Guernsey extends short-term work permits until January 2027
- Home Affairs extends STEP permits expiring from 3rd April 2026 until 31st January 2027
- Extension applies to all sectors and requires application through the Population Portal
- Committee reviewing total STEP duration following hospitality sector representations
- Extension designed to maintain business continuity through summer and Christmas seasons
- Committee warns extension does not guarantee permanent change to four-year permits
Home Affairs has announced a temporary extension for Short-Term Employment Permit holders whose permits are due to expire, following pressure from the hospitality sector.
The extension will apply to all STEP holders across all sectors whose permits expire on or after 3rd April 2026, provided they submit an application through the Population Portal.
Everyone who qualifies will have their permits extended until 31st January 2027, regardless of when their original permit was due to expire.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of Home Affairs, said the extension is "intended to be long enough for the Committee to review the States' position on STEP duration, communicate its decision clearly to industry, and allow time for businesses to plan ahead of the 2027 season".
The announcement comes as the Committee has agreed to undertake a broader review of the total length of Short-Term Employment Permits following representations from the hospitality sector. The current system allows workers to hold STEP permits for a maximum of three years.
However, Deputy Leadbeater cautioned that neither the review nor the temporary extension should be viewed as a definitive indication that STEP duration will be extended to four years permanently.
"There are many demands to balance, not least the requirements we must follow to remain members of the Common Travel Area, and the pressure on local housing stock," he said. "A Short-Term Employment Permit, by its very nature, is intended to be short term."
The Committee has highlighted concerns about the potential impact on Guernsey's housing market as part of its wider review. While STEP holders do not qualify for the local housing market, Long-Term Employment Permit (LTEP) holders do, and changes to the employment permit regime could have various consequences in an area already under pressure.
The timing of the extension has been designed to provide business continuity through the summer and Christmas seasons, allowing employers to maintain their workforce during peak trading periods without disruption.
Deputy Leadbeater said the Committee would "endeavour to make whatever decisions we reach work for industry, and will communicate as clearly as we can about how things should work".
Q&A
Q: Who is eligible for the STEP extension?
A: All STEP holders across all sectors whose permits expire on or after 3rd April 2026 can apply for the extension through the Population Portal.
Q: How long will the extension last?
A: The extension will last until 31st January 2027 for all qualifying STEP holders who apply, regardless of when their original permit was due to expire.
Q: Does this extension guarantee permanent changes to STEP duration?
A: No, the Committee has warned that neither the review nor the temporary extension should be viewed as a definitive precursor to changing STEP permits to four years permanently.
Comments ()