French day-trippers to be allowed to visit Jersey using ID cards

Tuesday 07 March 2023

French day-trippers to Jersey will be able to travel using only their ID cards from this summer, ending a post-Brexit travel problem that had threatened the future of some connections between the island and France.

Free movement previously meant that islanders and French nationals did not require a passport to travel between their respective jurisdictions.

However, when that changed after Brexit, many French residents were no longer able to travel to the island because they only held a carte d’identité or CNI - a government-issued form of identity - rather than a passport.

The Manche Iles Express ferry operator had warned that it could stop sailing between Jersey and France next year as a result of the post-Brexit border controls.

This morning, however, the government has announced that it will be piloting a scheme in summer that will allow French travellers who only intend to visit the island for a day to use their CNIs.

The government said that "robust measures" would be put in place to ensure the "security of the border is maintained."

Home Affairs Minister Deputy Helen Miles said she hoped the changes would help continue the service between the two jurisdictions.

"They are going to operate this summer but they would need to make the decision on the following summer. Of course that has a knock-on effect for us because [if they stopped] it then would remove a travel link to the island."

Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel added: "I’d like to congratulate the Minister for Home Affairs and her team for their work in delivering this scheme. This offers a great opportunity to improve our connectivity to France and provide a boost to our local hospitality and retail sectors by making it easier for French day-trippers wanting to visit Jersey."