Do U.S. laws apply in Virgin Islands?

The U.S. Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States. Many but not all federal laws apply to the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to the U.S. Constitution, which is the supreme law of the U.S., federal laws include statutes that are periodically codified in the U.S. Code.



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While you don't lose your US citizenship when you move to the USVI, you need to have proper documentation, including a VI driver's license. You can sort that out at the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

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The cost of living in the U.S. Virgin Islands is higher than on the U.S. mainland. On average, apartments cost $2,000 per month. A two-bedroom house costs at least $285,000. Not everyone can afford health care on the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Passports for U.S. Citizens are NOT required for the U.S. Virgin Islands, but you must be prepared to show evidence of citizenship upon leaving the territory (such as a government issued photo ID or your passport). Citizens of countries other than the U.S. should follow U.S. travel regulations.

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The US purchased the islands in 1917, when they were known as the Danish West Indies, hoping that they'd be an ideal strategic location for a naval base and would help secure the region surrounding the Panama Canal.

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History & Political Status In 1917, the United States purchased the Danish part for $25 million, mainly for strategic reasons to assure tranquility in the Caribbean Ocean. U.S. citizenship was conferred on U.S. Virgin Islanders in 1927.

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US citizens don't need a visa to live or work in the US Virgin Islands. This is one of the biggest reasons it's so easy for Americans to pick up and move here! A passport isn't required to visit either, but it's always something good to have on hand if you already have one.

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Any place such as Bermuda, Hawaii, or the USVI has high grocery prices due to the cost of importing much of the island's food. We've encountered this before, having been to Bermuda twice and Hawaii four times. It just worsens over time, as prices in the mainland United States have increased.

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