Immigration Basics

Whether you are visiting Jersey on a family break or for business, it’s important to be aware of basic immigration rules and regulations.

Passport and Visa Requirements

United Kingdom to Jersey

If you are a British/European passport or identity card holder, no passport or identity is required to travel from the UK to Jersey. Carrying photo identification is recommended.

If you are a non-EU passport or identity card holder, you do not need a separate visa to travel from the UK to Jersey if you are there legally and will be travelling according to immigration regulations. Photo identification and a letter confirming UK residential status are recommended.

Overseas to Jersey

If you are a British/European passport or identity card holder, you must present a valid British passport in order to enter Jersey. If you are a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) national, you must present a valid passport or identity card, and a visa is not required.

If you are a non-European Union (EU) or non-European Economic Area (EEA) national arriving from overseas, you must present a valid passport.

Jersey Immigration Rules requirements must be met for those wishing to enter Jersey for the purpose of studying, vacationing, working or living.

Visa requirements in Jersey align with those in the United Kingdom. Depending upon your nationality, a visa may be required to enter the island.

Living in Jersey

Immigration permission is not required to live in Jersey if you are one of the following:

• A British citizen
• A Swiss national
• A national of a state within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA)
• A holder of an EEA family permit

If you have previously legally resided in the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The length of time required is typically between two and five years. You must also pass a citizenship test and meet the English language requirement.  ILR allows you to live in Jersey with no immigration restrictions on your stay and employment.

ILR is requested via application, which must be submitted two weeks before your current permission expires. Details are listed on the application form. There are different application forms for spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner and dependants and work permit holders/domestic worker/UK ancestry/over 18 dependant and other.

Following submission of an application,  processing time is three weeks from when it is received and applicants are notified by phone or email. Your current immigration status will continue and you are permitted to work until the decision is made.

Extending Your Stay

Permission is not needed to extend your stay if you are one of the following:

• A British citizen
• A Swiss national
• A national of a state within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA)
• An overseas national with no restrictions

An extension of stay is referred to as Further Leave to Remain (FLR) and is subject to Jersey Immigration Rules. Visitors in Jersey are not permitted to extend their permission longer than 6 months. Those with temporary permission to reside in Jersey can apply to extend this permission.

FLR is requested via application, which must be submitted two weeks before your current permission expires. Details are listed on the application form. There are different application forms for work permit holders/dependants, spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner and dependants and others.

Those making an application for a spouse or unmarried partners and their dependants must meet an English language requirement. Processing time is three weeks from when the application is received and applicants are notified by phone or email.

Work Permits

A work permit is not required if you are one of the following:  

• British citizen/British subject with right of abode
• National of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) state
• Non-EEA family member of an EEA national (EEA family permit is required) a Swiss national
• Swiss national
• Commonwealth citizen admitted via UK ancestry
• Commonwealth citizen with certificate of entitlement to the right of abode
• Youth Mobility Scheme participant
• Religious minister
• Business visitor
• Non EU or EEA passport holder with no immigration restrictions

If you do not fall into any of these categories, you will need a work permit in order to work in Jersey.  

When you are moving to Jersey to work, your employer will apply for your work permit before you arrive following the required guidelines. If you are authorized to work in the UK, the other Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, Jersey may consider your work permit application. Applications are typically processed within three weeks.

Import Duties

When you arrive in Jersey, you must declare household items as well as tobacco and alcohol. The following duties are collected on imported goods:

• Common Customs Tariff (CCT): charged on all goods that are imported from outside of the EU
• Goods and Services Tax (GST): you must pay 5% if the combined value of your goods is more than £240 including purchase price at import, all taxes and duties including the CCT, excise duty, insurance, commission, packing and freight
• Excise Duty (fuel, alcohol, tobacco)