Covid-19 Information for the US Virgin Islands (USVI)

The US Virgin Islands re-opened borders to leisure tourists on September 19, 2020. The USVI has developed guidelines and covid-19 testing requirements for all visitors to the Territory.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS COVID-19 UPDATE

USVI TRAVEL ADVISORY: General Guidance for Covid-19 Passenger Screening for Domestic and International Arrivals
Updated: June 7, 2021

• Every traveler aged five or older who enters the U.S. Virgin Islands, by air or sea, including anyone in-transit to another destination, is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and submit a Covid-19 test result prior to travel. Without travel clearance from the portal, passengers may not be able to board an aircraft or vessel to the Territory.
• Evidence of Covid-19 vaccination does not supersede the Covid-19 testing requirement set forth by the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Travelers who have received a Covid-19 vaccination are required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and must submit a Covid-19 test result prior to travel.
• Travelers who originate in the U.S. Virgin Islands and return to the Territory, regardless of the length of time away, must take a test before returning or have proof of a positive antibody test result within the previous 4-month period. A Covid-19 molecular or antigen test taken in the USVI is NOT acceptable for travel from the U.S. mainland. However, antibody test results that are positive for Covid-19 antibodies taken in the USVI are acceptable.
• Travelers are required to provide evidence of:
• a Covid-19 molecular (e.g. RT-PCR, viral or nucleic acid amplification) test from a nasal or throat or oral rinse and/or saliva sample taken and NEGATIVE result received (both within five days of commencement of travel to the Territory)
OR
• a Covid-19 antigen (rapid) test from a nasal or throat swab sample taken and NEGATIVE result received (both within five days of commencement of travel to the Territory)
OR
• a Covid-19 antibody finger stick or blood draw test taken and POSITIVE result received (both within four months of commencement of travel to the Territory)

• Travelers will be required to present their travel clearance (email with green QR-code) from the USVI Travel Screening Portal to airline or marine transportation personnel or may be denied boarding. Digital or printed documents are acceptable.
• Travelers are required to present their travel clearance (email with green QR-code) from the USVI Travel Screening Portal and an acceptable Covid-19 test result to local officials upon arrival to the Territory.
• The laboratory that performs the Covid-19 test should be certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA). You can check a lab's certification status here: https:www.cdc.gov/clia/LabSearch.html.
• Travelers originating outside of the US should use Covid-19 testing facilities that are formally approved in their departure country. Many countries comply with ISO15189 or ISO/IEC17025 standards. Notwithstanding, the USVI reserves the right to reject any test result and/or require a traveler to re-test upon arrival to the Territory.
• Please note that effective January 26, 2021, international air passengers directly arriving to or transitting throught the U.S. Virgin Islands from a foreign country (i.e., anywhere that is NOT a state, territory, or possession of the United States), must follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel requirements to entering the United States of America. (see here)
• CDC travel requirements related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) for all air passengers arriving in the United States DO NOT apply to persons traveling/returning from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland.
• Please note that some states in the U.S. have enacted Covid-19 travel requirements, such as the need to provide evidence of Covid-19 testing within a specified period of time, for travelers entering (or returning to) that state. Hence, travelers departing from the U.S. Virgin Islands are advised to check with their intended destination to determine what, if any, Covid-19 travel or testing requirements are in place. A list of labs in the Territory that offer Covid-19 testing can be found here.
• Submissions to the Travel Screening Portal are processed seven days a week, 365 days per year. Every effort is made to expedite review and processing for individuals with impending travel.
• You may track your submission by using this link: https://usvitravelportal.com/tracking-application. You may also email travelportal@usvitravelportal.com with any questions or concerns; kindly include the Tracking ID code you received upon successfully completing your submission.
• If you are within 24 hours of your planned travel and have not yet received a response, please check your Junk, Spam, or Promotions folders and contact us so that we can be of assistance.
• Please note that travelers that fail to use the Travel Screening Portal may be denied boarding.
• Travelers should note that submission of a faked, forged, falsified or otherwise altered test result is subject to prosecution and fine under Executive Order(s) of the Office of the Governor, USVI Department of Health regulations and/or pursuant to criminal code 14 V.I.C. §843 and 795 of Title 14 entitled "False and Fraudulent statements upon the Government". Penalties may include fines of $500-$1,000 and/or imprisonment of two to five years.
• Travelers who are required to self-quarantine for any reason, are responsible for all quarantine costs, as advised by the Department of Health and the Office of the Governor. This includes costs associated with the Covid-19 test, transportation, accommodations, food and beverage, and medical care.
• Per the Department of Health, every person ordered to self-quarantine shall proceed directly from the airport or seaport to their home, vessel, or booked accommodations provider. The self-quarantine period shall last 10 days from the time of entry into the Territory, or until the traveler is able to receive the required health authority clearance while in the Territory.
• All arriving passengers MUST wear a mask or facial covering that fits snugly and completely covers the mouth and nose upon disembarkation. This requirement is enforced by a fine. Children under two, persons unable to remove a mask without assistance and persons with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disability Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and further defined by https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html are exempt. Individuals with chronic respiratory conditions should seek advice from their primary care physician for alternative types of masks and avoid crowds. All travelers must also comply with social distance requirements.
• With new CDC guidelines (May 16, 2021) related to vaccinated individuals and mask wearing, clear guidance has not been issued on how to visibly distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Therefore, the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands will not be removing local masking requirements. This applies to all individuals whether fully vaccinated or not. Individual and business establishments found in violation of the mandatory masking guidelines will be subject to administrative fines and penalties.
• Upon arrival into any U.S. Virgin Islands port, all travelers are subject to the Territory's screening procedures, outlined below. By reading this Travel Advisory, all travelers by embarkation on an arriving aircraft or vessel grant their consent to these procedures.
• Upon aircraft or vessel arrival, a representative will advise passengers about the current screening procedures. Upon exiting the aircraft or vessel, all passengers will be escorted to the Virgin Islands Port Authority temperature checkpoint.
• Travelers may be subject to Covid-19 health screening protocols, enhanced screening, including a temperature and thermal scans, and Covid-19 testing (or retesting) upon arrival, per the Department of Health.

For the latest information check usviupdate.com

Visitors and residents who have travel or tourism-related inquiries are asked to email info@usviupdate.com or call the Department of Tourism at 340-774-8784 (St. Thomas-St. John District), 340-772-0357 (St. Croix) or toll-free 1-800-372-8784.

Visitors or residents who have tourism-related inquiries are asked to email ​info@usviupdate.com​ or call the department's toll-free number at (800) 372-USVI (8784).

Like other destinations experiencing this unprecedented pandemic, the Territory continues to evaluate its policies. All guidance is subject to the Executive Orders of Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Please stay safe, and continue to monitor​ usviupdate.com.

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