Guernsey has a friendly and welcoming community of just over 63,000 people.
The island of Guernsey is comprised of 10 parishes, each with its own unique character and charm.
There are 16 Primary Schools in Guernsey for children aged 5-11 years old.
Guernsey has two property markets, the Open and Local Market which applies to both rental and sale properties.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any particular queries or concerns, we’re happy to help and are confident you’ll soon be enjoying the benefits of island life.
Locate Guernsey is on hand to provide support throughout the relocation journey.
We have put together this list of key considerations for those planning a move to the island.
Moving your belongings to the island is an key consideration. It's important to work with a reputable shipping company that understands Guernsey and the logistics of shipping goods to the island. Locate Guernsey can provide a list of suitable shippers.
You will need to declare the items you are importing to Guernsey's Customs & Excise office.
We know that some members of the family have four legs, here's what you need to know about bringing your pets to the island.
Guernsey is an unparalleled location to raise children. With a safe and friendly community that will put parents at ease, and a natural playground for children to explore - there's nothing better.
If you are moving to Guernsey from the Common Travel Area (CTA), pet cats, dogs and ferrets accompanied by their owners can be imported without a Pet Passport, except for dangerous dogs, hybrid cats, and dogs descended from endangered species.
If you are moving to Guernsey from the EU, your pet must hold a valid Pet Passport, and further information can be found on the States of Guernsey website - https://gov.gg/pettravelscheme
If you are moving to Guernsey from further afield, you would need to follow the rules for import into the UK, and further information can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain
There are various transport options; Condor Ferries, Aurigny, Private charter pick ups and flights. Further information can be provided by Locate Guernsey.
Subject to Immigration clearance, the householder of an Open Market Part A home is able to accommodate both their immediate and extended family.
A Local Market householder is able to accommodate their immediate family only.
If you are moving to Guernsey having qualified for immigration clearance, you are able to apply for your spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, to live in Guernsey with you under your immigration clearance. Please however note that should you wish for any other members of your family to move to the island to live with you, unless they are British Citizens or Irish passport holders, they will require immigration clearance in their own right to live in Guernsey.
*Secondary and post-16 education is undergoing a period of transformation. Following the decision by the States Deliberation to end selection at age 11, since September 2019, the four mainstream Secondary schools intake is from their partner Primary feeder schools.
Guernsey employs the UK's best practices across its network of medical centres and the Princess Elizabeth Hospital; however, the healthcare system in Guernsey is different to that of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
All Primary Care provided must be paid for, whilst some Secondary Care and Specialist services are free of charge.
Specialist (Secondary Care) services can only be accessed via a GP referral.
The following healthcare services will incur a charge; GP visits, A&E visits, ambulance use, dentists (whether in the dentist's surgery or A&E), and physiotherapy requested by the GP.
Guernsey's healthcare is partly funded by the States of Guernsey's Employment & Social Security Committee, with residents paying into an income-related contribution scheme.
Locate Guernsey can provide a list of healthcare and insurance providers, so please get in touch with the team if you want to find out more.
The new Reciprocal Health Agreement (RHA) with the UK came into force on 1st January 2023. The RHA enables residents from Guernsey and the UK to access medically necessary healthcare free of charge while visiting the other jurisdiction, but only if that treatment cannot wait until the individual returns to their home jurisdiction. To find out more and read the FAQs, please visit the States of Guernsey website - https://gov.gg/rha
Guernsey provides many volunteering opportunities; from working in a charity shop to pulling sour fig plants or organising charity sports events, there's something for everyone. Many find it a great way to make new friends and give back to the community.
The charitable spirit of islanders is highlighted by the number of events organised and run by volunteers, which help make Guernsey such a great place to live and work.
If you are new to Guernsey and would like more information about settling into island life, please get in touch with the team.
“There were a few reasons why we chose Guernsey over other jurisdictions; the lifestyle and cultural values we read about prior to moving here were a definite draw; the more temperate climate was also an advantage; the tax situation here meant our financial plans for retirement became more attractive and that was a very significant advantage; functioning Public Services was also a bonus – Guernsey isn’t perfect, but generally things work pretty well, and that makes life easier and less stressful.”
“Locate Guernsey were most helpful at every stage of our move. Some of the immigration formalities were rather confusing and they were able to clarify them for us. They also introduced us to a number of helpful people on the island and even invited us to a newcomer’s party to help us get started here.”
“Living in Guernsey has improved our work/life balance by far. Because everything is on your doorstep or a very short drive away, you can get so much done in a short space of time instead of wasting time in the car. I can walk the dogs, go for swim and do a food shop all before starting on the emails! Being able to walk by the sea really sets you up for the day.”
“The process of relocating to Guernsey was incredibly easy. Locate Guernsey offered all the help we needed which made our move very straight forward. The many questions via email which we raised were answered immediately and in a pleasant and friendly manner, making communication with Local Guernsey comfortable and relaxed. Most importantly though, it wasn’t just the help that we received up to and during our relocation, but their assistance with any matter we raised after our relocation, even outside of the remit of relocating, was and is provided by them.”
“We have found ourselves very welcomed into the community, through dog walking and sea swimming we’ve come to know many locals who have a wealth of knowledge and are only too eager to share and help out... even with the pronunciation of place names! We have also had lots of opportunities to meet up with other ‘newbies’ to swap stories and share information.”
