New Immigration Regime for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has recently enacted a new ordinance to control entry into the territories, replacing the existing Immigration Ordinance 1965. The aim of the new regime is to balance the need to limit human impact on the ecosystem with ensuring that only authorized individuals can enter.

Key Provisions

• Immigration officers have expanded powers to refuse or cancel permits for entry into the Territories.
• Officers are entitled to search and question anyone entering the Territories to determine their identity and whether they should be permitted to enter.
• The ordinance introduces a system of deemed permission for certain individuals, including:
  • Members of the naval, military, or air forces of the Crown
  • Those employed by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Information Required

• Masters of vessels entering the Territories must provide information about persons intending to disembark, including:
  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Passport details
  • Any permits they hold
• The ordinance also requires masters to provide information about deemed permission holders, including:
  • The paragraph in Schedule 2 that applies to them
  • The specified period
  • Whether they have health insurance

Purpose

The purpose of the new ordinance is to protect the ecosystem of the Territories by limiting the number of people entering the islands. The Commissioner has been appointed to oversee the implementation of the ordinance and has published a notice in the Gazette setting out the date on which it will come into force.

Background

The Immigration Ordinance 1965 was enacted in 1965, but it has not been updated since then. The new ordinance is intended to bring the immigration laws of the Territories into line with modern requirements and to provide a more effective way of controlling entry into the islands.

Conclusion

The new ordinance marks an important step forward in managing the impact of human activity on the ecosystem of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. It is essential that all individuals entering the Territories comply with the requirements of the ordinance to ensure the protection of this unique environment.