St. Thomas, USVI Customs & Entry Requirements
Good news for U.S. travelers: the U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory, so there is no arrival customs form and no passport required. The twist comes on the way home. Because the USVI sits outside the U.S. customs zone, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection on departure, with one of the most generous duty-free exemptions anywhere. Here is exactly how it works.
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Last reviewed June 2026 · Compiled from official sources including U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
No arrival customs form for U.S. travelers
If you are flying to St. Thomas from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico, you arrive as a domestic passenger: no immigration line, no passport requirement, and no arrival customs declaration card. The only customs paperwork happens when you head home, because the U.S. Virgin Islands is outside the U.S. customs zone. On departure you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection with a generous $1,600 per-person duty-free exemption, and your bags pass a USDA agricultural check. Non-U.S. citizens still meet standard U.S. entry rules, an ESTA or a U.S. visa plus a valid passport.
St. Thomas entry and customs, the key facts
The six things most travelers search for before flying to St. Thomas, from the no-arrival-form rule to the duty-free exemption you get on the way home.
Arrival customs form
None for U.S. arrivals
Flying in from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico, you arrive as a domestic passenger. There is no arrival immigration line and no customs declaration card.
U.S. CBP duty-free exemption
$1,600 per person on return
The USVI is outside the U.S. customs zone, so on the way home you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection with one of the most generous exemptions anywhere, $1,600 per traveler.
Visa or ESTA
Non-U.S. visitors follow U.S. rules
Citizens of other countries meet the same requirements as for the U.S. mainland: ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, or a U.S. visitor visa, plus a valid passport.
Agriculture rules
USDA check on departure
Leaving for the mainland, your bags pass a USDA agricultural inspection. Most fresh local fruit, plants, and soil cannot travel; commercially packed goods are generally fine.
Currency rules
U.S. dollar, declare $10,000+
The U.S. dollar is the local currency. As with any U.S. arrival or departure, cash or instruments of US$10,000 or more must be reported to CBP.
Main airport
Cyril E. King (STT)
Cyril E. King Airport (STT) sits just west of Charlotte Amalie. Arrivals from the U.S. are domestic; the CBP checkpoint is on the departure side when you fly home.
What to expect, step by step
Arriving from the U.S. is simple. The part worth planning for is the U.S. customs and agriculture check on the way home, so here is the full sequence.
- 1
Bring the right ID
U.S. citizens do not need a passport to enter the USVI, though one is recommended and handy if your plans change. For the flight itself, adults need a REAL ID-compliant license or another TSA-accepted ID. Non-U.S. citizens need a passport plus ESTA or a U.S. visa.
- 2
Arrive as a domestic passenger
Flying from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico, you land at Cyril E. King (STT) with no immigration line and no arrival customs form. Collect your bags and head straight to ground transport.
- 3
Enjoy the island, keep your receipts
Because the trip home runs through U.S. Customs, hold on to receipts for anything you buy, especially jewelry, watches, electronics, and liquor. They make the duty-free math simple at the airport.
- 4
Clear U.S. CBP when you leave
On departure to the mainland you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection at STT and declare your purchases. Stay within the $1,600 exemption and there is usually nothing to pay; go over and a low flat duty rate applies.
- 5
Pass the USDA agriculture check
Your checked and carry-on bags are screened for restricted agricultural items before you fly home. Leave behind fresh local produce, plants, and soil, and allow a few extra minutes at the airport.
What you can bring back to the U.S.
This is where St. Thomas stands out. Because the U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. insular possession, returning travelers get a $1,600 duty-free exemption, roughly double the $800 allowed from most other Caribbean destinations. Confirm the current figures on cbp.gov before you shop.
| Category | What you get |
|---|---|
| Overall exemption | $1,600 per traveler in goods, well above the $800 allowed when returning from most other Caribbean destinations. |
| Alcohol | Up to 5 liters duty-free as part of the exemption, provided at least 4 liters were bought in the USVI and at least 1 is a product of the islands. State personal-use limits still apply. |
| Beyond the limit | Goods over $1,600 are charged a reduced flat duty rate (historically around 1.5 percent), lower than the rate for most foreign countries. |
| Cash and currency | Report cash or negotiable instruments of US$10,000 or more to CBP, the same threshold as elsewhere in the United States. |
Exemptions are per traveler and apply to goods for personal use. Allowances and duty rates can change, so always verify the current rules with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you travel.
Sort your ride before you land in St. Thomas
With no arrival paperwork, you can walk straight to your transfer. Book a fixed-price private transfer, a vetted local driver, or a rental car, all arranged before you fly.
St. Thomas Transfers
Meet and greet at Cyril E. King (STT), fixed price direct to your hotel or the ferry dock.
Book a transferLocal Drivers
Hire a vetted local driver by the trip or the day, someone who knows the island roads.
Find a driverCar Rental
Prefer to drive yourself? Reserve from a trusted agency and remember the USVI drives on the left.
Browse rentalsSt. Thomas customs & entry FAQs
Sources & how we keep this current
Last reviewed June 2026This is an independent travel reference by Customs Breeze. Entry, customs, and duty-free rules change, so always confirm current requirements with the official sources below before you travel: