Channel Islands wrestle to continue French day trip scheme without breaking ETA travel rules
Politicians are set to approve the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme at a debate in September, with the new rules expected to come into force at the end of 2025 or the start of 2026.
It would mean most foreign visitors have to pay £16 and complete an online form to enter the island from outside the Common Travel Area (CTA), bringing Jersey in line with UK policy.
However, all ETA applications require a passport, which seemed to signal the end of the successful day-trippers scheme, where French visitors currently only need to show their ID card.
Now, if the ETA is brought in, Jersey's government says it wants to change the island's immigration law so this initiative can continue outside of the new travel permit rules.
Meanwhile, the President of Guernsey's Home Affairs Committee, Deputy Marc Leadbeater, says he has written to the UK Immigration Minister Seema Malhotra "outlining the Bailiwick's desire to continue with the French Identity Card Scheme into 2026, providing it does not place our membership of the CTA at risk".
He adds: "The Committee has emphasised the safeguards in place to mitigate any risk of abuse and can report that there have been no cases of non-compliance since the inception of the scheme in 2023.
"We remain committed to the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme (ETAs) with the Crown Dependencies now working towards joining the scheme during the 1st quarter of 2026."
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