Foreign Currency
Planning to go on holiday is an exciting time but can also be a little bit stressful as there are many things to think about before your departure, one of them being currency.
Different currencies can sometimes be difficult to get your head around, particularly when it comes to working out the price equivalent in your usual currency. If you choose to spend in cash, you may need to exchange money before your departure. Alternatively, you may be charged currency conversion charges for withdrawing from foreign ATMs or paying with a credit or debit card.
However, the great news for travellers from the UK is that you can forget about all this and visit Jersey without even having to think about currency. This makes it extremely easy for UK nationals and residents to visit the island.
You can rest assured that you have no need to think about exchanging money prior to your departure and there is no need to mentally calculate every purchase. You can spend exactly as you would spend at home without needing to even think about it. However, when it comes to Jersey currency, there are a few differences.
What currency is accepted in Jersey?
As a British dependency, Jersey is in a currency union with the United Kingdom. Due to this, the currency used in Jersey is the Great British Pound. You can use Bank of England issued Pound Sterling across the island making travel from the UK relatively simple.
However, as a self-governing dependency, Jersey also has its own version of the currency, the Jersey Pound. The Jersey Pound is the same currency as the Great British Pound and holds the same value. You will find that it looks a bit different in the way that Scotland and Northern Irish issued banknotes also have a unique design.
All Jersey banknotes feature an image of Queen Elizabeth II just like Pound Sterling but they have a very different look. Over the next few years, both Bank of England and Jersey Pound banknotes featuring King Charles III will slowly filter into circulation to reflect the change in monarch. However, Queen Elizabeth banknotes will remain legal tender for a significant amount of time and be slowly phased out with the introduction of the updated notes.
Whilst visiting Jersey, you can use Pound Sterling and the Jersey Pound together. There is typically a split mix of the two types of pound in circulation on the island so it is likely that you will receive both types of banknotes as change if you are paying in cash at some point during your visit.
ATM Withdrawals in Jersey
If you are withdrawing from an ATM in Jersey, you will find that banks and some other ATM points have two different cash points located side-by-side. One will be labelled Pound Sterling and the other issued Jersey Pound. Each respective machine only issues that version of the currency. You may find it helpful as a visitor from the UK to withdraw exclusively from the Pound Sterling ATM machines. This is in case you don’t spend all of the cash that you withdraw and limits the amount of cash you may need to convert before departing Jersey.
Card Transitions in Jersey
When it comes to spending on your card, there is no difference from spending in the UK. All transactions are charged in Pound Sterling and therefore, there will be no currency exchange or charges for making debit or credit card payments in Jersey. Making payments by credit or debit card is extremely straightforward for visitors to Jersey with a UK bank account.
Using Jersey Currency in the UK
Although you can use Bank of England issued notes from the UK across Jersey, it is not the same for using the Jersey Pound in the UK. In the UK, only Pound Sterling is accepted. As Jersey issued notes are not Sterling, they are not considered legal tender in the UK. Therefore, you will not be able to use the Jersey Pound in the UK.
You may be under the impression that the Jersey Pound works in the same way that Scottish and Northern Irish notes can in the UK. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes are Pound Sterling and therefore considered legal tender in the UK.
Although a lot of shops and other outlets do not accept these notes, this is typically due to unfamiliarity. If you were to take the notes to a bank in England or Wales, they would exchange your Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes to ones issued by the Bank of England.
This is not the same for the Jersey Pound. It is up to the bank whether they accept the Jersey Pound but in most cases, they will not be accepted or exchanged by any UK banks. This can be highly frustrating if you return to the UK with Jersey issued money that you cannot use and has no value in the UK.
If you have any remaining cash in Jersey Pound before returning to the UK, it is advised to exchange this into Pound Sterling before your departure. You can do this easily at any Jersey bank or post office across the island. Alternatively, you can exchange the Jersey Pound into Pound Sterling at the currency exchange centre Travelex upon your departure at Jersey Airport. Select Jersey hotels also offer a currency exchange service and it is therefore checking with the front desk or concierge of your hotel to enquire if they offer this service.
Are Euros accepted in Jersey?
Whilst technically not the island’s legal currency, you may find that some places may accept Euros. Due to the island’s close proximity to France, some establishments may accept Euros. Anywhere that does accept Euros will advertise this but it is likely that you will get a poor exchange rate as accepting Euros is more a gesture of goodwill and not legal tender.
Jersey Currency FAQ
What currency is Jersey?
As a British dependency, Jersey uses pound sterling. However, as the island is self-governing, it also produces its own version of the pound known as the Jersey Pound (JEP).
Is Jersey money accepted in the UK?
The island accepts both pound sterling and the Jersey Pound. However, as the Jersey Pound is not sterling, it will not be accepted in the UK. It is advised to convert any Jersey Pound into pound sterling before leaving Jersey.
