Since 2021, it has been a legal requirement for all Bailiwick established entities that process personal data, including landlords and sole traders, to register with the ODPA.

As the annual registration window opens this month,  all organisations have been reminded to review or renew their existing registration before the end of February.

However, the fee to do so in 2025 has increased by 20%.

The annual registration fee is based on the number of “full-time” staff in each organisation.

For those made of 50 or more full-time equivalent staff, registration has increased by £400 to £2,400 per year. For all other entities, including sole traders and landlords, fees have also jumped 20% to £60 per year.

Charities and non-profit organisations can still register free of charge.

Failure to register may result in enforcement and registration non-compliance put through the Magistrate’s Court Petty Debt process.

Anyone who meets the following criteria will need to register or renew with the Authority:

  • Established in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
  • Working with personal data (information that may identify individual people, such as staff members, clients, business contacts, service users, or tenants)
  • The activity you are performing is not part of your personal/household affairs.

In 2023, the ODPA – an independent arm of the Government – said they handled 56 complaints from members of the public against local controllers, processed 151 personal data breaches and published 12 new guidance notes to help organisations comply with the law.

Bailiwick Data Protection Commissioner Brent Homan said the increase will allow Bailiwick residents to be served with “high standards” amid a global data-protection landscape that poses “greater threats than ever”.

“The domestic and global data-protection landscape is posing greater threats than ever to individuals’ rights and freedoms. Whether it is ensuring AI models are adopted in a lawful manner, or protecting our children online, the Bailiwick relies on an effective, properly resourced regulator,” he said.

“Our fee model enables the DPA to fulfill its statutory obligations and serve the Bailiwick’s residents at the high standards that they deserve.”

Deputy Rob Prow, President of Home Affairs which is responsible for Data Protection, added that the DPA plays an “important role” in keeping the island “safe and secure”.

“We live in a digital age, so it is vital that we have a robust regulatory framework that supports people’s personal data being processed appropriately. The DPA operates independently of the States for good reason and the collection of registration fees is an important element of that independence.’

To find out more about registration visit: www.odpa.gg/registration.

To register with the Authority, visit www.odpa.gg/registration by 28 February.