Visiting Vessels, local Boat Owners and Private Aircraft

New travel rules for inbound travellers to the Bailiwick of Guernsey (which includes Alderney, Herm and Sark) came into effect on 1 July 2021.

Additional rules have also been introduced from Friday 16 July, for anyone travelling from Jersey.  Please see here more information, and below for instructions on what to do before and after arrival in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

The following guidelines apply to visiting vessels as well as returning boatowners who are based in the Bailiwick.

Testing and/or self-isolation requirements will depend on your travel category, which will be determined by your vaccination status and whether or not you have travelled outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) within the past 14 days.  The CTA includes the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Jersey (please note special rules apply), the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.

Travel Category

For the latest information regarding regional category classifications please visit: Country and Regional Classifications | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

• If everyone on board is fully vaccinated and 14 days have passed since your second vaccination(s), and you are arriving from the Common Travel Area (except Jersey, see special rules below), you qualify for the "Blue Channel" travel category. This means there will be no isolation or testing requirements, but you must follow the procedures below before and on arrival. Accepted proof of vaccination status can be found here COVID Status Certificates (Vaccine Passports) | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg). If you are travelling with children (who will be unvaccinated), anyone aged between 12 and 17 will be required to take a test on arrival and self-isolate until they they receive a negative result, and then remain in passive follow-up until receipt of a negative day 7 test. There is no testing or isolation requirement for children aged 11 and under.     
• From Monday 19 July, anyone returning from Jersey will be required to present a negative PCR test before travelling to Guernsey.  Anyone unable to do so will be treated as Category 4 and required to self-isolate for 14 days. This requirement for a pre-travel test will apply to fully vaccinated adults and children aged 5 or older who accompany fully vaccinated adults. There will be no other travel-related testing or self-isolation requirements applied to those travellers, but use of the Travel Tracker is mandatory. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults arriving from Jersey and the children who accompany them will be subject to Category 4 testing and self-isolation requirements.
• If you are not fully vaccinated or if you have had both doses of vaccination but 14 days have not passed since your second dose, then country and region categories will apply as normal. More info on categories can be found at: https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel/countries.
• If you are travelling into the Bailiwick from anywhere outside the CTA, or have been outside the CTA in the 14 days before you arrive in the Bailiwick, the current country category isolation and testing requirements apply, regardless of your vaccination status.
• Regardless of your point of departure, if any crew member has visited a Category 2, 3 or 4 country or region within the last 14 days before arrival in the Bailiwick, the procedures and restrictions for the higher category will apply to all crew members on your vessel.
• The Bailiwick of Guernsey is not currently accepting visiting vessels from Category 3 or Category 4 regions or countries unless they qualify for the "Blue Channel" travel category.        

Please note that Public Health will still apply overrides to country or region listings if it has any concerns. This CAN include countries/regions within the Common Travel Area.

These are the core rules that will be in place from 1 July 2021 (and from 19 July 2021 for travel from Jersey) to keep the Bailiwick safe and able to react quickly to COVID-19, but also enables free and unrestricted travel as much as is possible.

More Frequently Asked Questions regarding travel post-July can be found on the States of Guernsey's website.  

Preparing for and procedures on arrival

The following procedures apply for returning boatowners who are based in the Bailiwick.  For visiting vessels, please refer to the relevant guidance here: COVID-19 Status - Guernsey Harbours

Please check the travel categories above to determine which applies to you, then click on the relevant link below for instructions on what to do before travel and on arrival in the Bailiwick.

• Blue Channel Arrivals (excluding travel from Jersey)
• Arrivals without Blue Channel status
• Arrivals from Jersey (from 19 July)

New travel rules for inbound travellers to the Bailiwick of Guernsey (which includes Alderney, Herm and Sark) came into effect on 1 July 2021.   

Additional rules have also been introduced from Friday 16 July, for anyone travelling from Jersey.  Please see here more information, and below for instructions on what to do before and after arrival in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.    

The following guidelines and requirements apply to visiting vessels as well as returning boatowners who are based in the Bailiwick.

Testing and/or self-isolation requirements will depend on your travel category, which will be determined by your vaccination status and whether or not you have travelled outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) within the past 14 days.  The CTA includes the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Jersey (please note special rules apply), the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.

Travel Category

For the latest information regarding regional category classifications please visit: Country and Regional Classifications | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

• If all on board are fully vaccinated and 14 days have passed since your second vaccination(s), and you are arriving from the Common Travel Area (except Jersey), you qualify for the "Blue Channel" travel category. This means there will be no isolation or testing requirements, but you must follow the procedures below before and on arrival. Accepted proof of vaccination status can be found here COVID Status Certificates (Vaccine Passports) | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg).  If you are travelling with children (who will be unvaccinated), anyone aged between 12 and 17 will be required to take a test on arrival and self-isolate until they they receive a negative result, and then remain in passive follow-up until receipt of a negative day 7 test. There is no testing or isolation requirement for children aged 11 and under.  
• From Monday 19 July, anyone returning from Jersey will be required to present a negative PCR test before travelling to Guernsey.  Anyone unable to do so will be treated as Category 4 and required to self-isolate for 14 days. This requirement for a pre-travel test will apply to fully vaccinated adults and children aged 5 or older who accompany fully vaccinated adults. There will be no other travel-related testing or self-isolation requirements applied to those travellers, but use of the Travel Tracker is mandatory. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults arriving from Jersey and the children who accompany them will be subject to Category 4 testing and self-isolation requirements.
• If you are not fully vaccinated or if you have had both doses of vaccination but 14 days have not passed since your second dose, then country and region categories will apply as normal. More info on categories can be found at: https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel/countries.
• If you are travelling into the Bailiwick from anywhere outside the CTA, or have been outside the CTA in the 14 days before you arrive in the Bailiwick, the current country category isolation and testing requirements apply, regardless of your vaccination status.
• Regardless of your point of departure, if any crew member has visited a Category 2, 3 or 4 country or region within the last 14 days before arrival in the Bailiwick, the procedures and restrictions for the higher category will apply to all crew members on your vessel.
• The Bailiwick of Guernsey is not currently accepting visiting vessels from Category 3 or Category 4 regions or countries unless they qualify for the "Blue Channel" travel category.

Please note that Public Health will still apply overrides to country or region listings if it has any concerns. This CAN include countries/regions within the Common Travel Area.

These are the core rules that will be in place from 1 July 2021 (and from 19 July 2021 for travel from Jersey) to keep the Bailiwick safe and able to react quickly to COVID-19, but also enables free and unrestricted travel as much as is possible.

More Frequently Asked Questions regarding travel post-July can be found on the States of Guernsey's website.  

Preparing for and procedures on arrival

The following procedures apply for visitors who are not normally based in the Bailiwick. For returning boatowners who live in the Bailiwick, please refer to the relevant guidance here: COVID-19 Status - Guernsey Harbours.

Please check the travel categories above to determine which applies to you, then click on the relevant link below for instructions on what to do before travel and on arrival in the Bailiwick.   

• Blue Channel Arrivals (excluding travel from Jersey)
• Arrivals without Blue Channel status
• Arrivals from Jersey (from 19 July)

Before embarking on their journey, all pilots and air crew should check and understand the relevant NOTAMS (Notices to Airmen) in force before flying into Guernsey or Alderney Airports. Private aircraft operators should also note the current States of Guernsey travel guidance and requirements published on its website: https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel

Alderney has restrictions on arrival times due to the availability of the Welcome Team. Pilots and air crew should note the current NOTAM in force for information on the Teams’ operating hours and contact numbers.

Guernsey arrivals will need to book in with either Aiglle or ASG handling agents/FBOs. Again pilots and air crew should note the relevant NOTAM in force for contact details.

All General Aviation pilots and passengers for both Guernsey and Alderney will need to have registered their vaccine status and their journey on the Travel Tracker App https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel/traveltracker.

Prior Permission Required (PPR) is no longer required for Guernsey and Alderney. Aircraft must however, be booked in with the relevant island handling agents/Welcome Team. Failure to do so may result in aircraft being turned away.

Information on Blue Channel travel or Country categories (excluding the Bailiwick of Jersey) can be found: Travelling to and from the Bailiwick | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg).

Information on the additional requirements for General Aviation pilots and passengers travelling from Jersey to Guernsey and Alderney can be found here: https://gov.gg/article/184687/Additional-measures-agreed-for-travel-from-Jersey-to-Guernsey-from-0001-Friday-16-July

No private vessel owners or private aircraft are allowed to arrive into the Bailiwick via Sark. By law, travellers need to arrive at an approved Customs Port – of which Sark is not one.