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on September 11, 2023
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Given its distinctive status, the Isle of Man can be a subject of confusion among foreign nationals who may be interested in relocating to and/or working in the UK.
Situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, the Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency; it is not, however, part of the UK. This has certain implications for would-be migrants to the British Isles, not least due to the Isle of Man having its own parliament, laws, and immigration authorities that are independent of those in the UK.
Nonetheless, with its picturesque scenery, high quality of life, and business-friendly environment, the Isle of Man is an excellent place in its own right in which to live and work. For these reasons, many UAE nationals may be interested in doing exactly this, with the help of the Isle of Man Innovator visa.
Although the Isle of Man is not part of the UK, it is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), which consists of the UK, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, and the Isle of Man).
Under the CTA, holders of an Isle of Man visa have the right to travel around the CTA, including to the UK, and those who hold UK visas are entitled to travel to the Isle of Man in much the same way. However, an Isle of Man visa does not give the holder rights to take up employment in the UK; the rights that it confers in this regard relate specifically to the Isle of Man, which is its own jurisdiction.
From our offices in Dubai, our experts in UK immigration law here at Cranbrook Legal can help you to secure the Isle of Man Innovator visa.
As its name suggests, this visa is aimed at those who wish to set up or run an innovative business in the Isle of Man. It is intended that those who apply for this visa will already have business experience, and as part of this process, candidates will need to get their business or business idea endorsed by the Isle of Man Government’s Department for Enterprise.
Applicants will also need to have a minimum of £50,000 in investment funds if they wish to set up a new business; funds are not needed if the business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa.
If you are successful in being granted this visa, you will be able to stay in the Isle of Man for three years before you will need to extend the visa. There is no limit to the number of times you can extend it. Once you have spent three years on the Isle of Man, you may be able to apply to settle there permanently – a status known as “indefinite leave to remain” (ILR).
Even indefinite leave to remain status on the Isle of Man would not give you equivalent rights in the UK; again, it is a status that relates specifically to the Isle of Man.
In the event, however, that you use ILR status to eventually become a British citizen, this would give you the right to live and work in the UK.
To learn more about the Isle of Man Innovator visa and whether it could be the right option for you as a resident of the UAE, please feel free to call our UK immigration lawyers in Dubai today, on +971 4272 0822. You are also welcome to fill in and submit our email contact form to request a free consultation with our award-winning specialists in immigration law.
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