With more Islanders who are EU nationals having trouble returning from holiday due to check-in staff not knowing about their right to live in Jersey, the Home Affairs Minister has written to airlines and embassies to remind them that those with ‘settled status’ can travel home.
The government is also advising EU nationals who live in Jersey to take practical steps to avoid being refused boarding by airline staff, whose computer systems do not recognise the passenger’s right to fly home.
The problem has become particularly acute since March, when the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme was introduced. Airlines can be fined if they let someone board who doesn’t not have a right to enter the UK Common Travel Area.
This is usually achieved through the passenger having an ETA but Islanders with ‘settled status’ do not need one. That message, however, has not filtered down to all check-in agents around the world.
Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles said: “I am aware of the difficulties some Islanders have experienced when travelling since the introduction of the ETA scheme. In some cases, this has caused significant hardship for people seeking to return to their homes in Jersey. This is clearly unacceptable and I am treating the issue as a priority.
“We continue to engage with the UK Home Office, consuls and airline carriers to try to resolve these problems. At the heart of the issue is the fact that Jersey, like the other Crown Dependencies, issues its own immigration permissions, which differ from those issued by the UK.”
She continued: “This can result in passengers being incorrectly refused boarding despite holding valid immigration permissions. I have therefore written to airlines known to have been involved in these cases and asked consular representatives to use their influence to help address the issue.”
The minister added that Islanders who experience travel difficulties were encouraged to contact Jersey Customs and Immigration Service for advice.
She said: “The introduction of a full eVisa programme across the UK and Crown Dependencies will help resolve many of these challenges. Work is underway to finalise arrangements for rollout in the Crown Dependencies over the next 12 to 24 months.
“Around 22,000 Islanders rely on an immigration permission to live in Jersey. Delivering the eVisa programme will help ensure smoother travel for Islanders and visitors alike, while helping to future-proof our immigration system.”
EU nationals with settled status are reminded to carry, if applicable:
- A visa vignette or,
- Work permit or,
- Supporting official documents (including EUSS letters)
- The latest guidance can be checked here
- Islanders are encouraged to print off this document before they travel
