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.
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.
If you are relocating to Guernsey permanently, you must exchange your driving licence within one year. A full driving licence issued by many countries can be exchanged for a Guernsey driving licence by the States of Guernsey Driver & Vehicle Licensing Department.
Driving licences from countries not on the list cannot be exchanged. Individuals must pass a theory and practical driving test in Guernsey before a full Guernsey driving licence can be issued.
An exchange of foreign driving licence application cannot be completed online. You must submit your application in person at our Edward T Wheadon House office or by post.
To find more information about driving licence exchanges, please visit - https://gov.gg/ExchangedrivingLicence
*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.
“Whilst the principal motive for moving was to be closer to my father, we have found that we are really enjoying island life – even more than we expected to. It is a very welcoming and friendly place to live and we aren’t sure why we didn’t think about doing it earlier.”
“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.”
“The process of relocating to Guernsey couldn’t have been easier. We didn’t come across any barriers and the information provided by Locate Guernsey was so helpful.”
"I moved to Guernsey in 2021 to join family who were already here and have become part of a much bigger community since I arrived. The career opportunities are varied and interesting and the ability to get involved in just about any activity you can think of, unsurpassed!
Seeing the sea every day brings me joy and my dogs love running in the sand. My young nieces are growing up in a warm, friendly, and safe community with stunning scenery.
The team at Locate Guernsey are friendly, approachable, and full of useful advice for making the move, they helped me get started finding a home, making business contacts and understanding the practical aspects of the move."
“We both feel life here has far exceeded our expectations. Locate Guernsey have made it very easy for us to integrate by holding various social events for newcomers, and at which we have made very dear and lifelong friends. We have been made very welcome by our neighbours, and in general find Guernsey to be filled with folk who are helpful, friendly and of generous spirit. We can honestly say that we have not experienced a second of doubt that we made absolutely the right decision to move to relocate here.”
