Private boats coming to Jersey and travel documents you need

Coming to Jersey on a private boat

Before you travel, make sure you:

• complete a private maritime declaration
  
• check what travel documents you need to enter Jersey​

You must complete a private maritime declaration if your boat:

• arrives with goods that you must declare to Customs
• carries goods over your duty free allowance
• arrives from outside the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or Guernsey and someone on board is not British or Irish

You don’t need to complete a declaration if you have settled or pre-settled status in Jersey.

When we approve your declaration, you have permission to visit Jersey for up to 6 months.

If your boat is registered or based in Jersey, you still need to​​ complete a declaration if any of the rules above apply.

By private boat we mean any vessel used for personal travel where no one on board is paid to carry people or goods. This includes:

• ships
• pleasure craft
• navires de plaisance​​

Complete a private maritime declaration

The declaration gives you permission to visit Jersey for up to 6 months.

Complete the form about 1 week before you travel to Jersey. Most applications are processed within 48 hours.

You only need to complete 1 form per boat and include all passengers. It can be completed by anyone onboard.

For each passenger, you’ll need their:

• full name
• date of birth
• nationality
• passport number, unless they have settled or pre settled status

You’ll also need to make sure everyone onboard has the travel documents they need.

Check what travel documents you need to enter Jersey​

You’ll receive an email confirming that we approved your declaration and you have permission to enter Jersey.

Complete the private maritime declaration​

When you arrive in Jersey

If you completed the declaration form and received permission to enter Jersey, you can come ashore:

• anywhere in Jersey
• on Les Écréhous
• on Les Minquiers

Find out what to do if you didn’t receive permission to enter Jersey or if you don’t complete a declaration.

Who can leave the boat

You can leave the port area if you’re from one the following countries and don’t plan to work, study or settle in Jersey:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Croatia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United States of America (USA)
  

Who can’t leave the boat

You must stay onboard until a we give you permission to enter Jersey if you:

• are from a different nationality
• are from a country listed above but plan to work, study or settle in Jersey
• don’t have pre‑settled or settled status

Find more information on Jersey Customs and Immigration Service.

If you don’t complete a declaration

If you don’t complete your declaration before you arrive in Jersey, you must:

1. come ashore in St Helier
2. raise a yellow 'Q' flag
3. complete your declaration

All passengers must stay onboard until you completed your declaration and we have given you permission to enter Jersey.

If you can’t complete the form, you can do it at St Helier Marina Office.

Marina Leisure Centre office contact and office opening hours on Jersey Marinas​

Travel documents you need

If you arrive to Jersey from outside the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or Guernsey, you must have a valid passport, unless you have settled or pre-settled status.

If you have settled or pre-​settled status, you may travel with a valid EU national identity card.

​​Check what travel documents you need to enter Jersey​​

You may also need to:

• get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit Jersey
  
• apply for a visa to visit, work, study or live in Jersey​

You may be refused entry if you don’t have the required documents or permission.

Fishing in Jersey waters

If you plan to fish or low water fish in Jersey territorial waters, you must follow our fisheries regulations. This includes fishing at Les Écréhous or Les Minquiers.

Read more about fishing and aquaculture in Jersey.

Find more information on fishing and aquaculture​.

Travelling to France from Jersey on a private boat

If you travel to France from Jersey, you must clear Customs and Immigration when you first arrive at a designated port of arrival.

You must:

• arrive at a designated port
• notify the port authority on arrival

The port authority will inform the relevant border officials.

If you can’t arrive at a designated port, you must contact that port authority to request permission to enter France. This should only be in exceptional circumstances.

If you’re a British national, your passport should be stamped on arrival in France and departure.

Designated French ports closest to Jersey

The main designated ports, called Points de Passage Frontalier (PPF) are:

• Brest
• Carteret
• Cherbourg
• Granville
• Roscoff
• Saint Brieuc
• Saint Malo

For local procedures and more information, contact the relevant French port authority.

Arrival declaration rules for private boats on Les Ports de la M​anche

Find guidance on a list of border crossings in page 21 of the Official Journal of the EU​.​​​