The government has unveiled plans to tighten immigration rules while introducing measures to attract skilled workers.
The proposals aim to balance economic needs with border security, amid concerns over labour shortages and an ageing population.
The report highlights the island’s reliance on inward migration to offset a natural population decline, with deaths exceeding births since 2021.
“Without continued inflows of skilled individuals, the island risks stagnation and an inability to adapt to evolving economic demands,” the document states.
However, the Council of Ministers emphasises that migration must be managed to “meet, but not exceed” the level necessary to support the economy.
Salary
Key changes include raising the minimum salary requirement for migrant workers from £20,800 to £25,447.50 from October 2025, aligning it with the living wage.
An Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), mirroring the UK’s system, will also be introduced, requiring visa holders to contribute to healthcare costs.
The IHS is expected to generate between £1.4m and £4m annually.
The government will also review work visa routes, including stricter employer sponsorship rules and adjustments to dependant policies.
“The ability to sponsor individuals under the immigration system should be a privilege, not a right,” the report notes.
To incentivise returning Manx workers, a “Welcome Home” package is proposed, targeting young professionals who have left the island with exploratory work beginning on a package of incentives.
Locate Isle of Man will expand campaigns to attract workers from the Common Travel Area (CTA), particularly in sectors like healthcare and engineering.
Despite labour shortages, the government ruled out immediate disincentives for non-working migrants, citing insufficient evidence of strain on public services.
The report also commits to improving migration data through a new dashboard and streamlined registration processes. “Better management information is vital to enable faster policy responses,” it states.
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