New Immigration System To Be Introduced In IOM

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

07 December 2009

The Isle of Man Immigration Office last week introduced the first stage of a new points-based system for managing the immigration of foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area to the island for employment purposes.

The move, approved by the Council of Ministers following recommendations from a Tynwald Select Committee, incorporates elements of the system that is already in place in the United Kingdom.

The salient points of the system are as follows:

  • Tier 1 (General) Migrant is for highly-skilled workers who demonstrate that they are highly skilled, have enough money to support themselves, and are able to speak English, in order to gain sufficient points under the system.
  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrant is for those investing in the Isle of Man by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of, one or more businesses in the Isle of Man. The applicant has to demonstrate his/her ability to finance the business investment, support themselves and speak English, in order to gain the necessary points.
  • Tier 1 (Investor) is designed to allow high net worth individuals to make a substantial financial investment in the Isle of Man. The ability to make the substantial investment must be demonstrated to gain sufficient points.
  • The Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, (which replaces the Working Holidaymaker Scheme). This scheme is for young people from participating countries who would like to experience life in the Isle of Man. The countries participating in the scheme - Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand - have been chosen because they have reciprocal agreements which allow young British Citizens to spend time in their countries. Young Manx residents qualify as British Citizens under these agreements.

Other elements of the new Points Based system, which will replace existing controls, are being progressed.

Tier 4, which applies to students and further elements of Tier 5 will be considered for adoption in the new year.

Tier 2, which applies to skilled workers and which will replace the Overseas Labour Scheme, is currently under consideration by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Tier 3 applies to unskilled workers; it has not been adopted in the UK and will not be introduced in the Isle of Man for the foreseeable future, according to the Manx authorities.

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