The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a small group of islands in the English Channel, consisting of Guernsey, Sark, Alderney and Herm, with Guernsey being the largest island. The Bailiwick is a self-governing "Crown Dependency" (as are the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man), but is is not a part of the United Kingdom or British Overseas Territories. Nonetheless, the Bailiwick has many similarities to the UK. This includes British English also being the primary language, the use of pounds sterling and the fact that many UK businesses already have a presence in the islands. The Bailiwick of Guernsey's total population is estimated at 67,334 with 63,155 in Guernsey alone.
Government
This government is called the States of Guernsey. Alderney and Sark also have some self-governing authority, while Herm is directly administered by Guernsey.
Size of Workforce
Approximately 31,032, as of June 2021.
Postcodes
All postcodes in Guernsey begin with "GY".
Telephone Codes
+44 for international calls. All landlines begin with "01481".
Credit and Debit Cards
Visa and Mastercard accepted.
Bank Account Numbers and Bank Transfers
Guernsey follows the same 8-digit numeric format and sort-codes as the UK. The island is also compliant with the UK's standard BACS and CHAPS payment systems. Compliant direct debit and standing orders are also available.
Regulation
The main competition regulator is the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority. Financial Services are regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC).
SO3166 Country Code
The Bailiwick of Guernsey's code is .gg
IP Addresses and Geolocation Ranges
Further information can be found at: Guernsey IP Address Ranges (ip2location.com)
Content Ratings
Guernsey generally follows the same policy as the UK when it comes to content ratings, utilising the BBFC rating for films/TV and PEGI for video games.
Shipping
Further information can be found on the Guernsey Border Agency webpage. For the movement of goods see Imports & Exports.
Additional Information
Guernsey also has a dedicated innovation, learning and startup hub called the Digital Greenhouse, who provide a number of support services for providers looking to do business in Guernsey.
Businesses may also need to refer to the terms of the Registration of Non-Regulated Financial Services Businesses (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2008 (the "NRFSB Law") and the Credit and Finance Law. Further information is provided by the GFSC.
For information about forming a company in Guernsey please contact The Guernsey Registry.
