Jersey ETA rules approved by Privy Council, 2025
Planning a trip to Jersey? A new digital checkpoint is on the way. On 15 October 2025, the Privy Council approved the Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations) (Jersey) Order 2025, published on legislation.gov.uk. It sets up ETAs for travel to the Bailiwick. The start date has not yet been fixed; Jersey’s Minister for Justice and Home Affairs will switch it on after the Royal Court of Jersey registers the Order.
Think of an ETA as a simple permission to travel, checked before you board. It is not a visa and it does not replace visas where they are needed. You submit details in advance so carriers and border staff can confirm you are cleared to travel. The application process, fee and turnaround will be set in Jersey’s immigration rules.
Timing matters for plans made today. Because the Order comes into force on dates appointed by the Minister, nothing changes until those dates are announced. Different start dates could be chosen for different groups or purposes, so we will spell out those details when the Minister publishes the first Order.
Who is out of scope from day one? The legislation states that British citizens will not be required to hold an ETA. People who would be entitled to enter Jersey without leave (immigration permission) also sit outside the requirement. Everyone else may be brought into scope by the rules once the scheme begins.
Local journeys can be confusing, so let’s keep it simple. The Common Travel Area covers the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The Order lets Jersey require an ETA for a local journey from those places only if differences in immigration law make it necessary. We will look for clear guidance for frequent flyers and ferry users once the rules are published.
Will your UK ETA be enough? The Minister has power to recognise ETAs granted by the UK or the other Islands and to set any limits. Recognition is not automatic. Until a specific Jersey Order says otherwise, assume a Jersey ETA could still be required even if you hold a UK ETA.
How will decisions be made? The rules must explain how to apply, what conditions you need to meet, why an application can be refused, how long an ETA lasts, and whether it covers single or multiple trips. The rules must also cover variation and cancellation and can create sensible exceptions.
Expect modern checks. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 is amended so biometrics can be taken for ETAs. That means you may be asked for a facial image or fingerprints depending on the final design. Submitting false information to obtain an ETA will count as deception under section 24A of the Immigration Act 1971.
Let’s put this into everyday scenarios. Sofia, a tourist flying from Madrid, may be asked to complete an online Jersey ETA once the scheme goes live, with approval valid for a set period and possibly multiple trips. Jay, a non‑British resident travelling from Manchester on a local journey, should wait for Jersey’s final rules and any decision to recognise UK ETAs before booking.
If you are British like Emma travelling to St Brelade, you will not need an ETA under the legislation. If you hold a status that allows entry without leave, you should fall outside the requirement too, though it is still wise to read the official guidance when it lands.
Behind the screens, who runs things? Jersey can ask the UK Home Secretary to carry out ETA functions on its behalf. If that happens, decisions made by the Home Office are legally treated as Jersey decisions, which helps keep systems consistent across the Common Travel Area.
If you are connecting via London or Dublin, remember there are two systems. A UK ETA may be needed for your arrival in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, and a Jersey ETA may be needed for the onward leg. Whether one authorisation can cover both will depend on whether Jersey chooses to recognise the other scheme.
ETAs sit alongside visas, not instead of them. If you plan to study, work or settle in Jersey, the usual visa or permit routes still apply. An ETA is about permission to travel; it does not grant the right to work or stay long term.
Source check for your notes. The framework comes from section 75 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, extended to Jersey with modifications by an Order made on 15 October 2025 and recorded by the Clerk of the Privy Council. The official text is on legislation.gov.uk and the start date will be set by Jersey’s Minister.