The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has announced a last-minute postponement of its new Electronic Entry Permit system, which was scheduled to go live on August 1, 2025. The new system, intended to modernize and tighten control over the increasing number of visitors to the ecologically sensitive British Overseas Territory, has been delayed due to technical difficulties. This leaves tour operators and prospective visitors in a state of temporary uncertainty as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The planned Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system was set to replace the long-standing practice of charging a collective landing fee to vessels. The new regulations state that every individual wishing to go ashore must hold a personal entry permit, with separate applications required for visitor and work permits. A visitor permit is priced at £200 and is valid for 30 days, while a work permit is free of charge and valid for one year.
A new permit system for all visitors
The system was a comprehensive overhaul of the visitor process, requiring applications on two separate timelines. In addition to the individual permit, all vessels were to submit a “vessel notification” no later than 60 days prior to their planned visit to aid in maritime planning. Every individual intending to go ashore—with limited exemptions for on-duty crew—was then required to hold a personal entry permit applied for at least 14 days in advance. A visitor permit was priced at £200 for a 30-day period, with the fee being non-refundable even if an application was refused or a permit went unused.
The GSGSSI had outlined a flexible application process for the individual permits. A person could apply directly, or an authorised party like a travel agent or cruise operator could submit applications on their behalf. To avoid duplication, prospective visitors were advised to first check whether their tour operator intended to apply for them. The rules also stipulated that late applications would only be considered in specific circumstances and that no application would be approved if submitted four or fewer days before arrival.
The new system to meet challenges faces technical issues
The primary driver for this significant change is the burgeoning interest in South Georgia as a tourist destination. According to the GSGSSI’s Annual Visitor Report, the 2023-24 season saw 14,594 passengers visit the island. When including expedition staff and crew, the total number of visitors reached 27,565. This figure represents a continued rise from the 13,721 passengers who visited in the 2022-23 season and a significant rebound from the pandemic-era halt in tourism. Announcing the system earlier this year, the then Commissioner Alison Blake stated, “The introduction of the Entry Permit System is the culmination of work and consultation to develop a modern permit system that will support increasing tourism interest in South Georgia.” The government’s goal is to ensure that all visits are managed sustainably, balancing tourism with long-term conservation.
The reason for the delay, as stated in a brief announcement, is “technical issues with payment security” on the new web-based application portal. This setback is a significant hiccup in what was a clearly defined rollout plan. On July 1, 2025, the government had confidently announced there was “one month to go” until the launch, indicating that the system was on track. The last-minute postponement suggests that final security checks revealed vulnerabilities serious enough to halt the entire launch. The government has not yet provided a new timeline for the system’s implementation, stating only that “an update will be provided shortly.”
The 2023-24 visitor report underscores the complex challenges of managing this influx of visitors. That season was the first in which Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) affected South Georgia. The outbreak led to the closure of numerous visitor sites, with 19 of the 41 available landing sites closed to tourists at the peak of the outbreak in January 2024 to prevent further spread of the disease. This experience highlights the critical need for robust biosecurity measures and agile visitor management, which the individual ETA system is designed to support.
Part of a broader environmental strategy
Overall, the new system is a critical component of South Georgia’s broader environmental strategy. The islands are celebrated as a conservation success story, most notably with the successful eradication of invasive rodents. Mandatory biosecurity audits remain a key tool but seem to have been adapted as well as the new visitor guidelines state. Under the plan, all vessels would face a “comprehensive” audit on their first visit of the season. If they passed with a success rate above 95%, subsequent visits would only require a scaled-down “basic” audit. For comparison: in the season 2023/24 the overall pass rate was 97.4%. A failure at any point would trigger another full comprehensive audit on the next visit. This, along with other planned measures like a voluntary 10-knot speed limit in key areas to reduce whale strikes, illustrates the detailed level of environmental oversight the new system was designed to achieve.
For now, the tourism industry is in a holding pattern. Operators who have prepared to transition to the new application process will need to await further instructions. While the delay is an administrative and technical hurdle, the fundamental reasons for the new permit system remain. The GSGSSI has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the territory’s natural wonders, ensuring that all who visit can do so sustainably. Visitors and operators alike hope for a swift resolution that will allow this modern digital gateway to open, safeguarding the future of this extraordinary part of the world.