Any visit that involves spending nights ashore on South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands is classified as an expedition, and requires a permit issued by the Commissioner. This is separate from, and in addition to, the standard Entry Permit required for all visitors. Expeditions are assessed individually, due to the remoteness and hazardous conditions.
South Georgia has no search and rescue capability, and no medical facilities beyond what an expedition brings itself. The nearest hospital is in the Falkland Islands, roughly 850 miles away, and any evacuation would involve significant delay and cost. Every participant must hold personal insurance covering medical evacuation and repatriation, and every expedition must be self-sufficient and supported by an adequately insured vessel throughout.
South Georgia is a remote, mountainous sub-Antarctic island roughly 170km long and 40km wide, dominated by two mountain ranges. Mount Paget rises to 2,934m, and the interior is permanently snow-covered, with extensive glaciers and unstable ice cliffs. The coastline is rugged, with steep cliffs and glaciers reaching the sea.
Weather is shaped by deep depressions moving east across the Scotia Sea. Katabatic winds are frequent and can reach gale force, occasionally exceeding 100mph on the north side. Average summer temperature is around +4.8°C and winter around -1.2°C at sea level - but severe conditions and wind chill can occur at any time of year, including summer.
Expeditions are generally expected to have a minimum of 4 participants (or 3, with two additional competent support personnel), and a maximum of 15, depending on activities and locations. This is guidance rather than a fixed rule - applications outside this range are still welcome, and will be considered by the assessor on their individual merits.
South Georgia hosts globally significant populations of seabirds and marine mammals. All expeditions must maintain safe distances from wildlife concentrations, avoid sensitive habitats such as moss and lichen beds when selecting campsites, and follow the biosecurity procedures set out in the relevant GSGSSI Biosecurity standard operating procedures- including boot washing between sites, disinfection before going ashore, and preventing the transfer of soil, seeds, or invertebrates between locations.
Support vessels over 100 tonnes must carry a valid de-ratting or ship sanitation certificate, and no poultry products may be brought ashore under any circumstances.
Husvik, Leith Harbour, Stromness, and Prince Olav Harbour remain valid landing sites and can be included in your itinerary. However, approach within 200 metres of the former station structures, and use of their jetties, is not permitted without separate correspondence with GSGSSI - these structures are in a hazardous condition, including a risk of airborne asbestos.
Familiarise yourself with the current Visiting South Georgia Handbook and GSGSSI Biosecurity standard operating procedures before applying.
Complete the application form below at least 60 days before your arrival date. Alongside the main form, please attach a participant list and a campsite/peak plan as supporting documents - these are being handled as document uploads on an interim basis while a fully structured version of the form is completed.
Your application is reviewed against your experience, support vessel, programme, safety plan, and environmental and biosecurity plan.
You'll be notified of the outcome, and any conditions attached to your permit, ahead of your expedition.
Expedition planning should reference the 2004 BAS map of South Georgia (Sheets BAS (Misc) 12A and 12B) or the BAS 2017 map, available via Stanfords or the SCAR Antarctic Digital Database. Please ensure compasses are correctly balanced for the Southern Hemisphere.
