New Immigration Regulations Come into Force for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

As of today, a new immigration ordinance has been enforced for the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (the “Territories”). This new regulation aims to control entry into the territories while ensuring the preservation of their unique ecosystem.

Key Changes

Under the new regime, immigration officers have been granted increased powers to enforce immigration laws. These powers include:

• Searching and questioning individuals seeking to enter the Territories
• Examining and taking possession of travel documents for up to 48 hours
• Arresting and detaining individuals suspected of committing an offense under the ordinance

Deemed Permission to Enter

The regulations also provide for deemed permission to enter the Territories in certain circumstances, such as:

• Members of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown
• Employees of the British Antarctic Survey
• Those dealing with emergency situations

New Requirements for Ship Crews

Ship crews are now subject to new requirements, including providing information about crew members intending to disembark in the Territories. Specifically, masters of vessels must provide details about their passengers, including:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Passport information
• Whether they have a permit or deemed permission to enter the Territories

Purpose and Implementation

The ordinance comes into force on a day appointed by the Commissioner through publication in the Gazette. The purpose of the new regulations is to limit the impact of people on the ecosystem of the Territories while ensuring that only authorized individuals are allowed to enter the islands.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Commissioner N.J. Phillips C.B.E. South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands