Do I need an ETA to visit the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, etc.)?

As of October 31, 2025, here's a precise, up-to-date overview of the formalities for traveling to the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, Herm) as a French citizen, with a focus on the current situation and the changes planned for 2026.

Details by document

French National Identity Card (CNI)

Until September 30, 2025, the French identity card validated same-day return excursions from France to Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney. This experimental measure was introduced in October 2023 and extended twice.

This tolerance expired on September 30, 2025. Since then, ID cards have no longer been accepted for these trips, even on a daily basis.

An exceptional extension to December 31, 2025 may be applied by some shipping companies or territories, but this is not guaranteed. In Guernsey, for example, the CNI is only valid until the end of 2025.but please bring a passport.

Update Monday, November 3, 2025 : Jersey does display a sign outside immigration, authorizing the CNI for French nationals, probably until the end of 2025..

For overnight stays or any other situation, the identity card has never been accepted as a valid document.

This measure applies only to French nationals. other European or non-EU travelers have always needed a passport.

Passport

Since October 1, 2025, passports have been compulsory for all trips to the Channel Islands, regardless of length or type of stay.

Passport must be valid.biometric or electronic. Passports are also mandatory for non-French nationals, whatever the reason for travel.

Travel via transit through the UK has required a passport and ETA since April 2, 2025, regardless of nationality.

Minors must also have a valid passport and, for unaccompanied minors, a valid identity card, an exit permit (AST).

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

Since April 2, 2025, the ETA has been compulsory for all travel through the UK, including for French nationals.

Until the end of 2025, no specific ETA is required for direct travel from France to the Channel Islands.

An ETA system specific to the Channel Islands is scheduled to come into force in 2026.. This new ETA will be separate from the one required for the UK, and will make it compulsory to present a passport for the application.

Details by island (to October 31, 2025)

Island	Identity card (until 09/30/2025)	Passport required (since Oct 1, 2025)	ETA required	Unavoidable remarks
Jersey	Yes, valid for day trips until 09/30/2025 (expired)	Mandatory for all stays or transit via UK	Yes since April 2, 2025 if UK transit, own ETA planned for 2026	Transit UK requires ETA since April 2025
Guernsey	Same conditions as Jersey	Same conditions as Jersey	Same conditions as Jersey
Sark	Transit via Jersey, same rules	Same conditions	Same conditions	Indirect link via Jersey
Alderney	Day trips with CNI accepted until 30/09/2025 (end)	Mandatory	Same conditions	Specific links with Normandy ports
Herm	Same rules as Jersey and Guernsey	Mandatory	Same conditions	Accessible via Jersey

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