Arrival, Departure, and Customs

Cruise Travel:
Visiting Hams arriving by cruise ship may wish to operate in the US Virgin Islands. In our experience, many cruise lines do not allow hams to operate on their ships. In fact, many cruise lines require that ham equipment be locked during transit and only retrieved during shore excursions. Please check directly with your cruise line for current restrictions. If you do bring your gear, we’d love to hear you on the air!

If you want to operate from other, non-US, countries in the Caribbean, please checkout HamDeck for a searchable database of countries and their operating rules.

Air Travel:
As a Territory of the United States, passports are NOT required for US citizens. As of July 2026, TSA’s website indicates:

” As of May 7, 2025, state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted as valid forms of identification at airports. Passengers should either travel with an acceptable alternative form of ID, like a passport, or enroll for a state-issued REAL ID through their state DMV offices.

Starting February 1, 2026, if you are unable to provide the required acceptable form of ID at a TSA checkpoint, you will have the option to pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID. TSA will then attempt to verify your identity so you can begin the airport security screening process. Don’t have an acceptable ID ? Visit the TSA ConfirmID page and pay the $45 fee before heading to the airport. “


Arrival at airport :
Arrivals at the USVI airports are not complicated. As you exit the terminal, signs are posted to direct you to rental car agencies, rest rooms, baggage claim and taxi stations. Just grab your bags and you are off on your vacation!
Taxis are available outside baggage claim. Consider asking for the driver’s card to use them in the future. Ride share services are developing. You may consider looking into VI HAIL (app based) and/or VI UBAH (see Facebook page)
Many visitors wish to rent a car when visiting. We have both national and local rental companies who can help you. We recommend making reservations early as demand can vary. We also recommend communicating directly with the local rental offices.

Remember – we drive on the left! (“keep your (left) shoulder to the (road) shoulder!)

Enjoy your visit to the US Virgin Islands : America’s Paradise !

Departure:
When departing the USVI for the U.S. mainland (and Puerto Rico):

  • Check in to your flight (either at home or with the airline desk agent).
  • Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screening is required because the USVI
    is outside the United States Customs Territory. CBP agents will ask questions such as your final destination, the nature of your trip and if you are travelling with declarable items (such as alcohol, tobacco, etc).After CBP screening, you’ll pick up your checked bags (if any) and proceed. In addition at this time, you may be directed to agricultural screening. This normally is just an x-ray screening of your bags, but may be more involved.
  • After CBP and agriculture screening take your checked bags to the marked TSA
    drop off point, then proceed to the TSA agent and security checkpoints.

    Note: This process can take a bit of time. Airlines recommend arriving 3 hours prior to
    your flight departure time if you are checking bags.Approximately one hour from
    departure time, most airlines check-in desks close to allow the agents to open the gate
    inside the terminal.

Duty Free Exemptions (unless otherwise cited info is from VI Port Authority website July 2026):

  • $1,600 Per Person Tax Exemption U.S. citizens, including children, can return with up to $1,600.00 worth of duty-free merchandise every 30 days from the USVI. (Not:duty-free exemption for the rest of the Caribbean is $800.00)
  • Alcoholic Beverages U.S. residents 21 years of age and older can return to the mainland with four liters of liquor, duty-free. You cam add a 5th liter duty-free if it is a product made in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Captain Morgan, Cruzan Rum and others)! Compare this to the one-liter-per-person duty-free limit outside the U.S.territory. (Many airlines will allow you to check a box of liquor without an additional baggage fee. Please check directly with your airline for up-to-date information.)
  • Tobacco Products U.S. citizens age 21 or older are allowed up to 100 cigars (not of Cuban origin) and up to 5 cartons, or 1,000 cigarettes, duty-free, per person, if purchased in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    It’s always best to double check current regulations.

Safe Travels !