Channel Islands - Clearance

Notice March 2022: Russian flagged or registered yachts are not permitted to enter a port in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. See LNTM No. 007/2022.

Although the Channel Islands are Crown Dependencies, they are not part of the United Kingdom and Customs requirements differ. The islands are not part of the EU and are outside the VAT area of the European Union.

Channel Islands Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts

If you arrive with pets on board, rules will differ depending on where you have come from. If arriving from outside the UK or Republic of Ireland, pets cannot land anywhere in the Channel Islands. Read the Pet Section for more details.

Jersey:

You only need to complete a Customs and Immigration Declaration in the following circumstances:

• If you are carrying goods that need to be declared for customs purposes
• If you are carrying goods in excess of any duty free allowances
• If you are coming from a port outside the Common Travel Area (the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Guernsey) and someone on board is not British or Irish. However, this does not apply for EU nationals with pre-settled or settled status in Jersey.

The Declaration can be completed online. Go to Rules for Private Marine Vessels.

This form must be submitted before or as soon as practical after arrival.

If you are unable to submit this form, be sure to fly the "Q" flag and you may only come ashore in St Helier where there are facilities at St Helier Marina Office to complete the declaration.

All persons must remain in the port area on their vessel until a Maritime Customs and Immigration Declaration has been submitted.

No one except the captain may go ashore until formalities are completed.

Jersey Customs and Immigration

Jersey Visiting Yachts Information

Bailiwick of Guernsey (includes Alderney, Sark and Herm):

• All visiting vessels (and local returning vessels with goods or people to declare) need to fill in a 'Report of Arrival for Pleasure-Craft' Form [GC27] and should clear in at ports of entry only.
• Fly the Q flag until the form has been submitted.
• This form is given out to vessels on entry - in Guernsey normally by the harbour master who will come out and meet you in a tender on arrival.
• In Alderney call first on the VHF and fill in the form at the harbour office.
• The pink copy must be retained by the skipper and the white copy handed to a Customs officer or deposited in one of the yellow Customs boxes.

Guernsey Visiting Yachts Information

Guernsey Customs

Domestic Cruising:

Cruising between Jersey and Guernsey/Alderney requires clearing out, and clearing back in again, flying the "Q" flag until clearance is complete.

Last updated: April 2024