Guernsey’s French ID day-trip scheme likely to be extended

Guernsey’s next government is likely to extend a scheme that allows French day trippers to visit the island using a national ID card rather than a passport.

The scheme was introduced in 2023 in response to declining tourism numbers from the continent.

Doubt was cast over its future when the UK introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system which requires anyone who is not a British or Irish citizen to get the permit, which is linked to a passport, before entering the country.

The Guernsey Border Agency (GBA) told the BBC the extension was due to be approved on the condition that Guernsey’s membership in the Common Travel Area (CTA) was not at risk.

“GBA Officers have been in contact with the UK to discuss the matter from a Bailiwick of Guernsey perspective, and will continue to work with UK counterparts around the introduction of ETAs,” it said.

The CTA is a free movement agreement between the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey.

A final decision is yet to be made on extending the scheme, which will be down to the next committee – due to be voted in following the general election next week.

The GBA said that any changes to immigration laws must be approved by the island’s lieutenant-governor.

Jersey’s government extended the scheme there, with ministers saying UK counterparts were not supportive of it continuing.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised the scheme after politicians in Jersey voted unanimously to extend the day trip scheme there, despite the upcoming introduction of the ETA travel permit in the Channel Islands.

He said it risked opening a “dangerous backdoor” into the UK.

Larry Malcic, chair of the Victor Hugo Centre, said the use of passports was still a “fairly modern thing”.

“Before the First World War people used to travel freely from France to Guernsey and, in fact, there was as much travel and trade with France than there was with the UK,” he said.

“Yes, in modern times you need a passport and you need passport control, but people coming for the day for a good time in Guernsey are not the people who really need to be taken care of.

“I think the fact that the UK are concerned about this, [shows] that sometimes Guernsey has to act in its own interests.”