Common travel area document requirements
Jersey is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), along with the other Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland and the UK and therefore Jersey maintains the same standard of immigration control at the Border as the UK.
There are no routine border immigration controls when travelling within the CTA.
Arrivals from UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey
On arrival in Jersey from the UK, Isle of Man or Guernsey you don't need to carry a passport. However, you're required to carry a form of recognised photographic identification as Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers may need to confirm your identity and nationality and evidence of your immigration permission.
The Jersey Customs and Immigration Service will accept whichever form of photographic identification that is accepted by your airline or ferry company for security purposes.
If you hold a valid entry clearance (visa) for the UK, Isle of Man or Guernsey you do not require an additional visa to visit Jersey but, if required, you must be able to demonstrate to Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers evidence of your identity, nationality and immigration permissions.
Arrivals from Ireland
If you're not British or Irish and arriving in Jersey directly from Ireland, you must carry your passport with you as Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers may need to confirm your identity and nationality and evidence of your immigration permission.
There are the same exemptions from this passport requirement as listed below for those arriving from outside the CTA.
If you're British or Irish and arriving in Jersey directly from Ireland, you are required to carry some form of recognised photographic identification as Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers may need to confirm your identity and nationality.
Arrivals from outside the Common Travel Area
Everyone arriving in Jersey from Ireland or from outside the CTA will require a valid passport regardless of whether they travel with commercial carriers or on private aircrafts or vessels.
There are some exemptions to the passport requirement for EU, EEA, Swiss nationals who are carrying a valid national identity card, if they:
- hold settled or pre-settled status granted by the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man
- have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit granted by the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man
- are an EU, EEA, Swiss national under the age of 19 and part of an organised school group
- hold Frontier Worker permit issued under the UK Immigration Rules
- are an S2 Healthcare Visitor under the UK Immigration Rules
- are a Swiss Service Provider with a valid entry clearance issued under the UK Immigration Rules
- have a French national identity card (within the validity dates printed on the card) travelling directly to Jersey on a day return trip until 30 September 2025 with a commercial ferry operator who signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding with Jersey Immigration
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
The Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETA) is being introduced across the Common Travel Area (CTA) to secure our borders and make the CTA safer by enhancing our ability to screen travellers who want to visit or transit through the CTA who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have an immigration status.
The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia, and helps prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the CTA.
An ETA is a digital permission to travel and authorises an individual to travel to the CTA. ETA is not a visa and does not permit entry into the CTA. On arrival an individual will still be processed through an eGate, where available, or by a Border Officer who will either permit or refuse entry.
ETA applications will be assessed by the jurisdiction that a visitor puts on their application as their first port of entry into the CTA.
The Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man) will be introducing ETAs for travel to the Islands from October 2025. Anyone travelling directly to Jersey before the introduction of the Jersey ETA will not require an ETA.
Travellers transiting to Jersey, through the UK, are advised to obtain an ETA prior to travel.
- Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the CTA
- eligible non-Europeans need an ETA to travel after 8 January 2025
- eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025
Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. See the below links for more information:
An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the CTA for stays of up to 6 months at a time over 2 years or until the holder's passport expires whichever is sooner.
Those who are refused an ETA can still apply for a visit visa. A visa application will be given a more thorough consideration.
Check what visa you need on GOV.UK.
An ETA is not required for:
- travel between the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Ireland
- British and Irish citizens
- British Overseas Territory citizens
- holders of settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
- holders of British National (Overseas) visas
- those with valid immigration permissions to live, work, or study in the CTA
- Irish residents travelling from Ireland to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- persons exempt from immigration controls (for example, indefinite leave to remain, or right of abode)
If you're unsure if you need an ETA, see more information and guidance on
apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on GOV.UK.
Visa (entry clearance)
You do not require a visa to enter, visit, work, study or settle in Jersey if you are:
- British
- Irish
- hold settled or pre-settled status
- hold indefinite leave to remain
Non-visa nationals will not require a visa to enter, visit, work (where a work permit has been issued for 6 months or less), or study in Jersey.
Non-visa nationals will need a visa to work (where a work permit has been issued for more than 6 months), study or settle in Jersey.
Visa nationals will require a visa to enter, visit, work, study or settle in Jersey.
The Jersey visa requirements are aligned to the UK visa requirements and the application process is administered on the Islands behalf by the UK. Applications specific to Jersey will be referred to Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS) as part of the decision-making process. Applicants who are applying for their visas for a Crown Dependency (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) are not required to pay the UK Health Surcharge.
If you need a visa to enter Jersey, you need to be granted the visa before you travel, check what visa you need on GOV.UK.
Schengen visas are not valid in Jersey.
Visiting Jersey
Non-visa nationals do not require a visa to visit Jersey for up to 6 months, however if they are refused an ETA, and still want to visit, they must apply for a visit visa. Non-visa nationals, if asked, must satisfy a Border Officer that they meet the requirements to enter the Common Travel Area as a visitor.
Visa nationals require a visa to visit Jersey for a period of up to 6 months.
Applications are assessed against Appendix V(J)Visitor of the
Jersey Immigration Rules and the applicant must demonstrate that they are a genuine visitor. A genuine visitor means that the applicant:
- will leave Jersey at the end of the visit
- will not live in Jersey for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make Jersey their main home
- is genuinely seeking entry as a visitor
- must have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs associated with their visit
- must demonstrate their
- must not undertake any employment (paid or otherwise), study, or enter into marriage or civil partnership
Visitors are unable to switch into any other immigration category while they are in Jersey.
Non-visa and Visa nationals, if asked, must still satisfy a Border Officer that they meet the requirements to enter the Common Travel Area as a visitor regardless of whether they have been issued an ETA or visa.
More information on the criteria for a visit visa can be found in Appendix V(J)Visitor of the
Jersey Immigration Rules or by following the links on the
check what visa you need on GOV.UK.
Working in Jersey
An employer wanting to employ a foreign national will be required to apply for a work permit for the individual and demonstrate that the application criteria is met. The criteria will vary depending on the work permit route being applied for.
Available work permits routes:
- short-term temporary route for the agriculture, aquaculture, construction, fishing, horticulture and hospitality sectors. Permits are issued for a maximum period of 9 months
- annual temporary route for construction, sea-going fishing sector and hospitality. Permits are issued for periods of 12 months and can be renewed annually.
- student temporary route for foreign students studying in France where employment is connected to their course of study. Permits are issued for a maximum period of 6 months
- non-Resident temporary route for overseas employers sending employees to Jersey to fulfil specific contractual obligations where there is a requirement for the business to hold a non-resident undertaking granted by Business Licencing. A work permit will be issued for the duration of the work that non-resident undertaking has been issued for
- long term route for those individuals employed in any industry in certain roles for an initial period of up to 3 years following which a further work permit may be granted. Those on long term work permits may be able to bring their dependants to Jersey subject to meeting the relevant requirements outlined in the work permit policy
If a work permit is issued to the employer to employ a named individual in a specific role for a specified period, then the employee will need to apply for a visa (unless they are a non-visa national with a work permit issued for 6 months or less), and have it granted before they travel to Jersey.
More information about working in Jersey can be found on the
employers applying for work permits page.
Studying in Jersey
If you would like to study in Jersey you will need a visa and you must demonstrate that you have been accepted on a full time course of study at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education or a fee paying school. They will also need to demonstrate in their application that they can maintain and accommodate themselves as well as meeting the other requirements of Part 2 of the
Jersey Immigration Rules.
Student visa applications are submitted via the UK check what visa you need on the Gov.uk website.
Settling in Jersey
You may be eligible to apply to settle in Jersey if you are the:
- partner of a British citizen or a person present and settled in Jersey
- child (under the age of 18) of a person present and settled in Jersey
- adult dependant relative of a person present and settled in Jersey
- child dependant (under the age of 21) of a person present in Jersey with a status granted under the EU Settlement scheme
Family Visas
School groups visiting Jersey
French school groups
EU, EEA and Swiss school children under the age of 19 who attend school in France and are visiting Jersey as part of an organised school group must have a valid national ID card or passport.
School children under the age of 19 who are nationals of other countries and are being educated in a French school can visit Jersey as part of an organised school group and must have a valid passport.
If the child would normally need a visa to visit the UK, they do not need one to travel as part of a French school trip.
Adults travelling as part of the French school group must bring their passport (valid French ID cards will be acceptable for day trips only).
If the adult would normally need a visa to visit the UK, they must have a visa to travel as part of a French school trip, regardless of the duration of the visit.
You can check if you need a UK visa.
French school groups visiting Jersey for more than a day trip will be required to complete a France to UK school trip travel information form.
Information on this process can be found on the visit the UK as part of a French school trip on GOV.UK.
France UK school trip travel information form
Other European school groups
EU, EEA, and Swiss school children under the age of 19 who are visiting Jersey as part of an organised school group must have a valid national ID card or passport.
School children under the age of 19 who are nationals of other countries, being educated in European schools outside France, can visit Jersey as part of an organised school group and must have a valid passport.
If the child would normally need a visa to visit the UK, they must have a visa to travel as part of the school trip, regardless of the duration of the visit.
Adults travelling as part of the school group must bring their passport. If the adult would normally need a visa to visit the UK, they must have a visa to travel as part of the school trip, regardless of the duration of the visit.
You can check if you need a UK visa on GOV.UK.
Travelling to Jersey by private aircraft
If travelling to Jersey on a private aircraft you must comply with the immigration entry requirements and where required have the relevant visa, ETA or immigration permissions.
The pilot must complete a declaration providing details of the pilot and all passengers prior to departure regardless of where the aircraft is arriving from or departing to.
Private aircraft general declaration form for entering and leaving Jersey
Travelling to Jersey by private vessel
If travelling to Jersey by private vessel you must comply with the immigration entry requirements and where required have the relevant visa, ETA or immigration permissions.
A declaration must be completed if you are arriving in Jersey from outside the Common Travel Area and someone on board is not British or Irish.
Private marine vessels customs and immigration requirements
gov.je