Extension request for French day-tripper scheme

The Home Affairs President has written to the UK Immigration Minister about extending the French day-tripper scheme

A senior politician has written to the UK immigration minister about extending a scheme which allows French day-trippers to travel to Guernsey with ID cards.

Home Affairs president Deputy Marc Leadbeater also said as a jurisdiction, Guernsey remained committed to the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme (ETAs) with the Crown Dependencies now working towards joining the scheme in 2026.

"The introduction of ETAs will further enhance border security and aligns with our membership of the Common Travel Area," he said.

He said the new committee of home affairs had been briefed on the situation with ETAs and the French Identity Card Scheme.

Leadbeater said the same approach has also been taken by Jersey to extend the day-tripper scheme.

"In the first instance, the committee has extended the Bailiwick's scheme until the end of the year," he said.

Officers have been in discussions with both Jersey and the Home Office, he said, which has resulted in him writing the UK immigration outlining the desire to continue with the scheme "providing it does not place our membership of the CTA at risk".

He added: "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."