Select a region
French nationals will be able to come over for day trips using their National Identity Cards until at least the end of next September.
So long as they travel on a direct commercial ferry service - such as Condor or Manche Iles and not a private vessel - they can use their ID cards to visit any of the islands in the Bailiwick.
The Committee for Home Affairs confirmed it has extended the scheme after discussions with the UK Home Office.
The Guernsey Border Agency had kept the scheme under review so far and will continue to do so.
Home Affairs said it was a success over this summer with "an extra few thousand French nationals" visiting the islands.
Pictured: Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs.
The Committee said it wants to continue maximising the opportunities for French nationals to come over using their ID cards before the UK’s new Electronic Travel authorisation (ETA) scheme, which includes the EU, comes into force in the latter part of next year. Once those ETAs are introduced, French nationals won't be able to enter the Common Travel Area without a passport.
Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs said it makes sense for the ID card to be extended in the meantime.
"The pilot scheme this summer helped bring a significant number of French nationals to the island, which has clear benefits for our tourism industry," he said.
"As such we were very keen to extend it for another year but wanted to ensure we had fully briefed and engaged with the UK about our plans.
"We hope this extension will provide a further and welcome boost for tourism, however it is important to manage expectations that we do not envisage being able to extend it past September 2024 due to the incoming Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme."
French nationals will be able to travel to the Bailiwick for a day trip until at least the end of September 2024 if they have a valid national Identity Card.
Only French nationals who hold a valid Identity Card can travel on the scheme.
The scheme is only applicable for French nationals sailing on a direct service from Normandy or Brittany to St Peter Port Harbour or Braye Harbour in Alderney.
Visitors can travel around the Bailiwick including to Sark and Herm after their arrival into either Guernsey or Alderney but they must depart on a pre-booked direct return sailing later that day from their port of arrival.
This scheme doesn't allow passengers to travel on to the UK, Jersey or the Isle of Man - it is only applicable for people travelling from France to Guernsey/Alderney and back on a day trip.
Carriers will only take bookings for French nationals where a return ticket has been booked for return on the same day as the outgoing sailing.
Guernsey intends to launch ID travel plan with France
Guernsey hoping to follow Jersey in extending French visitor scheme
“Extremely” successful French visitor scheme should be extended
Extension to French day-tripper scheme may end next season
Reminder issued to carry your paperwork
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.