UK Government’s new COVID-19 border restrictions –how they apply to Bailiwick Residents

Bailiwick residents returning to the Bailiwick from abroad and transiting through the UK will have to self-isolate following UK rules for the time that they are in the UK but do NOT have to stay in the UK for as long as 14 days.

In most cases, the UK’s new restrictions will not apply to anyone arriving in the UK from elsewhere in the Common Travel Area (‘CTA’) – so they generally will not apply to anyone on journeys from the Bailiwick of Guernsey direct to the UK.

The CTA is the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The UK’s restrictions also do not apply to anyone travelling to the UK for certain purposes.

The existing requirements to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the Bailiwick continue to apply to anyone arriving in the Bailiwick from anywhere (including from the UK). Any time in transit in the UK does NOT count towards that 14 day period in the Bailiwick.

So, from Monday 08 June 2020:

 Travel from Bailiwick of Guernsey to UK

If you are travelling to the UK from the Bailiwick, you will NOT be required by the UK authorities to complete a form to provide journey and contact details before travelling to the UK; and you will NOT be required to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. However, if you have been outside the CTA during the previous 14 days prior to travelling to the UK then you WILL be required to self-isolate according to the UK’s self- isolation rules.

Specific requirements are in place for some patients travelling to the UK for inpatient treatment at University Hospital Southampton.

 Travel from abroad to Bailiwick transiting through UK

If you are a Bailiwick resident travelling to the UK from anywhere outside the CTA, you WILL be required by the UK authorities to complete a form to provide journey and contact details before travelling to the UK and you WILL be required to self-isolate for the period whilst you are in the UK (as it might be necessary to stay overnight in the UK between arriving in the UK and departing for the Bailiwick). You do NOT have to stay in the UK for as long as 14 days (to complete a 14 day self-isolation period there), but you must follow the UK’s self-isolation rules for the time that you are in the UK. UK guidance on self-isolation is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk

Guidance on requirements in place for travellers arriving into the Bailiwick is available at https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel.

 Travel to UK for certain purposes

If you are in a (short) list of exemptions due to your work or the purpose of your visit to the UK, then you will not have to self-isolate once you have arrived in the UK (even if you have arrived from outside the CTA or if you have been outside the CTA during the previous 14 days). The list of exemptions can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

 On arrival in the Bailiwick

If you arrive in the Bailiwick from anywhere (including from the UK), you must self-isolate in accordance with existing Bailiwick rules for 14 days regardless of any symptoms or port of origin. The 14 day self-isolation period in the Bailiwick starts from the time you arrive back in the Bailiwick – any time in transit in the UK does NOT count towards that 14 day period. So, even if you self-isolated in the UK for a number of days, you still have to do a full 14 day period when you’re back in the Bailiwick. The only exception to this is for those who have successfully applied for exemptions to travel to the Bailiwick as ‘critical workers’. Bailiwick guidance on self-isolation is available at https://covid19.gov.gg/support/protect.

More information on the UK’s requirements to complete a form and its rules on self-isolation on arrival in the UK from 08 June can be found at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control.

The UK’s rules will be kept under regular review.