The Committee for Home Affairs is pleased to announce that the French identity card scheme will be extended for the 2026 season.
The continuation of the scheme will continue to enhance the cultural links between the Bailiwick and France, particularly Normandy and Brittany, as well as benefitting local tourism by allowing French visitors to more easily access the island.
The scheme allows for French nationals to travel to the Bailiwick with valid identity cards, rather than a passport, for day trips only on scheduled maritime services from France where the carrier has an arrangement in place with the Guernsey Border Agency. The arrangements with carriers ensure there are safeguards in place to ensure compliance with the scheme.
As part of this extension, the Committee will now prepare legislative changes to ensure that the scheme can continue to operate after the introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETAs) in the first quarter of 2026.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of the Committee for Home Affairs, said:
“I’m very pleased to be able to make this announcement today. The benefits of the scheme, particularly now in conjunction with Brittany Ferries, have been clear to see in Guernsey’s tourism statistics published so far this year. It is also of note that we can continue this scheme after the introduction of ETAs, which did not look likely at first, but will continue to allow French tourists to easily access the island when they travel with a carrier that works with the Guernsey Border Agency.”
