Travel documents and visas for Jersey

​​​​​​​​ID and travel documents for entering Jersey

Jersey is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and have the same border control standards as the UK.

There are no routine border immigration controls when travelling within the CTA. But you must travel with a photo ID to be able to prove your identity and nationality. 

You can use:

• a passport
• a national identity card
• a driving licence with your photo
• a biometric residence permit
• an immigration status document with your photo
• a school or college photo ID (for children and young people travelling with an organised group)
• another official photo ID issued by a government or public authority

Check the guidance from your airline or ferry company before you travel to make sure you meet the rules:

• passports, visas and API on British Airways
• travel documents and information on easyJet
• ID and travel document requirements on Loganair
• preparing for your trip, ferry travel information on DFDS

Arriving from the UK, Guernsey and Isle of Man 

You don't need to travel with a passport when you arrive in Jersey from:

• the UK
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man

You must travel with photo ID. We accept whichever photo ID your airline or ferry company accepted.

You don’t need another visa to visit Jersey if you already have a valid visa for the UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man.

Arriving from Ireland

If you arrive in Jersey directly from Ireland and you're not British or Irish, you must travel with your passport. You must also follow the rules below for those arriving from outside the CTA.

If you’re British or Irish you don’t need to travel with your passport, but you must travel with photo ID.

Arriving from outside the CTA

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.

You don’t need to travel with a passport, but must travel with a national ID card if you:

• 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 with a commercial ferry operator who signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding with Jersey Immigration

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit Jersey

From 23 April 2026, you may need an ETA to visit Jersey. You'll need to check if you need one and apply on GOV.UK.​​

Find more information on how to get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit Jersey.

Travel advice if you have Jersey immigration permission

To enter Jersey directly or through the UK, you can prove your immigration permission by showing:

• a visa vignette in your passport
• a passport stamp
• an EU Settled Status confirmation letter

You should travel with official documents that prove your status, such as your work permit or contract of employment.

If you’re travelling to Jersey or the UK and the airline won’t let you board, ask them to call the UK's Carrier Support Hub (CSH). It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can also check Timatic, which airlines use worldwide to confirm travel document rules.

Travel document information for carriers and people with Jersey immigration permission

Find information on UK visa requirements: list of carriers on GOV.UK.

Advice for carriers

As the carrier, you’re responsible to decide if you can carry a passenger.

You must make sure that every passenger:

• has a valid passport or acceptable travel document
• is the rightful holder of that passport or travel document
• if needed, has a physical visa, eVisa or other permission valid for entry to the UK or Jersey​
  

You can be fined if you don’t meet the rules.

Charging procedures: a guide for carriers on GOV.UK

Who needs a visa for Jersey

Depending on your circumstances, you may need a visa to enter, visit, work, study or settle in Jersey.

​

You need your visa before coming to Jersey.

You must apply for a visa through the UK. Your application for Jersey will then be sent to us to process. You won’t pay the UK immigration health surcharge (IHS).

Check if you need a visa on GOV.UK

Schengen visas are not valid in Jersey.

Visiting Jersey

If you’re a non-visa nationals, you don’t need a visa to visit Jersey for up to 6 months. If your ETA is refused, you need to apply for a visit visa.

If you’re a visa national, you need a visa to visit Jersey for up to 6 months.

Having an ETA (for non visa nationals) or a visa (for visa nationals) gives you permission to travel to the UK and CTA but it doesn't replace border checks on arrival. This means:

• you must still satisfy the immigration officer that you're a genuine visitor
  
• you must explain your reason for travel, length of stay and show you'll leave at the end of the visit
  
• an ETA or a visa doesn'tguarantee entry. It only allows you to board transport and present yourself for examination at the border
  
• the officer may ask questions, check documents or refuse entry if visitor rules are not met​

When you apply for a visit visa, you must show that you’ll:

• genuinely intend to visit
• leave at the end of your visit
• have enough money to support yourself
• not make Jersey your main home
• not work, study, marry or enter a civil partnership
• not live in Jersey for extended periods through frequent or successive visits

You can’t change into any other immigration category while you are in Jersey.

You must apply for a visa through the UK. Your application for Jersey will then be sent to us to process.

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor on GOV.UK

Find more information on the criteria for a visit visa can be found in Appendix V(J)Visitor of the Jersey Immigration Rules.

Working in Jersey

If you’re not British or Irish, you need a work permit to work in Jersey.

Your potential employer needs to apply for the permit and show that you meet the criteria. The criteria depend on the type of work permit.

Work permits are issued to the employer to employ you in a specific role for a certain period.

Once your employer receives the permit, you need to apply for a visa and have it before you come to Jersey. You don’t need to apply for a visa if you’re a non-visa national with a work permit issued for 6 months or less.

Find more information, types of work permits and the application form in the work permit policy.

Studying in Jersey

You may need a student visa if you want to study in Jersey.

Check if you need a UK visa on GOV.UK

You must:

• have been accepted on a full-time course at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education or a fee paying school
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your studies
• meet the other requirements of Part 2 of the Jersey Immigration Rules

You must apply through the UK for a student visa on GOV.UK. Your application to study in Jersey will then be sent to us to process.​

Settling in Jersey

Depending on your circumstances, you can apply for a family visa to live with a family member in Jersey.

You must apply outside of Jersey to join a:

• spouse or partner
• fiancé or proposed civil partner
• child aged under 18
• parent
• adult dependant relative

Find more information and apply for a family visa​.

School groups visiting Jersey​

Students and adults accompanying groups need to have certain ID and travel documents to visit Jersey.

You can check if you need a UK visa on GOV.UK.

French school groups

If you’re a French school group travelling directly to Jersey, you must complete the France–UK school trip travel information form below, no matter how long you’re staying.

When you complete this form, students aged 18 or under don’t need to apply for an ETA or a visa.

France UK school trip travel information form on GOV.UK

Find more information on visit the UK as part of a French school trip on GOV.UK.

Other European school groups

​Travelling to Jersey by private aircraft or boat

If you travel to Jersey on a private aircraft or boat you must meet our entry requirements.

This include having the relevant:

• visa
• ETA
  
• immigration permissions

Private aircrafts

If you enter or leave Jersey by private aircraft, the pilot must complete a general declaration form before departure.

Find more information and the private aircraft general declaration form for entering and leaving Jersey.

Private boats

You must complete a declaration if you’re arriving in Jersey from outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) and someone on board is not British or Irish.

Find more information and the declaration form on private marine vessels customs and immigration requirements​.