FRENCH nationals could be allowed to visit Jersey for up to three days using their national identity cards following the initial “success” of a post-Brexit travel scheme, according to the Home Affairs Minister.
During yesterday’s States sitting, Deputy Helen Miles said she was “optimistic” that the scope of the current ID card initiative could be expanded, subject to conversations with the UK Home Office.
The scheme, which currently allows French nationals to visit Jersey for a day-trip using their national identity card, has been extended until September 2024.
It was introduced last year to combat a marked drop in the number of French visitors following Brexit, after which anyone entering the Channel Islands from France was required to use a passport.
In 2022, External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf said the number of visitors from the country had dropped off a “cliff edge” as a result, noting that only about 50% of French nationals owned passports.
Speaking in the States yesterday, Deputy Miles described the initiative as “very successful”.
“The first priority that we have is obviously to maintain the integrity of the border and the Common Travel Area,” she said.
However, she added that she had asked her officers “to look into extending that scheme for a period of 72 hours to French nationals only”.
“This is obviously subject to discussion with the UK Home Office but given the success of our carte d’identité pilot, I am optimistic that a way can be found to extend this to our nearest neighbours,” she said.
