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Business Migrant - Start Up Visa

Overview

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

  • you want to set up a business in the Isle of Man
  • you meet the eligibility requirements

Getting endorsed

The Department for Enterprise is the only endorsing body in the Isle of Man for the Business Migrant route as prescribed in Appendix X of the Isle of Man Immigration Rules and is responsible for issuing the Letter of Endorsement you will need to support your visa application.

More information in respect of how to obtain a Letter of Endorsement including the Department's Endorsement Policy can be found by visiting the Department for Enterprise's webpage.

How long it takes to get a visa

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Example

You can apply from 6 April if you plan to travel on 5 July.

You should get a decision on your visa within 6 weeks when you apply from outside the Isle of Man and UK. This takes into account the time needed for UKVI to carry out their processes and checks and then refer the application to the Isle of man Immigration Service for decision and then for UKVI to return the travel document with the vignette.

Fees

How much you pay for a Start-up visa depends on your situation and where you apply from.

Who you’re applying forApply (outside the UK)Switch (in the UK)
Yourself £363 £493
All dependants £363 each person £493 each person

Healthcare surcharge

You do not need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. This is for those applying to the UK only.

Who can apply?

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

  • You are outside of the UK or Isle of Man; or
  • Hold a valid Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa; or
  • Hold a valid UK Tier 2 Migrant visa: or
  • Hold an valid Isle of Man Worker Migrant visa; or
  • Hold a visit visa that was granted specifically to enable you to visit as a prospective entrepreneur; or
  • Hold a Tier 4 (General) Migrant visa (subject to certain conditions)

How long you can stay

You can stay in the Isle of Man for 2 years 4 months on a Start-up visa.

You cannot extend this visa.

If your endorsement is withdrawn

Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement from the Department of Enterprise is withdrawn. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.

You can only stay for a total of 2 years even if you’re granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

  • bring family members with you
  • switch to this visa from some other visa categories
  • work in another job, as well as working for your business

You cannot:

  • get public funds
  • work as a doctor or dentist in training
  • work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach
  • settle in the UK on this visa

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by the Department for Enterprise.

They will provide you with a Letter of Endorsement if your business is viable.

You must also:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • meet the English language requirement
  • be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK

Supporting yourself

You need to have had at least £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.

You cannot use either of the following to support yourself:

  • money from your investment funds
  • money earned while working in the Isle of Man or the UK illegally

Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

  • passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
  • having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already proved it to be level B2 or above in an earlier successful application.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you need to provide a Letter of Endorsement issued by the Department for Enterprise of the Isle of Man Government

You’ll also need to provide:

  • a current passport or other valid travel identification
  • bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply (this is the evidence which shows that you can support yourself, and must be separate to the money from your investment fund)
  • your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
  • proof that you have knowledge of the English language

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Apply

Entry Clearance

If applying for entry clearance for a Start-up visa, you must apply online through the UK Visas and Immigration website.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

You will not have to apply for a biometric residence permit as the Isle of Man do not issue these. When applying you need to use postcode SW1H 0AX in the BRP collection section of UKVI’s website.

Find out how to get your visa application referred to the Isle of Man Immigration faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services.

Extend or switch to this visa

If you are applying to switch into this category, you can use the appropriate application form from our website. 

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