Electronic travel authorisation requirement introduced for some visitors to Guernsey
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes mandatory for non-visa nationals travelling to Guernsey from outside the Common Travel Area from 23rd April 2026
- ETAs cost £16 (rising to £20 soon), are valid for two years, and allow multiple journeys with stays up to six months
- Applications open on 9th April 2026 through gov.uk website or official UK ETA app
- British and Irish citizens, visa holders, and those with settled status are exempt from the requirement
- French Identity Card Scheme for day trips continues unchanged with annual review of carrier agreements
Non-visa nationals travelling to the Bailiwick of Guernsey from outside the Common Travel Area will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation from 23rd April 2026.
Home Affairs has agreed the rules and regulations to allow for the introduction of ETAs for visitors travelling to the Bailiwick from outside the CTA, which includes the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Applications for the ETA will open on 9th April 2026.
The digital permission system will apply to all modes of travel including scheduled arrivals by air or sea, private aircraft and pleasure craft. However, the introduction of ETA will not affect travel within the CTA, such as from Guernsey to the UK.
An ETA currently costs £16 and is valid for two years from the date of issue or until the holder's passport expires, whichever comes soonest. The cost is due to be increased to £20 in the near future. The authorisation gives permission for multiple journeys within the validity period and for stays up to six months. Each person travelling will require an ETA, including children and babies.
The requirement applies to non-visa nationals looking to visit for up to six months and those entering for employment purposes whilst holding a work permit for a period of six months or less.
Several categories of travellers are exempt from the ETA requirement. These include British citizens and Irish citizens, who must travel on their British or Irish passports or a valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement if they hold dual nationality. People who already have a visa or valid immigration permissions to live, work or study within the CTA do not need an ETA, nor do those who hold settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Travellers with British overseas territories citizen passports or British National (Overseas) passports are also exempt from the requirement.
The French Identity Card Scheme will continue unchanged. This scheme allows French nationals to travel to the Bailiwick for day trips only on scheduled maritime services using their French national identity cards. Children travelling as part of organised French school trips are also exempt from the ETA requirement.
For Irish residents, an ETA is not required if they are from a country that would normally need an ETA to travel to the UK and are entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
Commercial maritime carriers operating under the French Identity Card Scheme must be approved by Guernsey Customs & Immigration Service (GCIS) and can now work to a Memorandum of Understanding that will be reviewed annually.
Applications for ETAs can be made through www.gov.uk/eta/apply or by using the official UK ETA app. If an ETA application is refused and the applicant still wishes to visit, they must apply for a visit visa instead.
Travellers who have immigration permissions to be in Guernsey and are travelling to the UK or other islands are recommended to carry documentation proving their status, such as letters issued by the Guernsey Immigration & Nationality office. If problems arise with carriers regarding status, they can request for the carrier to contact the UK's Carrier Support Hub, which operates 24 hours a day.
Work is currently ongoing regarding the digitalisation of permissions issued in Guernsey. More information on both the ETA and French Identity Card Scheme is available on the GCIS website at www.gov.gg/immigration.
Q&A
Q: When does the ETA requirement start for visitors to Guernsey?
A: The Electronic Travel Authorisation becomes mandatory on 23rd April 2026, with applications opening from 9th April 2026.
Q: How much does an ETA cost and how long is it valid?
A: An ETA currently costs £16 (rising to £20 soon) and is valid for two years from issue or until passport expiry, whichever comes first. It allows multiple journeys and stays up to six months.
Q: Who is exempt from needing an ETA to visit Guernsey?
A: British and Irish citizens, those with existing visas or immigration permissions, people with settled/pre-settled EU status, French nationals on day trips with ID cards, and holders of British overseas territories or British National (Overseas) passports are exempt.
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