Public feedback is being sought on a key element of the Isle of Man’s immigration system.

The Cabinet Office has today, Monday 10 July, launched a consultation that will help to inform a review of the Island’s points based immigration rules.

Members of the public, including people who have direct experience of the points based system, are invited to submit their views. The comments will help the Passport, Immigration and Nationality Office to understand the impact of any future development of the immigration rules.

The consultation focuses on the current system for Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 4 and Tier 5. This covers a range of immigration routes, including highly skilled individuals who will contribute to the growth and thriving economy of the Isle of Man, overseas students and temporary migrant workers.

The system also enables Island employers to recruit workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to take up a vacancy that cannot be filled by a British or EEA worker.

A brief description of the different Tiers, along with specific questions relating to each Tier, is provided as part of the consultation documents on the Government website.

The Programme for Government seeks to achieve the outcome: ‘We have an economy where local entrepreneurship is supported and thriving and more new businesses are choosing to call the Isle of Man home’.

As part of the work to deliver this outcome the Programme specifically commits the Cabinet Office to ‘Review the Points Based System Immigration Rules and implement new rules by March 2018’.

Any comments or questions should be submitted in writing to Amy Swales, Passports, Immigration & Nationality Office, Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas, IM1 3PN, or by email to immigrationconsult@gov.im.

The deadline for responses to the public consultation is Friday 18 August.