The measure applies to visitors arriving from outside the UK and Ireland who are neither British nor Irish citizens and who do not require a visa to enter the islands. Under the new system, eligible travellers must obtain an ETA prior to departure.
Costing £20, the ETA is digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and remains valid for up to two years, or until the passport expires—whichever comes first. However, French visitors making short day trips to the Channel Islands using national identity cards will be exempt from the requirement.
The ETA system was first introduced by the UK Government in 2023 and expanded earlier this year to include travellers from 85 countries. It forms part of a broader push toward a fully digital and contactless border system.
According to the States of Jersey, the scheme is now being extended to cover all three Crown Dependencies, with UK authorities administering the process on their behalf.
Travel analyst Simon Calder has previously warned the new system could cost the Channel Islands “millions,” raising concerns about its economic impact on tourism.
Responsibility for enforcement will fall on transport operators, including airlines and ferry companies, which must verify that passengers hold a valid ETA before boarding. The requirement applies across the Common Travel Area, which includes the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
Travellers can apply for an ETA online or via the official UK ETA mobile app, as part of the government’s effort to streamline border entry procedures.