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U.S. Virgin Islands Veteran benefits

17 benefits from the U.S. Virgin Islands for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in U.S. Virgin Islands

USVI Office of Veterans Affairs is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 340-773-8387 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you U.S. Virgin Islands's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

17 benefits

Property tax

  • 100% P&T

    Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

    A veteran whom the VA pays for a permanent and total service-connected disability does not pay any real property tax on their homestead. Widowed spouses of veterans can apply for the separate homestead tax exemption.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Veteran must have a service-related disability that the VA has determined entitles the veteran to compensation for permanent and total disability.
    How to apply
    Bring your VA Benefit Summary Letter showing permanent and total disability to the Tax Assessor's Office to apply for full exemption.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Homestead Property Tax Credit

    Veterans, or the widowed spouse of a veteran, who own and occupy their home as a homestead can receive a $650 property tax credit instead of the regular homestead credit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a homestead property owner who is a veteran (or widowed spouse of one) discharged from active service other than dishonorably, as determined by the VA.
    How to apply
    Apply to the Office of the Tax Assessor with proof of service, residency and occupancy; application is due to the Tax Assessor by March 1.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Homestead Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Veterans

    The surviving spouse of a veteran who occupies their primary home may be eligible for homestead property tax exemption. If the veteran was 100 percent disabled at time of death, the surviving spouse can retain the Veterans Homestead Tax Exemption on the family home.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who occupies the primary home as their residence. Spouse must continue to occupy the homestead.
    How to apply
    Contact the Tax Assessors Office on your island with proof of surviving spouse status and residency.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    USVI Mirror Income Tax Code

    The Virgin Islands uses a "mirror" tax system: the same income tax rules as the federal IRS code, with "Virgin Islands" in place of "United States." Taxes are paid to the VI Bureau of Internal Revenue instead of the IRS.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to bona fide residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands filing individual income tax returns.
    How to apply
    File your income tax return with the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue instead of the IRS if you are a bona fide USVI resident.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: 48 U.S.C. §1397.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • No rating needed

    Free Veteran License Plate

    Veterans registered with the VI Office of Veterans Affairs who own or lease a passenger vehicle registered with the VI Bureau of Motor Vehicles may get a Veteran license plate at no cost for the plate itself, though standard registration fees still apply.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a registered veteran with the VI Office of Veterans Affairs and a registered owner or lessee of a passenger vehicle with VI BMV; up to two sets of veteran plates are authorized per veteran.
    How to apply
    Register with the VI Office of Veterans Affairs and present your DD214 to receive a Veteran Eligibility Form for Vehicle Registration, then bring it to the BMV.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Families designated as Gold Star Families are authorized to receive a Gold Star license plate issued by the VI Office of Veterans Affairs at no cost, with two plates allowed per family.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a designated Gold Star Family; plates are issued in order of father, mother, then child (eldest to youngest), and the vehicle must be registered in that family member's name.
    How to apply
    Contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs to be designated a Gold Star Family and to obtain the Gold Star Plate.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Free UVI CELL and Career/Technical Courses for Veterans

    Virgin Islands veterans may attend UVI's Community Engagement & Lifelong Learning (CELL) courses and Department of Education academic or career and technical courses without any fee or charge.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Virgin Islands veteran verified by the VI Office of Veterans Affairs.
    How to apply
    Contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs for verification of eligibility, then register for UVI CELL courses using the Veterans Voucher Request.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    UVI Free Tuition for Virgin Islands Veterans

    Virgin Islands veterans may enroll tuition-free at the University of the Virgin Islands for undergraduate through doctoral programs; the veteran pays only fees.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Virgin Islands veteran certified by the VI Office of Veterans Affairs as meeting eligibility requirements under Title 17, Chapter 33, Section 471.
    How to apply
    Register with the VI Office of Veterans Affairs to obtain a UVI Tuition Waiver certification, then submit it with UVI enrollment.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Preference on VI Civil Service Examinations

    Veterans, spouses of veterans, or widow(er)s of veterans get 10 points added to their final civil service examination score; veterans with a service-connected disability rated 10% or more can receive additional preference credit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicant must present evidence of discharge or release from U.S. armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable; disabled veterans must have a service-connected disability rated 10% or more by a VA disability board and be capable of performing the job's functions.
    How to apply
    Submit proof of discharge (DD214) and, if applicable, VA disability rating documentation to the Director of Personnel when applying for a classified civil service position.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Employment Preference for Surviving Spouses

    Unremarried surviving spouses of eligible veterans receive employment preference in USVI government civil service positions. Points are added to examination scores to increase hiring prospects.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran. Spouse of a disabled veteran receives 15 points preference; spouse of non-disabled veteran receives 10 points preference.
    What you get at each level
    • 10 points preference for surviving spouse of non-disabled veteran
    • 15 points preference for surviving spouse of disabled veteran
    How to apply
    Apply through USVI government employment and indicate surviving spouse status. Contact Tax Assessors Office for verification.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Annual Veterans Taxi Medallion Auction

    Each December, the VI Taxicab Commission holds an annual taxi medallion auction open exclusively to Virgin Islands veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, giving veterans an exclusive opportunity to acquire a taxi medallion.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open only to Virgin Islands veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, verified through the VI Office of Veterans Affairs for the island on which the bid is submitted.
    How to apply
    Obtain a bid application from the VI Taxicab Commission, have eligibility verified by the VI Office of Veterans Affairs, and submit a bid by the deadline set for the annual December auction.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Burial Expense Reimbursement for VI Veterans

    The VI Office of Veterans Affairs reimburses up to $5,000.00 toward burial expenses of Virgin Islands veterans.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Virgin Islands veteran meeting OVA burial policy requirements (domiciliary of the VI who entered service in the VI or while temporarily residing elsewhere).
    How to apply
    Submit a burial expense reimbursement request to the VI Office of Veterans Affairs per OVA Policy #4.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Free Burial Plot in Virgin Islands Veterans Cemetery Sections

    Virgin Islands cemeteries set aside burial spaces for veterans discharged other than dishonorably; a spouse, minor child, and in some cases an unmarried adult child may also be buried alongside the veteran.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must have been a domiciliary of the Virgin Islands at death and have entered the armed services in the Virgin Islands, or been a VI domiciliary who entered service elsewhere while temporarily residing there.
    How to apply
    Contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs or the local cemetery administration to arrange burial in the veterans' section.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    No Earnest Money Deposit for Qualified Veterans (VIHFA)

    Under VIHFA's Homestead and Home Loan Fund, most buyers must make a minimum earnest money deposit, but qualified veterans are not required to make this deposit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a qualified veteran applying through VIHFA's Homestead and Home Loan Fund mortgage programs.
    How to apply
    Apply directly through VIHFA offices on St. Thomas or St. Croix as part of the homeownership loan application process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    VIHFA Veteran Home Construction, Purchase, Land and Improvement Loans

    The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority can make loans to veterans to purchase a house, buy land, build or improve a home, or refinance a home mortgage facing foreclosure. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; the Executive Director of VIHFA certifies eligibility under Title 21, Chapter 1 of the VI Code.
    How to apply
    Obtain a Veteran Housing Finance Authority Eligibility Form from the VI Office of Veterans Affairs, then apply to VIHFA and complete the Home Buyer's Education Program.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating needed

    Free Emergency Ambulance Service for Veterans

    All veterans residing in the U.S. Virgin Islands are entitled to free emergency ambulance service.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a veteran residing in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    How to apply
    Contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs or local emergency medical services for details on accessing this benefit.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    OVA Medical Travel Reimbursement

    Virgin Islands veterans traveling outside the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network for non-service-connected VA medical appointments can be reimbursed by the VI Office of Veterans Affairs at up to $250 per trip, for up to three trips per fiscal year.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must be receiving care at a VA Hospital or VA Medical Center (not a CBOC) for a non-service-connected appointment, and must get pre-approval from the OVA Director before travel.
    How to apply
    Contact the VI Office of Veterans Affairs for pre-approval before travel, then submit proof of appointment attendance for reimbursement.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.