Short-term workers get nine-month extensions, but four years is still “red line”

Workers on three-year Short-Term Employment Permits can now apply for nine-month extensions with immediate effect, but extending the standard limit to four years remains an “immigration red line”, the States has said.

The extensions are intended to give hospitality and tourism businesses more time to capitalise on increased visitor numbers over the next summer season.

Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of Home Affairs, said he was “very sympathetic to the challenges facing employers”, particularly those in hospitality who were “struggling to secure enough staff to meet the demand”.

The decision follows feedback from businesses, which said backlogs in permit processing at the Population Management Office had affected their ability to plan for the future.

The extension will be available to permit holders who reached, or will reach, their three-year limit between April 2026 and 31 December 2027.

The timeframe aligns with the committee’s recovery strategy for the Population Management Office, which it has said will be stabilised during 2027, bringing greater certainty around permit processing times.

Although increasing the limit to four years has been discussed, the issue remains under review.

The extension policy allows those discussions to continue without disrupting businesses’ staffing arrangements.

Deputy Leadbeater said: “The Committee remains of the view that a four-year permit represents an immigration red line.

“This extension allows us to have this conversation as part of the review and whilst we get population management operations back on track.

“The Committee will be looking at how we can improve the regime whilst balancing business needs, community expectations and immigration responsibilities.

“It’s a question of identifying the right changes that will ensure our borders remain secure, we attract the right workers for relevant roles, and we make that as straightforward a process as possible for employers.

“I’m very hopeful the review of the regime will help us identify those opportunities, and we’ll work with employers throughout.”