Update on migration report measures in six months

Cabinet Minister Kate Lord-Brennan outlined the report's recommendations

Proposals in a report on migration to the Isle of Man would be used to redress population "imbalances and demographic challenges", the cabinet office minister has said.

The Council of Ministers report states "more is needed" to achieve the government’s target of filling 5,000 new jobs by 2027, and GDP of £10bn.

But Kate Lord-Brennan told Tynwald the island “still wants to be able to facilitate more inward migration at a time when UK policy is seeking to constrain these numbers”.

Receiving the report, Tynwald members also backed an amendment by Julie Edge MHK calling for updates and further recommendations on the document in six months.

Politicians debated the government report outlining options for incentivising and dis-incentivising migration to the island at the October sitting of Tynwald.

The Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce previously stated it welcomed the conclusions in the document, but “has doubts” whether the jobs target or the government plan to increase the population to 100,000 by 2037 were “achievable”.

The report highlights that between the census in May 2021 and 2023, the island’s population had increased by 461.

'Further work'

The key short-term proposals put forward in the document include streamlining the work permit scheme, reviewing immigration pathways, and introducing an immigration healthcare surcharge.

Other ideas put forward include a new land registry fee for “economically inactive households” relocating and buying property, student loan repayments for returning Manx students, and waiving fees for indefinite leave to remain.

Incentives encouraging migration included a first-year National Insurance rebate, student loan forgiveness for government-employed teachers, and private employer relocation packages.

Disincentives included visa requirements, access to public services and social security, and constraints on access to work because of permit and visa systems.

Referring to the report’s finding that 20% of migrants leave within two years of moving to the island, Michelle Haywood MHK said she would like to see more information the retention rate.

Rob Callister MHK said "further work should be undertaken" to explore the idea of the immigration healthcare surcharge, pointing to the large amount of revenue that the UK government has gained from it since 2015.

Lord-Brennan said some of the measures outlined in the report contained some "relatively short and sharp interventions" that could be taken, while others could be "really significant for the island in lots of different ways".