Entry Control Ordinance

Electronic Travel Authorisation – Permit Application Process

From 1 August 2025 all persons (unless otherwise exempted) entering South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for work or visitor purposes will require an Entry Permit.There will be separate permits for work and visitor purposes. Those persons exempted from the need for a permit, and the Government’s policy on these provisions are available at ‘Persons Who Have Deemed Permission.’

Applications for a Permit will need to be made through a dedicated web-based application portal. The system is only supported on Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers – https://eta.entry.gov.gs

The Immigration team can be contacted directly via email at: immigration@gov.gs

Application Process

Applications can be made by an individual, or multiple applications can be made on behalf of a number of persons by an authorised person such as travel agent, cruise ship operator or a family member. Separate applications are required for visitor or work permits.

Before applying, applicants should check whether their agent intends to apply on their behalf for their visit. 

Applications should be received and paid for 14 days prior to the 1^st intended date of arrival (disembarkation) in the Territories.   In assessing the intended date of arrival applicants should be aware that itineraries for vessels can be weather dependent, and in certain circumstances arrival dates may be earlier than anticipated.

Applications submitted later than 14 days prior to the first intended date of arrival will only be approved if the Government is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable to apply at an earlier date. No applications will be approved that are 4 or less days before the first intended date of arrival.

Once a permit has been issued, it cannot be amended, and an additional application will need to be made with the associated application fee if the current permit is not valid (e.g. for a change of dates). There are no refunds for permits not used.

The use of any permit is subject to the general conditions – see ‘General Conditions Applying To The Use Of Entry Permits‘

Length of Permit

Two types of permit are available, for work and for visits. A visitor permit is valid for 30 days from the date of commencement (the date indicated as 1^st intended date of arrival on the application).  A work permit is valid for 12 months. Both visitor and work permits can be extended, where justified, for a period of an additional 30 days for visitors and 6 months for a work permit, respectively.

Information Required

For the application process the following information is required for each applicant: –

Purpose of the visit – either as a visitor (which includes tourism, adventure tourism, expeditions) or work (see below)

Name and Date of Birth – this must match the information in the travel document.

Nationality – this must match the nationality in the travel document.

Travel Document – A passport that is valid for the entire duration of the permit plus an additional 4 weeks; or a valid Seafarers Identity Document (SID).

Contact Information – An application must contain a valid e-mail address by which the person can receive information with regard to the person or persons to which the application applies. A contact telephone number is also recommended.

For group applications, we recommend using the contact details of the individual to whom each application relates. Permits or refusal notices will be sent to the email address provided.
If a representative’s email is used, the representative must have the applicant’s consent to act on their behalf and is responsible for promptly forwarding all correspondence to the relevant individual.

Health Insurance – The applicant (or their representative) must confirm that the person for which the application is being made has adequate health insurance that includes all the costs of:

1. Emergency evacuation of the permit holder for treatment of any medical condition or injury that cannot be adequately treated in the Territories to the nearest country where adequate and appropriate treatment can be provided, including the costs of transportation and medical care in transit; and
2. In the event of the permit holder’s death in the Territories, transportation of the deceased’s mortal remains from the place of death to the county in which the deceased was ordinarily resident.

You should not make an application if you do not have the health cover required.  For bulk applications the form will only be accepted if all those listed are confirm that Health Insurance is in place.

Trip Information – Vessel Name, intended date of first arrival and departure. This is the vessel on which the applicant first intends to arrive in the Territories and the intended dates of arrival and departure of that first visit. As noted above we recommend that this date should take account of a possible earlier arrival than anticipated.

Applications for permits for work only – Details of the contract or other arrangement under which the applicant proposes to work in the Territories, including (but not limited to) the nature of the work, the place at which the work is to be done and the expected duration of the work.

Multiple Applications

To allow agents and others to apply for permits on behalf of their customers or other areas where an application on behalf of a group is more effective, group applications can be made. These applications can be made using the form ‘GSGSSI Group Entry Permit Application‘ through the multiple application process. The application must contain the information detailed above, for every member of the group.

Charges

The charges for application for permits are:

Visitor Permits – £ 200 for a 30-day permit.

Work Permits – No charge for a 12-month permit.

Payment is to be made by credit card. For multiple applications a bank transfer may also be accepted.

No permit application will be processed without payment. There are no refunds for permit applications that are refused or permits issued that are not used.

For multiple applications, where payment is made by Bank Transfer, payment must be made in GBP. Any overseas and/or local bank charges are to be borne by the remitter and will be in addition to this invoiced amount.