Immigration in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is an internally self-governing dependency of the British Crown; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State. As a British Crown Dependency, the Isle of Man is entitled to, and uses the services of the British Embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. One of the services provided by the British Embassies is to act as agents in terms of handling initial visa applications submitted for the Isle of Man.

Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands (Bailiwick of Guernsey/Bailiwick of Jersey) and the Republic of Ireland collectively form a common travel area (CTA). This means that an applicant who has entered the common travel area and who has been examined for the purpose of immigration control (for example in the UK) does not require leave to enter any other part of the common travel area. Simply, travel between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom is an internal domestic journey and there is no separate immigration or other control. 

However certain persons subject to the Immigration (Control of Entry Through the Republic of Ireland) Order 2016 who enter the Isle of Man through the Republic of Ireland do require leave to enter and should report to the Isle of Man Immigration Service upon arrival in the Island to have their visa issued.

Isle of Man has its own Immigration Rules   

The IOM Immigration rules align closely with the UK rules in order to ensure the integrity of the CTA and allowing travel between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom to be treated as an internal domestic journey, and therefore no requirement for separate immigration or other control.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office has the responsibility for making the Isle of Man immigration rules for regulating the entry into and the stay of persons in the Isle of Man, as contained within the statement laid before Tynwald on 17 May 2005, as amended. They are based on and generally similar to the United Kingdom's immigration rules with certain exceptions.

Isle of Man has its own Immigration Service

The Isle of Man Immigration Service manages visa applications from people seeking to come to the Isle of Man or to vary their leave to remain in the Island. 

Whilst the Isle of Man has its own Immigration Service, as a British Crown Dependency, the Isle of Man is entitled to use the services of British Embassies and diplomatic offices around the world. 

One of these services provided to the Isle of Man is to take in visa applications for those who are seeking to enter the Isle of Man on our behalf.

People who require a visa to come to the Isle of Man, must apply online for Entry Clearance from their country of residence. They will then need to attend a British Embassy to attend a biometric appointment and hand in any supporting documents. The British Embassy will after some initial processes, refer the visa application to Isle of Man Immigration Service for decision.