The +1340 country code belongs to the US Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated US territory in the Caribbean. The three main islands — St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John — sit about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico.
Because the USVI is part of the North American Numbering Plan, you dial it the same way you dial any US number: 1-(340)-XXX-XXXX. That familiar format misleads people into thinking it's a free domestic call, but many carriers charge international rates for USVI numbers. This guide covers the dialing format, local number structure, carriers, and how to avoid surprise charges.
Quick answer: Dial 1-(340) followed by the 7-digit local number. USVI phone numbers are 10 digits total (country code 1 + area code 340 + 7 local digits). There is no trunk prefix. The territory shares a single area code (340) across all three main islands.
How to call US Virgin Islands: quick reference
Since the USVI is part of NANP, you never need an international exit code (011) when calling from the US or Canada. From other countries, treat it like any +1 number — the area code is 340.
| Calling from | Dialing format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | 1-(340)-XXX-XXXX | 1-(340)-774-1234 |
| US/Canada landline | 1-(340)-XXX-XXXX | 1-(340)-774-1234 |
| Within USVI | XXX-XXXX (7 digits) | 774-1234 |
| UK | 00-1-340-XXX-XXXX | 00-1-340-774-1234 |
| Australia | 0011-1-340-XXX-XXXX | 0011-1-340-774-1234 |
| Germany | 00-1-340-XXX-XXXX | 00-1-340-774-1234 |
| Japan | 010-1-340-XXX-XXXX | 010-1-340-774-1234 |
Understanding US Virgin Islands phone numbers
All USVI numbers follow the standard NANP format: +1 (340) XXX-XXXX. The same area code covers St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John — no separate codes per island.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers typically begin with prefixes like 227, 244, 474, 513, 514, 642, 643, and 998. The distinction between mobile and landline prefixes is less strict in the USVI than in many countries, so trial calling or asking the recipient is sometimes the only way to confirm.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers generally use prefixes in the 71x and 77x ranges. Common examples include 712, 713, 714, 715, 718, 719, 773, 774, 775, 776, 778, and 779. Most landlines belong to businesses, hotels, and government offices.
Number allocation by island
| Island | Common prefixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas | 774, 775, 776, 777 | Capital Charlotte Amalie, cruise port |
| St. Croix | 712, 713, 718, 719, 773 | Largest island, Christiansted/Frederiksted |
| St. John | 776, 779 | Smallest, mostly national park |
These prefix assignments are approximate — number portability means a St. Croix subscriber could carry a 774 number.
Mobile carriers in US Virgin Islands
The USVI telecom market is small but served by both local and mainland US carriers.
Viya (formerly Innovative)
The main local carrier, offering mobile, landline, broadband, and cable TV. Viya is the legacy provider and has the widest coverage across all three islands, including rural areas of St. Croix. They operate their own cell towers and fiber network.
AT&T USVI
AT&T acquired the former Choice Communications network. They offer mobile and broadband services across St. Thomas and St. Croix, with more limited coverage on St. John. Mainland AT&T customers generally get domestic roaming treatment in the USVI.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile expanded into the USVI and treats the territory as part of its domestic coverage for most plans. Coverage is strongest on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Liberty Latin America (Liberty VI)
Provides cable, broadband, and some telephony services. Less prominent for mobile but present in the fixed-line market.
Don't confuse +1340 with nearby codes
The USVI code gets confused with other Caribbean +1 codes, and especially with the neighboring British Virgin Islands.
| Code | Country/Territory | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +1340 | US Virgin Islands | This article |
| +1284 | British Virgin Islands | Neighboring islands, both "Virgin Islands" |
| +1787 / +1939 | Puerto Rico | Both US Caribbean territories, 40 miles apart |
| +1242 | Bahamas | Another Caribbean NANP territory |
The +1340 vs +1284 mix-up is the most common. The US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John) and British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke) are right next to each other. You can take a ferry between them. But dialing the wrong code sends your call to the wrong territory — and possibly the wrong country entirely.
Time zone considerations
The USVI is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round. The territory does not observe daylight saving time.
This means the USVI is 1 hour ahead of US Eastern time in winter, and the same as Eastern time in summer (when the mainland shifts to EDT).
| Your location | USVI time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST/EDT) | +1hr winter / same summer | 9am-9pm any day |
| US West Coast (PST/PDT) | +4hrs winter / +3hrs summer | 6am-6pm PT |
| UK (GMT/BST) | -4hrs winter / -5hrs summer | 1pm-9pm UK |
| Central Europe (CET/CEST) | -5hrs winter / -6hrs summer | 2pm-10pm CET |
| Japan (JST) | -13hrs | 10pm-6am JST (next day in USVI) |
Communication in US Virgin Islands
Business hours
Government offices and banks typically operate 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday. Retail and tourism businesses often have extended hours, especially on St. Thomas near the cruise port in Charlotte Amalie. On St. Croix, hours may be shorter outside Christiansted and Frederiksted.
Network quality
Cell coverage is reliable in urban areas across all three islands. St. Thomas and the western half of St. Croix have 4G LTE from multiple carriers. St. John's coverage can be spotty in the national park interior, though Cruz Bay and Coral Bay have service. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the carriers rebuilt much of the network infrastructure, and coverage today is better than pre-hurricane levels.
Language and communication style
English is the primary language, and business communication follows American conventions. You'll also hear Virgin Islands Creole English in casual settings, a mix of English, Dutch, Danish, and African language influences that traces back to the islands' colonial period. Spanish is spoken by a growing number of residents with Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage.
The US Virgin Islands diaspora
Where they went
The USVI has a population of roughly 87,000, but a larger community of Virgin Islanders lives on the US mainland. The primary destinations are the New York City metro area (especially Brooklyn and the Bronx), South Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Miami), Atlanta, and the DC area. Because USVI residents are US citizens by birth, there are no immigration barriers to moving to the mainland.
Why they call
Family ties drive most calling. Holidays like Carnival (late April on St. Thomas, early January on St. Croix), Three Kings Day, and the traditional Christmas season (which runs through early January in the USVI) see heavy call traffic. The 2017 hurricanes displaced thousands of residents to the mainland, and many still call family who stayed behind or returned to rebuild. Business calls center on tourism, real estate, and the territory's economic development agencies.
Dialing examples
Calling a hotel in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
The hotel's number is (340) 774-1234.
- From a US mobile: 1-340-774-1234
- From the UK: 00-1-340-774-1234
- From within St. Thomas: 774-1234
Calling a mobile on St. Croix
Your contact's mobile is (340) 513-5678.
- From a US mobile: 1-340-513-5678
- From Germany: 00-1-340-513-5678
- From within the USVI: 513-5678
Calling a business on St. John
The dive shop's number is (340) 779-4321.
- From a US landline: 1-340-779-4321
- From Japan: 010-1-340-779-4321
- From St. Thomas: 779-4321 (inter-island call, same area code)
Calling the USVI from Puerto Rico
Both are NANP territories with area code 340 (USVI) and 787/939 (PR). Dial 1-340-XXX-XXXX from Puerto Rico — same as calling any other area code. Note that some PR carriers may still charge as inter-territory.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming USVI calls are free domestic calls
The domestic dialing format (1-340-XXX-XXXX) makes it look like a regular US call. But many carriers — especially landline providers and smaller MVNOs — charge international rates for USVI calls. Check your plan before calling, or use CallSky to get a predictable per-minute rate.
Confusing +1340 with +1284 (British Virgin Islands)
The US and British Virgin Islands are neighboring island groups. Getting the area code wrong sends your call to the wrong territory. Double-check: 340 is American, 284 is British.
Dialing 011 before 1-340 from a US phone
You do not need the international exit code (011) when calling the USVI from the US or Canada. Just dial 1-340 directly. Adding 011 will cause the call to fail.
Forgetting the time offset in winter
The USVI doesn't observe daylight saving time, so in winter it's 1 hour ahead of the US East Coast (AST vs EST). In summer the times align. A 9am call from New York in January reaches the USVI at 10am.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +1340 code?
The +1340 code belongs to the US Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Caribbean. The three main islands are St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
Is calling the US Virgin Islands a domestic or international call?
It depends on your carrier. The USVI uses the North American Numbering Plan (area code 340), so you dial 1-340 like any US number. However, many carriers charge international rates for USVI calls despite the domestic dialing format. Check your plan's fine print, or use a VoIP service like CallSky for transparent per-minute pricing.
What is the difference between +1340 and +1284?
+1340 is the US Virgin Islands (American territory) and +1284 is the British Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory). They are neighboring island groups separated by a short ferry ride, but have separate country codes, currencies (USD vs USD pegged to British governance), and phone systems.
How many digits are in a USVI phone number?
USVI phone numbers follow the standard NANP format: 10 digits total (country code 1 + area code 340 + 7-digit local number). From within the USVI, you can dial just the 7 local digits.
Do US cell phones work in the US Virgin Islands?
Most major US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) include the USVI in their domestic coverage, so your phone should work as it does on the mainland. Some smaller carriers or older plans may treat it as roaming. Check with your provider before traveling.
Calling other Caribbean destinations? Check our guides for British Virgin Islands (+1284), Puerto Rico (+1787), and Jamaica (+1876).