If you work with data about or related to identified (or identifiable) living people you are legally obliged to maintain an annual registration with us.
Please read the resources below and contact us if you need any clarification.
Our regulated community* is incredibly diverse: anyone who is working with data about people is 'captured' by the local data protection law. So we have tried our best to keep our guidance as broad as possible, and as relevant as possible.
* this includes entities like: landlords, taxi drivers, sports' clubs, builders, residents' associations, charities, schools, small businesses, government, to large multinational organisations (in short: anyone who works with personal data).
If you are brand new to all this you may find it helpful to keep this page open in a separate browser window in case you need to refer to it whilst you are in the Registrations Portal.
Guidance for you
These panels will direct you to the most relevant guidance depending on who you are and how you process personal data.
Charities
Registered charities are entitled to free registration with the ODPA, but they must take their data protection obligations seriously nonetheless, as many control and process sensitive personal data. Read on to understand your obligations.
Sole traders
If you save a client's phone number or email address, or address an invoice to them, you are processing their personal data. The guidance here will clarify your position.
Small businesses
Large businesses
Annual registration with the ODPA is a legal requirement for any businesses that process personal data in Guernsey. If your business has 50 or more full-time employees or equivalent, the registration levy for 2027 is £2,595.82.
Levy Collection Agencies (LCAs)
If you are a levy collection agency and collect for clients of your own, find out more about your obligations here.
Households
If your collection of personal data is purely for personal use and not with any commercial interest, for example the use of CCTV on your property or keeping an address book for correspondence, you do not need to register with the ODPA.