What country controls the Virgin Islands?

The Virgin Islands, commonly referred to as the British Virgin Islands (BVI), is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago; the remaining islands constitute the US Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands.



The Virgin Islands are divided into three distinct political jurisdictions. The United States controls the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which includes St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John; these are unincorporated territories of the U.S. The United Kingdom controls the British Virgin Islands (BVI), an overseas territory consisting of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada. A third, less commonly mentioned group is the Spanish Virgin Islands (Culebra and Vieques), which are part of Puerto Rico and thus also under the control of the United States. While they are close neighbors and share an archipelago, they have different laws, currencies (though the US Dollar is widely used in both), and government structures. For 2026 travelers, this means you may need to clear customs and show a passport when moving between the BVI and USVI, despite their geographical proximity.

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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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Five territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are permanently inhabited, unincorporated territories; the other nine are small islands, atolls, and reefs with no native (or permanent) population.

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When you are moving to the US Virgin Islands from the USA, if you are an American citizen you will not require a visa. However, non-US citizens willing to stay in the Virgin Islands for a long term need to apply for suitable visas. There are H1B, H2B and student visas available to move to the islands and live there.

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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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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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The islands remained under Danish rule until 1917, when the United States purchased them for $25 million in gold in an effort to improve military positioning during critical times of World War I. St. Croix, St.

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Any of the Virgin Islands will prove to have a slower pace of life, easy access to the tropical outdoors, plentiful waterfront activities, and year-round beautiful weather. Explore our USVI real estate guides to find the right community for your next home.

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There are fifty (50) states and Washington D.C.The last two states to join the Union were Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th). Both joined in 1959. Washington D.C. is a federal district under the authority of Congress.

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