Fed up with soaring crime rates, dismal weather, and generally seeing their quality of life get worse, many people are considering leaving the UK and moving overseas.
Guernsey is the perfect mix of familiarity and a European lifestyle
In fact, we are seeing huge interest from people wanting moving quotes for the usual expat destinations such as France, Spain, and Portugal.
But there is an alternative destination that offers all you may be looking for and it is just a half hour’s plane journey away.
With better weather, a very low crime rate, excellent education, high quality of life, close communities, stunning beaches, historic harbours, and no language barrier, Guernsey could offer you the perfect relocation solution.
And as there are no visa requirements for anyone with a UK passport, you can move to Guernsey just as easily as moving from Birmingham to Glasgow.
With a commute from Guernsey to the UK taking around half an hour by plane, not only can you enjoy an incredible quality of life living on the island, but you can easily see friends and family back on the mainland.
Read on to discover all you need to know about moving to Guernsey.
Can UK Citizens Move to the Channel Islands?
Yes, the islands are British Crown Dependencies which means that if you have the right to live in the UK then you have the right to live in Guernsey.
The Channel Isles are neither part of the UK nor a part of the EU so are unaffected by Brexit.
There are 7 habitable islands that make up the Channel Islands archipelago: Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, and Brecqhou.
These islands are divided into two Bailiwicks, Jersey and Guernsey, each has separate laws and institutions although both allow UK citizens the right to work and live on the islands.
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Just 20 miles from France and 80 miles from the South of England, Guernsey is the second largest island, after Jersey, in the Channel Islands.
Vazon Bay is just one of the many stunning beaches to be found in Guernsey
With a population of about 60,000 people who mostly live around St Peter Port, Guernsey has long been a favourite destination for writers and artists.
Guernsey offers the perfect mix of a safe society, great education, lucrative employment (especially in the financial sector) and an outdoor lifestyle. It is the ideal place to raise a family and have a high quality of life.
Being only 6 miles long by 3 miles wide, you are never very far from the beach or a rocky cove. There is fascinating history to learn about and wonderful examples of beautiful architecture to discover, as well as a full calendar of events to enjoy every year.
A work-life balance in Guernsey is extremely important and is easy to maintain as commutes are very short, outdoor pursuits are plentiful, and career progression, especially in the financial sectors, is faster than in most financial centres.
Guernsey really could offer you the perfect opportunity for a better quality of life, with a more relaxed lifestyle, in beautiful surroundings, with no real culture shock, no difficult languages or customs to master, and yet be a stone’s throw from the family in the UK.
You may also like to read: Can Moving Home Make you Happier? Moving to such a beautiful place as Guernsey would surely make you happier, but is that really the case? Find out whether moving home will make your life better or will just give you a whole new set of problems.
Finding a Home in Guernsey
There are 10 parishes in Guernsey, so whether you want a house on the coast or in a quaint village you are sure to find your ideal location in one of these parishes.
Each Parish has its own character and traditions, such as the Fete Nouormand
St Peter Port is a beautiful town with cobbled streets and a very scenic harbour. Being the Capital of Guernsey, although it is fairly small, it is where many people choose to live.
St Martin has a stunning coastline and is one of the most popular parishes in which to live.
Castel is the largest of the 10 parishes and boasts some of the best beaches on the island.
Vale boasts an 18-hole golf course as well as some stunning beaches.
St Peter is a small parish, perfect for a relaxed, rural way of life.
St Saviour, being the most rural of all the parishes, has plenty of beautiful countryside to explore.
Forest is in south Guernsey and despite being the highest parish on the island has a couple of beaches as well as a coastline lined with cliffs.
Torteval is on the southwestern tip of the island. Fishing, farming, and boat building provide the locals with employment here.
St Andrew is right in the centre of the island and is the only parish with no coastline. It does however have what is reputed to be the world’s smallest consecrated church. This is one of the most expensive parishes for property on the island.
St Sampson is the second largest town on the island and claims to have the oldest church in Guernsey which was consecrated in 1111.
Guernsey operates a two-tier property system for both sales and rental properties:
Local Market properties are available to locals and those holding an employment permit.
Open Market properties are available to anybody with a British or EEA passport.
Local Market properties are considerably cheaper with an average asking price of £629,297 in the 3rd quarter of 2022.
Open Market properties for the same period were £1,576,345.
You can find the most up-to-date residential housing prices in Guernsey at www.gov.gg
www.gfsc.gg has a useful list of all the estate agents on the island
Cost of Living in Guernsey
Not everything costs money in Guernsey. Birdwatching is a popular pastime and there are many wonderful birds to see, such as this oystercatcher.
The cost of living in Guernsey is about 21% higher than in the UK but salaries are generally higher by just over 3%.
You can visit www.numbeo.com where you can enter your current hometown to compare costs between there and Guernsey to give you an accurate comparison between the two.
When you are crunching the numbers for moving to Guernsey take into consideration that there is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, VAT, or Goods and Services Tax.
Income tax is fixed at 20%.
Remember also that commutes are very short, typically less than 15 minutes, so you may save a fortune on commuting costs.
All public parking on Guernsey is free.
You may like to read: 15 Simple Ways to Cut the Cost of Moving Home. Moving home is never cheap but there are ways that you can reduce your moving costs easily. This guide offers 15 proven ways to save money on removal costs.
Healthcare in Guernsey
Guernsey has an excellent healthcare system but differs from the NHS in that you will have to pay for
Doctor appointments
Dentists
A&E visits
Ambulance use
Most people choose to take out private healthcare insurance to cover these costs although residents pay into an income-related contributions scheme which partially covers some of the cost.
Secondary and specialist medical care is free on the island.
There is also the option to take out a subscription to the St John Ambulance & Rescue Service which operates the ambulance service on the island.
Subscriptions are cheap (around £70 for a family) and you can learn more about this at www.stjohn.gg
It is essential when you first move to Guernsey to register with the Social Security Department so that you can receive your Health Benefits Card.
You may also like to read: What are the Health Benefits of Moving Home? Moving to be beautiful island could do wonders for your health. He we look at all of the health benefits of moving to a new place.
Education in Guernsey
Education does not stop at the school gates. There is so much culture and history in Guernsey that young or old, there is always something new to learn about
Education in Guernsey is excellent and schools follow the GCSE and A-Level curriculum.
Schooling is compulsory between the ages of 5 to 16 with many choosing to stay on until they are 18.
Up until 18 years of age education is free at government schools whilst there are also 3 private schools in Guernsey.
Guernsey state funds 15 hours of free preschool education for all children aged 3-4 years old.
From ages 4-11 pupils attend primary school.
Each parish in Guernsey has a primary school and your child will attend the one in your catchment area.
You can find out more about each primary school in Guernsey by going to www.gov.gg and clicking on the map of primary schools.
Blanchelande College offers independent education for boys and girls between the ages of 2 1/2-18.
There are some degree-level courses available on the island but the state also operates a means-tested grant system for those who seek higher education courses off of the island.
For more in-depth information about education in Guernsey visit www.gov.gg
You may like to read: Dido the Dragon Moves Homes. A Childrens Book About Moving Home. Moving home can be a daunting and unsettling time for young kids. This book will help your kids understand the home-moving process and will offer you some tips on how to make the move easier and less scary for them.
Travel in Guernsey
Ferries between the islands, to the UK, and to France are fast and frequent
Being so compact, most people choose to get around Guernsey by cycle or local public transport which is cheap and connects the whole island.
There are frequent flights to the UK which take just over 30 minutes, as well as regular flights to Europe.
In around 3 hours you can be in Poole using the fast ferry or an overnight ferry will take you to Portsmouth. Getting to the port of St Malo in France takes just over 2 hours and there is a seasonal ferry that takes you to and from Dielette in France.
Travel between the islands is easy, frequent, and cheap, and island hopping is a popular summer activity.
Essential Information About Moving to Guernsey from the UK
Moving from the UK to Guernsey is a fairly straightforward process but there are certain things that you need to be aware of.
Herm Bay. A perfect spot to spend some time relaxing
#1. You must complete a full and accurate inventory of all the items you are bringing to Guernsey which must be presented to Customs and Excise upon your arrival.
#2. The C15 form must also be completed. This is a Personal Effects Declaration form which you can download from www.gov.gg
#3. There are certain items that you are not allowed to take to Guernsey:
Firearms, ammunition, flick knives, gravity knives, or CS gas sprays
Inflammable goods & substances
Plants & plant material
Foodstuffs and perishables including liquid milk
Narcotics and dangerous goods
Offensive materials
Alcohol & Tobacco
Endangered animals and goods made of or taken from them
#4. Pets require no special vaccinations nor do quarantine restrictions apply (note however that dogs will require an annual licence which is available from your local Parish offices).
#5. Unless you are moving very few items the best option is to hire a good removal company to relocate your household goods.
Not only will it make the physical process of moving far less stressful but they will take care of all the paperwork and know the quickest and best ways to deal with the Customs & Excise procedures.
It is also worth paying for a professional packing service so that your precious possessions get the optimum protection whilst in transit.
When hiring a good removal company your items will be transported usually by container freight and there is a twice-weekly sailing to the Channel Islands on a Tuesday and Thursday.
If your things are being moved by container then door-to-door transit usually takes between 8 to 10 days.
When a dedicated removal lorry is used, and not a container service, the transit time is considerably quicker so check which mode of transport the removal company is using when making your decision to hire them.
Also bear in mind that if a dedicated lorry is used your items will be handled less and there is less risk of any damage being caused to them.
There are many specialist removal firms in the UK that regularly ship items between the UK and Guernsey.
Get free, no obligation, removal quotes for your move to Guernsey now.
You may also like to read: How to Create the Ultimate Home Moving Binder. There will certainly be many things about moving to a new home that you will need to learn about and equally there will things that the people moving into your old need to know. A home moving binder is essential so that all those questions you have about your new home and area are answered.
Finally, here are some useful websites and contacts if you are thinking of moving to Guernsey:
www.weareguernsey.com has a useful overview of every aspect of living in Guernsey
www.gov.gg is the official website for the states of Guernsey
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