Post-Event Update: Island's Worker Migrant Visa Rules Workshop

On Thursday 21 May, members were joined by the Customs and Immigration Division & the Department for Enterprise to host a workshop on the Island's recently announced Worker Migrant Visa reforms. The session, held at Launchpad, brought together businesses and employers to hear directly from officers and ask questions about what the changes mean in practice.

The workshop was presented by Sandie Simpson, Head of Customs and Immigration Division at Treasury, Juan Bellando, Strategy and Policy Manager at the Department for Enterprise, and Kerry Best, SEO Policy, Legislation and Governance. Attendees received an overview of the key changes to the Worker Migrant Visa route, what the reforms mean for employers, and had the opportunity to put questions and feedback directly to the officers involved.

We were also pleased to welcome Treasury Minister Chris Thomas to the session, who joined to hear the discussion and offer broader context on the political landscape surrounding the reforms.

What we heard from the room

The session generated a substantial number of questions and comments from those present. Key themes raised by attendees included:

• Transition and existing processes: Members sought clarity on how businesses with recruitment processes already under way under the current rules would be treated, including Certificate of Employment applications already submitted but not yet decided.
• SOC codes and eligibility: The new rules prompted significant discussion around Standard Occupational Classification codes, which roles qualify under the new framework, and who can bring dependants.
• Consultation: There was a strong feeling in the room that the new rules had not been subject to sufficient consultation with the employers and businesses who will need to apply them, and that the execution felt rushed.
• Gaps and inconsistencies: Attendees identified apparent gaps and inconsistencies between the new rules and the existing framework, and highlighted areas in the published documentation they would like to see reviewed.
• Fair settlement: Questions were also raised about fair settlement and its potential impact on the Isle of Man, with attendees noting the Island is awaiting the outcome of the UK consultation and any resulting decision.

What happens next

We would love to hear from members on their experience of the new rules as they start to apply them. If you have specific concerns, have identified gaps or inconsistencies, or have suggestions for how the framework could be improved, please get in touch with us directly at office@iomchamber.org.im and we will feed your views into the ongoing dialogue with government.

Finally, thank you to Sandie Simpson, Juan Bellando and Kerry Best for coming to speak with our members. The openness to questions and the willingness to take on board feedback directly from businesses is genuinely appreciated, and we look forward to continuing that conversation as the new rules bed in.