Guernsey is a wonderful place to visit, live and work. The island welcomes a large number of guests from the European Union every year and the States of Guernsey made a commitment in 2017 to respect the rights of EU nationals in the island. On this page you'll find information and documents about our EU Settled Status Scheme, general immigration rules, Guernsey's Population Management Law and the Common Travel Area.
Guidance for EU nationals and employers - changes from 1 January 2021
- Information for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals about living and working in the Bailiwick of Guernsey from 1 January 2021 is available is available here.
The Bailiwick of Guernsey EU Settled Status Scheme
- The rights of European Union, Swiss and European Economic Area (EEA) citizens resident in the Bailiwick of Guernsey were protected during the transition period - please note the EEA is the European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
- A settled status scheme was open until 20 June 2021. For more information about our Settled Status Scheme, including how to apply, please click here.
Immigration
- The right to enter the Bailiwick of Guernsey - for anyone who is not a British citizen - is governed by law in the form of various United Kingdom immigration acts that have been extended to the Bailiwick of Guernsey by Order in Council. This, in effect, makes UK immigration acts Bailiwick of Guernsey law also. For these purposes 'British citizen' includes other Commonwealth citizens who have the Right of Abode in the UK. Immigration acts regulate the entry and stay of all foreign nationals.
- Foreign nationals require permission to enter and/or stay in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. This is known as "leave to enter" or "leave to remain" and is granted to people who qualify under the Immigration Rules. The Rules set out the requirements for people seeking to enter or stay in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Rules also set out grounds for refusing entry or stay and for deportation. Follow this link to contact us if you'd like more information or guidance.
- Detailed information about immigration rules can be found on the Guernsey Border Agency's webpage.
Population Management Law
- The size and make-up of Guernsey's population is regulated by the Population Management (Guernsey) Law, 2016. The Law is designed to make sure that the island has the right mix of people supporting our economy and community now and also for the future. It aims to support local businesses by providing Employment Permits designed for specific jobs, allowing us to attract a diverse range of skilled people where needed to strengthen Guernsey's workforce. The Population Management Law also determines who can live in certain accommodation. Guernsey's properties are primarily split into two 'Housing Markets' - the Local Market and the Open Market.
- Please note that population management and immigration are separate issues. Our Population Management Law deals with someone's ability to live and work in Guernsey, whereas immigration is about the right to enter. An EU/EEA/Swiss citizen must have relevant documentation for both immigration and population management purposes if they are residing and working in Guernsey.
- More information about Guernsey's Population Management Law can be found at this webpage, or by viewing our Frequently Asked Questions document.
Common Travel Area
- The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a long-standing arrangement between the UK, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Bailiwick of Jersey, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland. The CTA established cooperation between respective immigration authorities enabling British and Irish citizens to move freely between, and reside in, these islands.
- If you are a British citizen or an Irish citizen you do not need to take any action to protect your status and rights associated with the CTA. Please note that both the UK and Irish Governments took all necessary measures to ensure that the agreed CTA rights and privileges were protected throughout the Brexit transition period and beyond.
- For more information about the CTA, please visit UK Government Common Travel Area.
