Guernsey work permits and the Population Management Law

Under the Population Management (Guernsey) Law 2016, everyone aged 16 or over who lives or works in Guernsey needs either a Permit or a Certificate, issued by the Population Management Office.

A Certificate is linked to your housing status and how long you have lived here. A Permit is linked to a specific job with a specific employer, or to your family relationship with someone who holds a Permit or Certificate.

Since 3 April 2023, immigration Work Permits and Population Management Employment Permits have been issued as a single combined Employment Permit. A work visa may still need to be applied for separately, usually to the UK Home Office, and immigration clearance remains a separate question from Population Management status.

LTEP stands for Long Term Employment Permit. It is issued for up to eight years, for roles where there is a recognised shortage of the relevant skills or qualifications both in Guernsey and the UK, and it is conditional on a particular job. Your employer applies.

LTEP holders can live in Open or Local Market accommodation as householders and can accommodate immediate family.

After eight years on an LTEP you are issued with an Established Resident Certificate, which removes the tie to a particular job. After a further six years without leaving the island, you become entitled to a Permanent Resident Certificate.

STEP stands for Short Term Employment Permit. It is issued for up to one year, tied to one full-time job with one employer, and renewable up to a maximum of three consecutive years for permits issued after 2 April 2023.

Two restrictions matter enormously and are easy to miss. STEP holders can only live on a lodgings basis, renting a room in a property where the householder is present. And a STEP holder cannot accommodate dependants under that permit, so a partner or family member who wants to live here needs their own valid route, such as their own permit. It does not mean no family member could ever qualify independently.

After the three year limit you must take a recognised break in residence at least as long as your last period of residence.

The Seasonal Employment Permit, or SEP, covers seasonal work, typically in hospitality and horticulture. It is issued for up to nine months, after which the holder must take a break of at least three months before returning on another seasonal permit.

Like the STEP, it is tied to one employer and does not make the holder a householder, so it is not a route for bringing family.

For someone who wants to live in Guernsey with immediate family, where that family member holds an Employment Permit or is an Established or Permanent Resident.

The FMRP lasts for the duration of the family member's Employment Permit, and depends on continuing to live with them. FMRP holders are not householders in their own right and cannot accommodate others.

If your partner hopes to work, read work for a partner alongside this, and if children are coming, schools in Guernsey.

Occupying a dwelling on the Open Market register is far less restricted than the Local Market. Part A Open Market Certificate holders can accommodate immediate family and, in some cases, extended family. But Open Market status is not an unconditional route for anyone: immigration eligibility is assessed separately, and people who are not British or Irish citizens should confirm their immigration position before relying on it.

The August 2026 review recorded in-policy application fee examples of around £700 for an LTEP and £120 for a STEP. These are historical examples; check the current official fees.

Generally you need your Permit or Certificate in place before you arrive. Employment Permit applications can be made on or before the seventh day of employment.

Ask which permit type the role is eligible for, because that decides your housing and who can come with you. If a partner or family member is joining you, confirm their own route in writing. If you are not a British or Irish citizen, confirm the immigration position separately. Ask the Population Management Office for confirmation before relying on the plan or resigning from a role.

First, if the role you are offered is only eligible for a STEP, your family cannot come under your permit. They would each need their own valid route, and that is often the real obstacle.

Second, people assume that a partner automatically arrives with a full right to work. Do not assume it. Get the position confirmed in writing by the Population Management Office before anyone accepts a job offer.