What it costs to buy property in United States Virgin Islands
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 1.4% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Stamp tax — your share1.3% of the price$6,250
- Recording fee0.1% of the price$500
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp taxyour share of a split fee | $2,500 | $6,250 | $12,500 |
| Recording fee | $250 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
Who carries the taxes and fees
What the seller pays — not you
- Stamp tax — 2.5%Charged on the higher of price or assessed value, and due when the deed is recorded. Shown as split because the law does not assign it to either party.
Guides that add every tax together and present the total as a buyer's bill overstate the cost. These are the seller's.
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
A United States territory, so US property law applies and there is no licence, permit or nationality test — and no foreign surcharge. Buying here does not require US citizenship or residency.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
- United States Virgin IslandsNo licence1.4%
- Sint MaartenNo licence5.0%–6.0%
- Saint BarthélemyNo licence6.0%–7.0%
- SabaNo licence7.1%–8.1%
- Sint EustatiusNo licence7.1%–8.1%
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
The stamp tax is not assigned to either party by statute, and published sources flatly contradict each other — some state buyer by custom, others seller. It is shown here split evenly so the whole charge is visible, but treat the allocation as a live negotiating point rather than a settled fact: on a $1m sale the difference between the two readings is $25,000.
Sources: [1]