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5 ways to enter

Guernsey visas

Guernsey tourist visa

Visitors can usually stay for up to 6 months. Your nationality and existing travel permission determine whether you need a visa, an ETA (an online travel permit), or neither.

Ways to get a Guernsey tourist visa

  1. Visa-free entry as a right

    No visa needed

    British citizens, Irish citizens, British subjects with the right to live in the UK, and holders of a certificate of entitlement qualify.

    Passports that qualify (2)

  2. Visa exemption for other British nationals

    No visa needed

    British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British protected persons and British subjects without the right to live in the UK can visit without a visa.

    Stay
    Up to 6 months.

  3. ETA (online travel permit)

    eTA needed

    Citizens of all European Union countries except Ireland, all European Free Trade Association countries, all Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the other countries and territories listed here can obtain an ETA. Visitors with a valid UK visa or UK or Irish citizenship do not need one.

    Stay
    Up to 6 months per visit.
    Valid for
    2 years, or until the passport expires if sooner.
    Fee
    £16.
    Processing
    Up to 3 business days; most decisions take a few hours.

  4. Standard Visitor visa

    Visa needed

    Visitors who do not qualify for a visa exemption must apply before travel.

    Stay
    Up to 6 months per stay.
    Valid for
    Long-term options: 2, 5 or 10 years.
    Entries
    Single or multiple stays; long-term visas allow multiple entries.
    Fee
    £135 for stays of up to 6 months; £506 for a 2-year visa; £506 for a 5-year visa; £1,128 for a 10-year visa. Mainland Chinese citizens can get a 2-year multiple-entry visa for certain common forms of travel for £115.
    Processing
    Most applications are decided within 3 weeks.
    1. Register an online account.
    2. Complete the application form.
    3. Pay the fee.
    4. Attend a visa application centre appointment and give biometrics if required.

  5. British-Irish Visa Scheme

    No visa needed

    Citizens of China and India with a valid Irish visa marked BIVS can qualify for onward travel after clearing immigration in Ireland.

    Stay
    No longer than the remaining permission to stay in Ireland.
    Valid for
    Requires a valid Irish visa marked BIVS.

    Passports that qualify (2)

    1. Apply for the Irish visa at a UK/Irish visa application centre in India or China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
    2. Clear immigration in Ireland first.
    3. Travel directly from Ireland.

Who needs it

Visitors who do not qualify for a visa exemption must get a visitor visa before travelling to Guernsey.

Who doesn't

British citizens, Irish citizens, certain other British nationals and holders of a certificate of entitlement can enter without a visa. Eligible visa-exempt visitors generally need an ETA.

How to apply

  1. Register an online application account.
  2. Fill in the application form and pay the fee.
  3. Attend an appointment at a visa application centre.
  4. Give fingerprints and a digital face image if required.

What to bring

  • Travel document.
  • Evidence that you can pay for your stay, if requested.
  • Evidence that you can pay for your return or onward journey.
  • For visitors under 18, evidence of suitable care arrangements and consent from a parent or guardian.

Good to know

  • Plan to leave at the end of your visit.
  • Do not work for UK clients or enter the UK jobs market, except under an authorised paid engagement.
  • Remote work is allowed when the employer or clients are based outside the UK.
  • Visitors using the visa exemption must not marry or register a civil partnership.
  • Regular visitor permission does not allow access to public funds.
  • Citizens of North Korea must apply in person at the British Embassy.
  • Travellers going directly to the Channel Islands without passing through the UK or Isle of Man are exempt from the stated biometric requirement.
  • Travel between Guernsey and the UK normally involves no routine immigration checks or passport stamp.
  • Non-visa nationals arriving directly from Ireland receive 6 months of automatic visitor permission, with no right to work.

Questions

Do I need a tourist visa for Guernsey?

Visitors who do not qualify for a visa exemption must get a visitor visa before travelling to Guernsey. British citizens, Irish citizens, certain other British nationals and holders of a certificate of entitlement can enter without a visa. Eligible visa-exempt visitors generally need an ETA.

What are the ways to get a tourist visa for Guernsey?

There are 5 options: Visa-free entry as a right (no visa at all); Visa exemption for other British nationals (no visa at all); ETA (online travel permit) (an online travel permit); Standard Visitor visa (a visa from an embassy); British-Irish Visa Scheme (no visa at all).

Who can go to Guernsey without a tourist visa?

British citizens, Irish citizens, British subjects with the right to live in the UK, and holders of a certificate of entitlement qualify. British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British protected persons and British subjects without the right to live in the UK can visit without a visa. Citizens of China and India with a valid Irish visa marked BIVS can qualify for onward travel after clearing immigration in Ireland.

Can I apply online for Guernsey?

Yes: ETA (online travel permit). Citizens of all European Union countries except Ireland, all European Free Trade Association countries, all Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the other countries and territories listed here can obtain an ETA. Visitors with a valid UK visa or UK or Irish citizenship do not need one.

How long can I stay on a Guernsey tourist visa?

Up to 6 months per visit.

How much does a Guernsey tourist visa cost?

£135 for a visitor visa allowing stays of up to 6 months.

How long does a Guernsey tourist visa take?

Most visa applications are decided within 3 weeks.

How long is a Guernsey tourist visa valid?

Long-term visitor visas are available for 2, 5 or 10 years. Entries: Single or multiple stays..

What documents do I need for a Guernsey tourist visa?

Travel document.; Evidence that you can pay for your stay, if requested.; Evidence that you can pay for your return or onward journey.; For visitors under 18, evidence of suitable care arrangements and consent from a parent or guardian..

How do I apply for a Guernsey tourist visa?

1. 1. Register an online application account. 2. 2. Fill in the application form and pay the fee. 3. 3. Attend an appointment at a visa application centre. 4. 4. Give fingerprints and a digital face image if required.

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