FAQs
HEALTH AND TREATMENT
Healthcare in Guernsey is provided by the Health and Social Services Department and private general practitioners and is outside the UK National Health Service.
The Bailiwick of Guernsey has reciprocal health agreements with a number of countries, which enable visitors from those countries to receive immediately necessary treatment for conditions, which may arise during their stay. Countries which have an agreement are: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Iceland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Jersey, New Zealand, Isle of Man, and Sweden.
Most doctors, dentists and other health professionals, such as physiotherapists, are in private practice and all patients are required to pay for treatment. This can be at a surgery, at your temporary residence or in the Accident & Emergency Department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Necessary inpatient accommodation on a general ward and medical services are provided free of charge for nationals belonging to countries that have a reciprocal agreement only. There are also charges for the ambulance service. Medical insurance is strongly recommended.
For further information please contact the Health and Social Services Department on 44 (0) 1481 725241 (ext 4544 or 4711).
PETS
Pet cats and dogs can only travel without a pet passport if they travel directly between the United Kingdom and Guernsey (they can travel by sea, including on private yachts and by air, including private aircraft), but no part of the journey can include a place outside of the UK or the Channel Islands. Pet cats and dogs that travel from Europe (or UK pets which have travelled to Europe and are returning via Guernsey) must travel on the (only) approved route operated by Condor Ferries from St Malo. Pets travelling from Europe must have a Pet Passport and must have been given tick and tapeworm treatments before embarking for Guernsey as required by the Pet Travel Scheme. Pets will be checked for conformity with the Scheme by Condor's staff at St.Malo and those that fail will not be allowed to board the ferry for Guernsey. Please contact Condor Ferries regarding travelling with your pet before making travel arrangements.
Pet Passports can be obtained from vets and it takes between 7 and 8 months for a pet to qualify for travel. Pet owners therefore need to plan well in advance of their travel time to ensure that they can take their pets with them. For further information, please tel 44 (0) 1481 234567 or email
mike.northmore@commerce.gov.ggBritain’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website can be viewed for details of the Pet Passport scheme at
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm. Please also check details with your carrier.
MONEY MATTERS
Sterling is the currency of Guernsey, which has its own notes and coins. UK and Jersey currency can also be used within the islands but Channel Island sterling will not be accepted in the UK apart from at banks which will exchange notes. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the islands. Some businesses will accept euros, although change will generally be given in sterling. It is advisable to check with the shop before attempting to make a purchase. There is no VAT in Guernsey but it is not a duty-free island.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Public holidays are the same as the UK with the addition of Liberation Day on 9 May.
CUSTOMS ALLOWANCE
Guernsey is not part of the EU; therefore the maximum allowances are:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
• Two litres of still table wine.
• One litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume or two litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs or an additional four litres of still table wine.
· Fifty litres beer and cider (or a combination of beer & cider)
• £145-worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs brought in from a country outside the EC.
People under the age of 17 cannot have the tobacco or alcohol allowance. If you import something worth more than the limit of £145, you will have to pay a charge on the full value, not on the sum above £145. Also, if travelling in a group, individual allowances cannot be pooled towards an item worth more than your limit.
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION/PASSPORTS
If you are arriving in the Channel Islands direct from the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, you do not need a passport. However, all carriers will require some form of photographic identification. If in doubt over acceptable forms of ID, please contact your carrier direct.
If you are arriving in the island from outside the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, irrespective of your nationality, you must have a valid passport or travel document – European Union nationals may use their national identity cards.
Non-British /European Union nationals travelling to the Channel Islands from outside the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, should check whether they require a visa. If a visa is required it must be obtained prior to travel from a British Consulate or British High Commission in their usual country of residence.
For further details on immigration, please contact the Guernsey Customs and Immigration Office on 44 (0) 1481 741420 or e-mail:
enquiries@nationality.gov.gg.
DRIVING IN GUERNSEY
Driving in Guernsey is probably a little different to what most visitors are used to. The roads are narrow, there are special rules, and not all the signs will be familiar to you. The maximum speed limit is 35 mph and less in many areas. However, these are maximum speeds, not recommended speeds and in many places a much lower speed is necessary for safe driving. Please take care when driving in Guernsey. We recommend that you read the leaflet ‘Driving in Guernsey is different’ which is available to download at
www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/travel-transport/information-leaflets/ and is also available from the Guernsey Information Centre. Drivers should be insured and have a full driving licence. In Guernesy we drive on the left, the same as the UK.
MOTOR CARAVANS, TRAILERS, CARAVANS AND TRAILER TENTS
Motorhomes may be brought into Guernsey provided that the vehicles are not used at any time for human habitation and are stored under cover (garage or enclosed outbuilding) when not being driven on the island’s roads.
Trailer Caravans are not permitted.
Permission is not required to bring a trailer tent into the Island.
TELEPHONES
The code for Guernsey is 01481 from the UK and 44 1481 internationally. Mobile networks require a roaming facility plus international dialling codes. ‘Pay as you go’ phones only operate in Guernsey where there is an agreement with the network provider. Please check with your provider if in doubt.
GETTING MARRIED IN GUENSEY
For details on legal formalities, venues, caterers and other details for your big day please visit
www.guernseyweddings.co.uk/legalrequirements.htm. Please note that visitors need to ensure that they have met legal requirements to marry in Guernsey. For further information and advice please telephone the Office of the Registrar General on 44 (0) 1481 725277.
LICENSING HOURS
In Guernsey opening hours for public houses are: 10am – 12.45am Monday to Saturday and 12 noon – 12.45am on Sundays for persons over 18. Children are only allowed in designated areas such as gardens or if having a meal.
SMOKING BAN
Smoking is now not permitted in public areas in Guernsey. This includes pubs, restaurants and hotels. Some hotels do have bedrooms where smoking is allowed, please check this at time of booking. This includes the Island of Herm. Sark does not currently have this legislation. Alderney is currently considering the introduction of this legislation.
ACCOMMODATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION
All establishments that offer visitor accommodation in Guernsey and Herm are subject to the Tourist Law (excluding campsites). This Law requires the operator to obtain a Boarding Permit from the States of Guernsey and this must be displayed in a prominent position in the main entrance to the premises.
Boarding Permits are only valid when certain conditions are fulfilled, including the provision of adequate fire safety precautions and public liability insurance cover, and maintaining the minimum requirements of the quality grading standard.
Customer feedback is vital in maintaining the standards of accommodation and commendations, comments or suggestions are always welcome. Should you encounter a problem with your accommodation, you must raise the issue immediately with the establishment, and with your tour operator if you did not book direct, giving them the opportunity to put things right. Complaints submitted after a holiday is over are often impossible to resolve satisfactorily. Failure to follow these simple steps can prejudice any subsequent claim for compensation. In the unlikely event that this does not achieve the desired result, please contact the Quality Development Section IMMEDIATELY on 44 (0)1481 234567, or call in at the Information Centre for further advice.
For information on other areas of Guernsey’s government policy, please visit
www.gov.gg.