# South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GS)

**Capital:** none  
**Currency:** Pound sterling (GBP) (GBP)  
**Area:** 3'903 km²

> South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are an uninhabited British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, about 1,300 km east of the Falkland Islands. There is no airport; access is only by sea, usually via Stanley in the Falklands. The territory is administered by GSGSSI, based in Stanley, with King Edward Point near Grytviken as the local administrative hub. The economy centres on CCAMLR-managed fisheries (toothfish, krill, icefish), research and expedition cruise tourism. The islands play no role as an international trade transit point.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (ISO code GS) are an uninhabited British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, about 1,300 km east of the Falkland Islands and north of the Antarctic continent. The territory was separated from the Falkland Islands in 1985 and has since formed its own Overseas Territory. Executive power rests with the Commissioner, who is also the Governor of the Falkland Islands; the government (GSGSSI) is based in Stanley in the Falklands. Locally, King Edward Point next to the former whaling station of Grytviken serves as the administrative hub and research station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. There is no permanent population; researchers, government staff and visitors are present mainly during the season. The climate is sub-Antarctic maritime with strong winds, snowfall and sea ice. The economy rests on CCAMLR-managed fisheries for toothfish, krill and icefish, expedition cruise tourism and research, and the territory is surrounded by one of the world's largest marine protected areas. The currency is the pound sterling (GBP).

**Top Import Partners:** GB

**Top Export Partners:** GB

**Top Import Goods:** Treibstoffe, Lebensmittel, Ausrüstung

**Top Export Goods:** Fischereilizenzen, Fischprodukte

**Key Airports:**
- [Grytviken Emergency Helipad](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/grytviken-emergency-helipad-airport-12523)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** Keine MwSt/Sales Tax. Schiffe zahlen Zoll-Anmeldegebühren in GBP (Yacht 10, sonstige Schiffe 35  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** Schiffsbezogene Zollabfertigung nach Customs Ordinance 2016: Entry Declaration an Government Officers (King Edward Point, go@gov.gs), kein elektronisches Tarifsystem.  
**Customs authority:** [GSGSSI Customs (Collector of Customs: Financial Secretary; Customs Officers in King Edward Point)](https://gov.gs)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Forschungs- und Fischereigebiet ohne Transitfunktion  
**Economic area:** Britisches Überseegebiet (UK)  
**Logistics risk:** hoch  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** gering  
**Pharma/cold chain:** gering

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://gov.gs](https://gov.gs)
- [https://gov.gs/about-sgssi/](https://gov.gs/about-sgssi/)
- [https://gov.gs/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Customs-Fees-Policy-Post-08-22.pdf](https://gov.gs/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Customs-Fees-Policy-Post-08-22.pdf)
- [https://gov.gs/sustainable-fisheries-at-south-georgia/](https://gov.gs/sustainable-fisheries-at-south-georgia/)
- [https://gov.gs/overview/](https://gov.gs/overview/)
- [https://gov.gs/marine-protected-area/](https://gov.gs/marine-protected-area/)
- [https://gov.gs/ccamlr/](https://gov.gs/ccamlr/)
- [https://gov.gs/how-to-visit/](https://gov.gs/how-to-visit/)

*Last verified: 2026-07-01*

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