Government of Jersey (2024)

FAQs

Is Jersey part of UK government? ›

Politics. Jersey is a Crown Dependency and is not part of the United Kingdom – it is officially part of the British Islands. As one of the Crown Dependencies, Jersey is autonomous and self-governing, with its own independent legal, administrative and fiscal systems.

Jersey is a British Crown Dependency, and is defended and internationally represented by the UK government. The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey is the personal representative of His Majesty the King on the Island.

The Island has its own democratically-elected parliament, the States of Jersey Assembly. There are 49 elected members of the States: 12 Connétables (representing the parishes of the Island) and 37 constituency Deputies. General Elections are held every four years with the next due in 2026.

There are three island territories within the British Isles that are known as Crown Dependencies; these are the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey which make up Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The Crown Dependencies are not part of the United Kingdom, but are self-governing possessions of the British Crown.

Jersey looks to the UK for defence, and the majority of Islanders travel on British passports as British citizens like the Scots and Welsh, but unlike those other nations of the British Isles it is not part of the UK, as passports issued in Jersey make clear.

Constitutionally, Jersey is classified as a Crown Dependency, since the Island's relationship stems from the sovereignty of the British Crown, as opposed to the UK Parliament or HM Government. In practice, this gives the Island constitutional rights of self government and judicial independence.

The state is considered a stronghold of the Democratic Party and has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992.

Jersey is a self-governing dependency of the British Crown and is not part of the UK and isn't represented in the UK parliament. The King is the Head of State for Jersey. The Lieutenant Governor is His​ Majesty's personal representative. Jersey has its own fiscal, administrative and legal systems.

About Jersey tax

You'll pay tax on income, goods and services, but there's no capital gains or inheritance tax. The maximum personal tax rate is 20%, and we also have exemption thresholds and a marginal rate of tax to protect people on lower incomes. Goods and services tax in Jersey is low, broad and simple.

Jersey does not have inheritance, wealth, corporate or capital gains tax. The Government of Jersey is responsible for revenue collection in the island. Jersey's tax system has been criticised as allowing tax avoidance. As such, the country has been labelled by some as a 'tax haven', though this label is contested.

Is Jersey a country yes or no? ›

Jersey and Guernsey are Channel Islands located in the English Channel between Britain and France. They are not independent countries, but rather British Crown Dependencies that are technically Bailiwicks.

New Jersey, constituent state of the United States of America. One of the original 13 states, it is bounded by New York to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and Delaware and Pennsylvania to the west.

The head of the civil administration and judiciary is the Bailiff Timothy Le Cocq, while the Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham is the head of government. The current monarch and head of state is King Charles III.

There is no standard demonym for Jersey people, however common demonyms include Jerseyman/Jerseywoman or Jèrriais. Jersey people are colloquially known as 'beans', after the Jersey bean crock - a traditional meal, or crapauds (the Jèrriais word for toad), the reason being that Jersey has toads and Guernsey does not.

On June 24, 1664, James, Duke of York, granted Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, ownership of a swath of land between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. The charter referred to these lands as “New Jersey” in honor of Carteret's defense of the English Channel island of Jersey during the English Civil War.

Jersey is a self-governing Crown Dependency with its own fiscal and legal system.

Passports issued in Jersey are British passports. There is no such thing as a “Jersey” passport. The Jersey variant British passport is issued by the Jersey Passport Office on behalf of the Crown and is printed and delivered from the UK.

Economic relationship

Jersey provides vital liquidity and makes a significant contribution to the UK's economy.

Jersey is part of the UK banking and payments system, Jersey has its own democratically elected government and sets its own fiscal policy.