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Immigration Rules and Associated Policy

Immigration Rule Changes Effective 23:00 on 31 December 2020

The changes made by the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (SD 2020/0497) will come into operation on 23:00 on 31 December 2020, with the exception of the new Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route, which will launch on 31 January 2021.

The following text raises awareness of the key changes that have been made:

  • Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme, which provide for application deadlines. Eligible EU, EEA and Swiss citizens must make an application on or before 30 June 2021. EU, EEA and Swiss citizen may still be joined by close family member in Isle of Man under the EU Settlement Scheme after this date, but only where they themselves were resident in the Isle of Man before 31 December 2020 and the relationship existed on or before 31 December 2020.
  • Close family members who wish to join their resident EU, EEA or Swiss family member in the Isle of Man, and whose relationship to that EU, EEA or Swiss citizen began after 31 December 2020 may apply under Appendix FM (or other eligible immigration route) in order to do so.
  • A new settlement route will launch on 31 January 2021 for British Nationals (Overseas) citizens from Hong Kong. This route allows Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and their close family members whom they live with, to apply for either 30 or 60 months leave to enter or remain in the Isle of Man. This route is intended to serve as a route to settlement, and applicants may apply for indefinite leave to remain after living in the Isle of Man for 5 years. Holders of this visa will be permitted to work and study while living in the Isle of Man.
  • Turkish nationals who are resident in the Isle of Man under the terms of the European Community Association Agreement with Turkey (the "ECAA"), may apply to extend their leave under the new Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay, or for indefinite leave to remain under Appendix ECAA Settlement. Dependent family members may also apply under these routes for extended or indefinite leave.

This information does not seek to summarise every change made. Interested parties are therefore encouraged to read the Immigration Rules relevant to their own circumstances or seek their own advice from a suitably qualified immigration adviser.

Immigration Rules

The Immigration Rules are made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and outline the practice to be followed in the administration of the Immigration Acts as extended to the Isle of Man for regulating the entry into and the stay of persons in the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man Immigration Rules, whilst not identical to the United Kingdom (UK) Immigration Rules, are based on the UK Rules and are very similar. However, they are not identical and there are some provisions within the UK Rules that do not apply here and some in the Isle of Man Immigration Rules that do not apply in the UK. There are also, as in the UK, provisions within the Isle of Man Immigration Rules that apply only to Commonwealth citizens.

Future Immigration Rules

Linked below are versions of the Immigration Rules as they will read following the commencements set out in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules SD 2020 0497. These versions of the Immigration Rules are being provided at this stage for information only, and will not be coming into operation until their respective commencement dates. Until these versions of the Immigration Rules commence, all applications will be considered in line with Immigration Rules from 19 October 2020.

Immigration Rules coming into effect at 23:00 on 31 December 2020

Immigration Rules coming into effect on 31 January 2021

Sponsor Licensing Policy

The Sponsor Licensing policies are made by the Council of Ministers and outline the practice to be followed in the administration of sponsor licences for employers and academic institutions wishing to sponsor applicants on the on the Tier 4 and Tier 5 routes.

Confirmation of Employment Policy

This policy sets out the conditions that must be met if an Appendix W migrant wishes to make a change in their employment circumstances.

Immigration Recognition of UK Visas Policy

This policy sets out the circumstances in which specified UK visas may be recognised in the Isle of Man, without requiring an application to be made under the Isle of Man Immigration Rules.

Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules

The Statement of Changes document sets out the changes to the Isle of Man Immigration Rules and the date on which the changes apply.

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