Guernsey’s next government is expected to approve an extension of the island’s special travel scheme allowing French day-trippers to visit using a national ID card instead of a passport, despite growing concerns over the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements.
First introduced in 2023 to revive dwindling continental tourism figures, the ID card scheme was seen as a lifeline for local businesses reliant on French visitors, particularly from nearby Normandy and Brittany.
The initiative has since helped to slightly boost tourist numbers, which had declined in the aftermath of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the scheme’s future has come under scrutiny following the UK’s rollout of the ETA system. Under the new rules, all non-British and non-Irish nationals — including European Union citizens — must obtain a digital travel permit linked to their passport before entering the UK.
Although Guernsey is not part of the United Kingdom, it remains part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), a long-standing free movement arrangement between the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, including Guernsey and Jersey.
The Guernsey Border Agency (GBA) confirmed to the BBC that a proposal to extend the French ID scheme is expected to be approved, contingent on assurances that Guernsey’s participation in the CTA is not jeopardised.
“GBA officers have been in contact with the UK to discuss the matter from a Bailiwick of Guernsey perspective, and will continue to work with UK counterparts around the introduction of ETAs,” a GBA spokesperson said.
Guernsey’s position in the CTA is critical to its immigration and customs independence. Any shift in policy that risks the island’s CTA status would have far-reaching consequences, including the free movement of people between Guernsey and the UK — a vital link for both residents and the economy.
The final decision to extend the scheme will rest with the new Policy and Resources Committee, to be elected following Guernsey’s general election scheduled for next week. Until then, the proposal remains in a state of political limbo.
The GBA added that any amendments to the island’s immigration rules require the formal assent of Guernsey’s lieutenant-governor, who represents the British Crown on the island. This underscores the delicate constitutional balance that Guernsey must maintain when diverging from UK immigration policies.
Local tourism operators have welcomed the possibility of an extension. “It’s a vital bridge to our French neighbours,” said Marie Leclair, owner of a café in St Peter Port frequented by French visitors. “We’ve seen more footfall since the scheme began. Losing it would be a major setback.”
Guernsey’s unique status outside the EU and the UK — but within the CTA — allows it to exercise some flexibility in managing its borders. However, the island must continually negotiate the boundaries of that flexibility with Westminster, especially as UK immigration policies evolve.
With a new government soon to be elected, islanders and business owners alike will be watching closely to see whether the ID card scheme survives — and whether Guernsey can continue to balance autonomy with cooperation.
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