Guernsey is a beautiful island in the English Channel that is known for its beautiful scenery, rich past, and thriving financial industry. Guernsey has a unique connection with the United Kingdom because it is a British Crown Dependency. Given how close and connected Guernsey and the UK are, many people from Guernsey often wonder if they can work in the UK. In this piece, we’ll talk about the rules and requirements for people from Guernsey who want to work in the UK.

First and foremost, it’s important to know how Guernsey and the UK work together. Guernsey is not a part of the United Kingdom. Instead, it is its own country. It has its own government and law system, but the UK is in charge of protecting the island and being its voice in the world. Because of this, Guernsey has some freedom to make its own rules about immigrants.

Most of the rules for people from Guernsey who want to work in the UK are based on the idea of freedom of movement within the Common Travel Area (CTA). The Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man) and the Republic of Ireland are all part of the CTA. Citizens of the CTA countries have always been able to live and work anywhere in their own countries.

It is important to remember, though, that the rules about freedom of movement have changed over time. With the UK’s choice to leave the European Union, the Points-Based Immigration System was put in place in 2021. This changed the rules for immigration for everyone, including people from Guernsey.

Under the Points-Based Immigration System, people who want to work in the UK must meet certain requirements and get the right permissions. The exact requirements rely on things like the type of job, the level of skills needed, and the salary. People who live in Guernsey have to follow the same rules as people from outside the UK and the EU.
Guernsey residents usually need a job offer from a licenced sponsor who is based in the UK in order to work there. The person’s workplace must be willing to help them get a visa and act as their sponsor. The type of visa will depend on things like whether the job is on the Shortage Occupation List or if the worker has the right amount of skills for a Skilled Worker visa.

When it comes to the right to work in the UK, people from Guernsey have an edge over people from countries that are not part of the CTA. Guernsey has been close with the UK for a long time, and people have always been free to move around within the CTA. This could give people from outside the CTA more freedom and possibly make things easier.

People from Guernsey who want to work in the UK should look at official government sources like the UK Visas and Immigration website or talk to a lawyer to make sure they have accurate and up-to-date information about the requirements and processes.

Conclusion

People from Guernsey can work in the UK as long as they meet the requirements of the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System. Even though Guernsey is not part of the UK, people have always been able to move around freely because of the way the Common Travel Area works. But since the Points-Based Immigration System was put in place, people from Guernsey and other non-CTA countries must now apply for the right visas to work in the UK in the same way. Staying up to date on the latest rules and requirements is important for a smooth transition and a good job search in the UK.

DISCLAIMER: All information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act upon the information on this website, you do so at your own risk. If you want personalised advice, please email me at don@mbmsolicitors.com or attydonmagsino@gmail.co.uk.