Filming in the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is a self governing dependency of the crown, and as such recognises the current monarch of the UK as Head of State. However, whilst the Isle of Man is part of the British Isles it is not part of the UK and is proud to have its political and constitutional independence allowing for its own laws, traditions and culture.
Situated at the centre of the British Isles, the Island is no more than one hour away by air from all major UK cities. The Island can be accessed via plane or ferry with multiple daily flights to and from London, and many of the UK's main cities, and sailings from Heysham and Liverpool night and day. Telecommunications are recognised as amongst the best in the world.
For more information on the Island, please visit www.gov.im/isleofman
Laws and Regulations relating to filming on the Isle of Man differ from those in the UK, so the following permits and permissions must be sought from the Isle of Man Government for the length of the shoot (on the Island).
The permit/licence forms listed below must be completed at least four weeks before shooting begins on the Island, and in many cases, public notices will be issued to local newspapers 10-21 days prior to the beginning of principal photography. It is therefore vital that all permits are fully investigated and applications submitted well in advance of the shoot.
The main regulations follow:
Work Permits
A work permit exemption is granted to all British and EU Citizens providing specialist services to any specific film or television production. Anyone working on a production who is not a British Citizen or a National of the European Economic Union will require an Overseas Labour Permit which can take up to three weeks to process and must be applied for well in advance of arrival on the Island. Contact details can be found here.
Immigration
If an aircraft is being chartered from anywhere outside of the UK directly to the Isle of Man, the Island's Immigration Office must be consulted well in advance of arrival of any persons travelling to the Island who are not British Citizens. If necessary, they will arrange to meet the plane on arrival and process all relevant passports to ensure they are complying with UK Imigration regulations. Contact details can be found here.
Road closures, Traffic control and suspension of parking
If temporary road, lane or footway colsures, or any changes to existing conditions are required for filming purposes, advice should be sought a minimum of 1 month prior to commencement of any filming on any public road, lane or footway.
All Temporary road closures are advertised in the local press and 7 clear days must occur between the date of the advertisement and the road being closed. A Plan showing the area and extent of the road closure must accompany the Application.
All Film Road Closure/Traffic Control applications must be received by the Department of Transport at least 10 working days prior to the desired date of closure. An application form can be found here. All applications must be copied in to Isle of Man Film.
Performances by children
Under the Performances by Children Regulations 2004 any production employing a child performer whilst filming on the Island will be required to apply for a Licence for a Performance by a Child. The application should be completed by the Producer (or designated other acting on their behalf) and submitted to the Department of Education at least 21 days prior to the first date the child will begin their performance. An application form can be found here.
Use of Fireworks/pyrotechnics
The Fireworks Act 2004 states that a firework cannot be set off outside of the periods covering Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve without first notifying the Department of Home Affairs. The forms will need to be completed which include a press notice form to be sent to an Island newspaper for publishing at least 10 days prior to the use of the equipment. The Fireworks Display Notice must be delivered to the Department of Home Affairs by hand or recorded delivery no later than 21 days before use of the equipment.
Firearms
10 days notice must be given to the police and the company who you are travelling with (ie the Steampacket) if weapons are brought into the Island.
Notifying Local Authorities
Out of courtesy, a production should contact the Commissioners in the parish in which they are planning to film to notify them of their intentions. For full contact details of each Commissioner, please visit their website.
Local Trainees
Each production is contractually obliged to take on at least four local trainees. Trainees can be sourced via the Crew and Facilities database. We request that, unless the trainees are taken on as work experience, that they are paid at least the minimum wage. If you have any problems sourcing a trainee, please contact us.
Harbours
It is appropriate to contact the Harbour master of the Harbour that you intend to use for filming. Visit their website for contact details.
Helicopters
Exemptions and permissions issued under the Air Navigation Order in the UK are not valid in the Isle of Man. A separate application should be made giving at least one calendar month's notice.
Water
Permission must be sought from the Isle of Man Water Authority before drawing any water on the Isle of Man. There are also restrictions on the use of containers holding fuel, chemical substances etc on the Water Authority's property. Please contact the Water Authority for further details.
Radio Communications
Please note a licence from the Communications Commission is compulsory if using radio communications. Please contact them for further information.
Mobile use
Some Production crew find that they have problems using their mobile phones on the Island. It is advisable to check with Manx Telecom, the Island's telecom network provider, and ask about roaming before you arrive.
Weather
Weather forecasts for the Island can be found at the Government Infocentre whilst Tide Tables can be found through the BBC's North West website
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