On 23 July 2026, Tynwald unanimously supported the amended motion arising from the Fair Settlement Isle of Man public petition.

Supported by 1,968 signatories, the petition brought residents, employers and community members together to ask that people already building their lives on the Island should be treated fairly if settlement rules change.

Tynwald’s decision calls on the Isle of Man Government to raise concerns with the UK Government about the potential effect of future settlement changes, including the potential for transitional protections for people already on routes to settlement under the immigration rules in force when their leave was granted. It also calls for any agreed transitional arrangements to be implemented and published.

This was an important milestone, but it was not the final decision. The detail still matters: who will be protected, what protection will be offered and when residents and employers will receive certainty.

Fair Settlement Isle of Man will continue to follow developments, share verified information and advocate for a fair, clear and workable outcome.

Why the Fair Settlement campaign exists

The UK Government has proposed major changes to settlement rules that could extend the qualifying period from five years to 10–15 years or more, even for people who have already built their lives here.

If the Isle of Man adopts similar changes without protections, many families may face:

• years of extra uncertainty

• unaffordable visa fees and new charges

• disrupted education plans for children and young people

• the risk of having to leave the Island they now call home

Many of the people who will be affected are exactly those who help to keep our Island running — in health and care, education, hospitality, engineering, construction, finance, technology and everyday services.

This campaign is not about stopping all change.
It is about how change is applied, and about honouring the published five-year settlement pathway promised to people who are already here.

Our simple principle is:

If you came here on a five-year rule, that five-year rule should be honoured.

Why this matters to everyone on the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man relies on a strong, stable workforce to keep our health services operating, our schools staffed, our elderly cared for and our businesses open.

Many of the people who fill these roles moved here on a clear and published rule:

work continuously for five years → apply for settlement → build a secure life.

If that route is doubled mid-way, then:

• families face double the uncertainty and double the cost

• employers risk losing trained staff they cannot easily replace

• the Island risks losing working-age residents at a time when our population reports already show an ageing population and dependence on inward migration for growth.

This is not about politics or party lines.

It is about fairness, stability and protecting the Island’s future. 

What we are asking for

We are asking the Isle of Man Government to secure a non-retrospective, CTA-safe solution.

In practice, this means:

• People who arrived under the existing five-year settlement terms can complete that same five-year journey.

• Any new arrivals, once the UK has finalised its policy, would enter under the new pathway the Island chooses to adopt.

This approach is:

• fair to families who acted in good faith

• proportionate to the Island’s scale

• aligned with the Island’s long-term workforce and population needs

• compatible with Common Travel Area arrangements. 

How this benefits the whole Island

Honouring the five-year path for those already here:

• protects staffing in healthcare, care, education and essential services

• supports businesses facing ongoing skills shortages

• upholds trust in government rules and published guidance

• keeps the Island attractive to future workers and investors

A fair rule for them is a fair future for all of us. 

Get in touch at fairsettlementIOM@gmail.com