Work permits: make an application

Freedom of movement between the UK and the EU ended on 31 December 2020 and free movement to Jersey stopped. All persons who are non-British or Irish, now require immigration permission to visit, work, study or settle in Jersey. 

Work permits are a requirement under the Immigration (Work Permits) (Jersey) Rules 1995. Employers must apply for a work permit for individuals who need immigration permission to enter or remain in Jersey for work.

You don't need a permit to work in Jersey if you're:

• a British or Irish citizen or a British subject with the right of abode
• an EU or EEA passport holder who has been granted settled or pre-settled status
  
• a non-EU or non-EEA passport holder who has been granted settled or pre-settled statue by virtue of a relationship to an EU or EEA passport holder
  
• a Commonwealth citizen admitted on the grounds of UK ancestry
  
• a Commonwealth citizen with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode
• a participant in the Youth Mobility Scheme
• a minister of religion
• a business visitor
• a non-EU or EEA passport holder who has no restrictions attached to your stay

The maintenance of a strict work permit policy will maintain and strengthen Jersey's position within the Common Travel Area (CTA). Allowing the continued free movement of persons within the CTA, whilst retaining a robust external border.

The employer is also required to meet the requirements of the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 and hold the requisite registered or licensed permission if the person does not hold Entitled or Entitled for work status. 

Which roles and sectors are eligible

There are 2 types of work permit; skilled work permits and temporary work permits.

Skilled work permits

These are granted for an initial period of up to 3 years, which can be extended further. More details on the criteria and jobs that are eligible for a work permit in this category are detailed in the work permit policy.

There are some roles which are eligible for this work permit type but exempt from the skilled worker salary threshold. These roles are listed in Appendix 3 of the work permit policy 

Temporary work permits

These are granted for up to 9 months in the hospitality, agricultural and fishing industries. Temporary permits may also be granted to the construction industry for an initial period of 1 year and are renewable up to a maximum period of 4 years. More details on the criteria and jobs that are eligible for a work permit in this category are detailed in the work permit policy

Before making an application for any type of work permit, read the work permit policy to ensure your role meets the criteria.

Where a role is not covered in the work permit policy, The Minister for Home affairs will consider applications from any sector where they are unable to recruit from within the Common Travel Area. A business case will be required and should be submitted in the first instance by email to The Head of Service, Jersey Customs and Immigration Service.

For work permits issued for 12 months or more, your prospective employee must meet the English language requirement.

Temporary Workers in any category will not be able to bring their dependants to join them in Jersey.

Extension to temporary work permits (hospitality sector only)

Employers in the hospitality sector now can extend 9 months work permits for a further 9 months period without the worker having to leave the island for 3 months. This decision comes from the Minister for Home Affairs as a response to the labour shortages in the hospitality sector. This is a one-off exception made by the Minister with no substantive changes to the Work Permit Policy.

This applies to 9 months hospitality work permits only that are either:

• valid on 25 October 2021
• applied for before 1 April 2022 with a start date on or before 1 May 2022

Any such work permits may be extended, subject to a successful application for an extension.

Applications for an extension are made using the Work permit application form at the bottom of this page.

Employers must ensure that they have the necessary registered permissions on their Business Licence when applying for immigration work permits.

The fee for an extension is the same as a 9 months work permit. The individual will also need to apply for Further Leave to Remain (Seasonal Worker).

Immigration and nationality fees

The same qualifying criteria and restrictions apply to an extension as to 9 months work permits as listed in the Work Permit Policy. However, workers won’t need to provide new overseas criminal record certificates when applying for an extension.

The 9 months work permit cannot be extended again at the end of the 9 months extension period. Workers granted an extension and have a continuous period of immigration permission of 18 months will need a 3 months absence period before returning to work in Jersey.

When to apply for a work permit for a prospective employee

You should apply for your work permit before your prospective employee comes to Jersey.

We may consider work permit applications for employees who are in authorised employment in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man. The same criteria for work permit applications apply.

Processing time and costs

The processing time is 3 weeks. You must allow enough time for the work permit to be issued and your prospective employee to apply for a visa before your employee travels to Jersey.

On completion of the application form you will be connected to an online payment platform operated by the Government of Jersey. Once payment has been completed your application will automatically be submitted to the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service. Payments are non-refundable.

Immigration and nationality fees

Employee visas for working in Jersey

If your prospective employee is living abroad and is granted a Jersey work permit your employee is likely to need a visa before travelling to Jersey. The Jersey visa requirements are aligned to the UK visa requirements. 

Find out if you need a UK visa on the gov.uk website.

Your employee may be refused entry to Jersey if they don't have the necessary visa. If you are granted a work permit, you will be sent instructions to help your prospective employee complete the visa application.

Visa application form for Jersey Work Permit Holders (gov.uk)

The visa application is a separate process to applying for a work permit and the work permit holder will need to meet the criteria for the issue of the visa. If the applicant is unable to do this or has an adverse immigration history then the visa maybe refused.

Find out how much a visa will cost your prospective employee on the gov.uk website. The cost will be shown in the currency of your employee’s current location

The visa application is administered by the UK Home Office. Find out the visa processing times on the gov.uk website.

If your prospective employee is in authorised employment in the UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man s/he will not need to travel abroad to obtain a separate visa if s/he is granted a work permit to work in Jersey. 

In these circumstances the prospective employee will need to apply for further Leave to Remain.

Make an application for Further Leave to Remain (FLR)

How to apply

The work permit application form must be completed by someone authorised to do so on behalf of the employer and can make payment for the work permit.

When you can apply

Applications for new work permits will not be accepted more than 3 months before the start date (including those changing employer).

Extensions to skilled work permits will not be accepted more than 6 months before the expiry of the current permit.

Extensions to temporary work permits will not be accepted more than 3 months before the expiry of the current permit.

Information you need to apply

To complete and submit the application you need:

• copies of personal details page of the applicant passport (and their dependents) and if applicable the page showing their current UK immigration permissions
• knowledge of English language (if applying for more than 12 months)
• copy of your business license
  
• certificate of qualifications
  
• a debit or credit card (to make the payment)
  

You will need to add this information in your application before you can submit it.

Some sectors may need to provide additional information in support of the application.

If we require additional documentary evidence in support of the application, one of our Officer will contact you using the information you have provided in the application.