Since 2023, French citizens have been able to visit the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey for same-day excursions using only their national ID card, no passport required. Visitors must return to France the same day and are not permitted to stay overnight on the island.
This arrangement applies exclusively to passengers traveling on regular ferry services from France, primarily from Normandy and Brittany, where the ferry operator has signed a specific agreement with the local authorities.
Initially introduced as a temporary measure after Brexit to support tourism and maintain close ties between France and the two Bailiwicks, the exemption was approved under the supervision of the UK Home Office after careful consideration by the ministers responsible for immigration.
The upcoming expansion of the UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system to the British Isles had raised concerns that the scheme might end, as the ETA requires a valid passport. However, Guernsey’s Committee for Home Affairs has secured approval from the UK government to extend the program through 2026.
Guernsey: French ID card scheme extended until 2026
On October 29, the government of Guernsey confirmed that the French ID card travel scheme will be extended through the 2026 season. The decision aims to “enhance the cultural links between the Bailiwick and France, particularly Normandy and Brittany,” while supporting the local tourism economy.
The extension follows several months of uncertainty, as discussions focused on how the future rollout of the UK’s ETA system would affect the Crown Dependencies.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of Guernsey’s Committee for Home Affairs, stated:
I’m very pleased to be able to make this announcement today. The benefits of the scheme, particularly now in conjunction with Brittany Ferries, have been clear to see in Guernsey’s tourism statistics published so far this year. It is also of note that we can continue this scheme after the introduction of ETAs, which did not look likely at first, but will continue to allow French tourists to easily access the island when they travel with a carrier that works with the Guernsey Border Agency.
As of now, the government of Jersey has not yet confirmed whether it will extend the same measure for its own Bailiwick beyond 2025, but an announcement is expected soon.
A “win-win situation” for Guernsey and France
The extension of the French ID card scheme through 2026 has been warmly welcomed on both sides of the Channel.
As reported by the BBC, senior officials from both Guernsey and France have described this tourism partnership as a “win-win situation,” emphasizing its role in maintaining historical and economic ties between the two territories.
During an official visit to Guernsey yesterday, Adam Oubuih, chief executive and managing director of the Tourism Development Agency of France, said the island has much to offer French visitors and that preserving this proximity is essential.
“It’s a win-win situation because you get to know more about the neighbours and perhaps realise we have a lot of common culture,” said Adam Oubuih. “Guernsey is also a small and very beautiful island so it gives a feeling of a unique experience which is also demanded from our tourists,” he adds.
From Guernsey’s side, Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, president of the Economic Development Committee, praised this cross-Channel cooperation as a way to boost tourism.
“France is a premier tourism destination globally in terms of visitor numbers. For them to consider that the Channel Islands are an extension and a part of the tourism offering they provide is huge,” said Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
ETA soon to be extended to Crown Dependencies
By early 2026, the UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system is expected to be extended to the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) as well as the Isle of Man. However, the exact implementation of this measure within the Bailiwicks remains to be clarified.
British authorities have not yet confirmed whether the current ETA system will be directly extended or adapted for the islands, or whether a separate, but still UK-supervised, portal will be created for the Crown Dependencies.
In a statement last July, UK officials said that “each Crown Dependency will be launching its own legally distinct ETA scheme in due course.”
