Move to modernise Jersey migration and work rules

The changes aim to reflect a wider range of relationships and family structures

A proposed update to Jersey's housing and employment regulations has been drafted in a bid to use simpler language and modernise definitions.

The changes, put forward by the Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham, aim to reflect a wider range of relationships and family structures. Jersey currently has a system with four different categories.

People who are not married but have been in a relationship for two years could have the same rights as people who are married or in a civil partnership.

This would allow people with entitled to work only status to live in qualified housing with an eligible partner holding full housing rights.

A person with entitled to work only could lose their residency status if they leave Jersey for more than a year.

A new category - licensed for lease only - could provide housing rights to workers without entitled or permanent entitled status.

Registered status could also be changed to be named standard to help prevent confusion between a registered person and registered accommodation.

The earliest the States could debate the proposition is 1 April.

Correction: This article was amended on 21 February 2025 to remove a reference to a change to the rules about losing entitled status as no change had been proposed.