unsure, declare itPresent the item for inspection rather than risk a fine. Officers would much rather answer a question at the desk than confiscate something you did not know was restricted.

Driving in St. Croix: left side, left-hand wheel

St. Croix drives on the left, the only U.S. territory that does. Yet most cars here, rentals included, still have the steering wheel on the left side, exactly like the one in your driveway back home. That combination is what catches visitors out on day one.

Slow down at intersections and roundabouts, where your instincts from home will point you the wrong way
Passing and merging require deliberate attention; your sightlines are reversed from what you're used to
Parking lot and driveway exits are a common spot for wrong-side mistakes
Night driving on unlit rural roads compounds the risk. Just drive slower after dark

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Aircraft departing Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX), St. Croix

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Arrival Guide

STX is located approximately six miles southwest of Christiansted, a short drive from both main towns.

Airport code: STX
Distance to Christiansted: ~6 miles
Distance to Frederiksted: Closer, short drive
Ground transport: Taxi, rental car, transfer

STX is a small, single-terminal airport. Since flights from the mainland are domestic, there's no immigration line to clear; you'll walk straight to baggage claim and ground transportation. Driving time to your hotel varies with traffic and destination. Licensed taxi vans operate on set per-person rates rather than meters, so confirm the fare before you get in. Pre-booking a private transfer is worth it if you're heading straight to a resort on the North Shore or East End.

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Where to stay in St. Croix

Historic & Walkable

Christiansted

Danish colonial architecture, a boardwalk lined with restaurants, and the island's main harbor. Best for first-time visitors who want to walk to dinner.

Quiet & Local

Frederiksted

A smaller, slower-paced town with a long pier popular for diving, and the island's cruise dock. Best for travelers who want fewer crowds.

Resorts & Beaches

North Shore & East End

Rolling hills, resort properties, and the island's best beaches, a short drive from both towns. Best for beach-focused, resort-style stays.

Top things to do in St. Croix

Buck Island Reef National Monument

A protected reef and national monument reachable only by boat, with some of the clearest snorkeling water in the Caribbean.

Historic Christiansted

Fort Christiansvaern and Danish colonial streets, walkable in an afternoon between shops and waterfront cafes.

Frederiksted pier and waterfront, St. Croix

Frederiksted Waterfront

A relaxed pier town with easy beach access and some of the island's best shore diving right off the dock.

Island Tours

Best time to visit St. Croix

Season	Months	What to expect
Peak season	Dec – Apr	Warm, dry, busiest and most expensive; book accommodation well ahead
Shoulder season	May – Aug	Hotter and more humid; fewer crowds and lower rates; some afternoon showers
Hurricane season	Sep – Nov	Peak Atlantic hurricane risk; lowest prices, but monitor storm forecasts closely and consider travel insurance

Practical travel information

CurrencyU.S. dollar, so no exchange needed for U.S. travelers.

Credit cards & cashCards widely accepted; keep some cash for small vendors and food trucks.

Mobile serviceMajor U.S. carriers work normally, with no roaming charges on U.S. plans.