As of 4am on Monday 4th October 2021 the Isle of Man has aligned itself with England’s rules for international travel.
This means that for International Travel, the Isle of Man has moved away from the red, amber, green traffic light system to a simple system of the ‘red list’ and the ‘rest of the world’.
- Travel to the Island is still prohibited if someone has travelled to, or through, a country on England’s travel red list in the 10 days before their arrival to the Isle of Man.
- If someone has travelled to the ‘rest of the world’ in the 10 days before their arrival to the Isle of Man and they are fully vaccinated then they are not required to isolate or enter testing under the no isolation, no testing pathway. This applies to both residents and non-residents.
- If someone has travelled to the “rest of the world” in the 10 days before their arrival to the Isle of Man and they are not fully vaccinated then they will be required to enter the 7 day isolation pathway. This applies to both residents and non-residents. Non-residents would still have to meet the entry criteria that is currently in place.
The changes introduced on the 4th October are only for International Travel and the rules for anyone who has only travelled within the Common Travel Area in the 10 days before their arrival in the Isle of Man have not changed.
If you are an Isle of Man Resident you are able to use the resident pathway. If you are not an Isle of Man Resident but are fully vaccinated then you are able to enter the no isolation, no testing pathway. If you are not an Isle of Man Resident and are not fully vaccinated then you have to meet the entry criteria currently in place and would enter the test to release pathway upon your arrival.
Who can apply for the Resident pathway?
This pathway is for Manx Residents who have only been within the Common Travel Area (UK, IOM, Ireland and Channel Islands) in the 10 days prior to arrival on the Island.
Who can apply for the No isolation or testing pathway?
This pathway is for both Manx Residents and non-residents who:
- Are aged 18 or over and have had the full course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of either Pfizer BioNTech; Oxford/AstraZeneca; Moderna or one dose of Johnson and Johnson)*
OR - Are aged 12 - 17 and have received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination
AND - On arrival, at least two weeks has passed since the full course was administered
- Have only travelled to the Common Travel Area, a “rest of the world” country on the travel list
*Individuals who have have received the full course of a COVID-19 vaccine in the following trials will also be accepted: Com-COV, Com-COV2, Valneva and Novavax
If you are an Isle of Man resident and have only travelled within the Common Travel Area (UK, IOM, Ireland and Channel Islands), you will be eligible for the Resident Pathway (no application, isolation or testing).
Do I need photo identification to travel to the Isle of Man?
Yes. Travellers arriving in the Isle of Man under the No Isolation or Testing Pathway will be asked to provide identification on arrival so that we can match this against proof of vaccination.
What forms of photo identification do you accept?
We will accept photo identification, such as:
- A valid passport (i.e. in date)
- An expired passport
- Valid EU/EEA or Swiss national identity card
- Valid driving licence (full or provisional are accepted)
- Valid armed forces identity card
- Valid police warrant card/badge
- Citizen Card or Civilian Card, available from www.citizencard.com
- Valid firearm certificate
- Valid government-issued identity card
- NHS SMART Card
- Electoral identity card (Northern Ireland)
- NUS card (National Union of Students)
- University/college ID card
- Company ID card of nationally recognised company
- Local Authority issued bus pass with photo
- Young Scot card
- Disabled badges which have a photograph of the holder
- VALIDATE UK PASS photographic proof of age cards
As most children aren’t currently receiving vaccines, can children travel with me?
Yes. Please visit our travel requirements for minors page, which details the requirements and pathways for children depending on their age and countries they have recently visited.
Can children travel to the Isle of Man?
Yes. Please visit our travel requirements for minors page, which details the requirements and pathways for children depending on their age and countries they have recently visited or their vaccination status.
What happens if I have travelled outside of the Common Travel Area in the 10 days prior to my arrival in the Isle of Man?
If you meet the criteria for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway and have travelled to a rest of the world country in the 10 days before you arrive in the Isle of Man, you can apply for vaccination exemption.
If you do not meet the criteria for the Resident Pathway (i.e. you are not a resident or you are a resident but have been outside the CTA in the 10 days prior to arrival on the Island) or the No Isolation or Testing Pathway (i.e. you haven’t had the full course of an approved vaccine or are aged 17 and under) then you will either need to apply for the Test to Release Pathway or the 7 Day Pathway depending on where you have been in the 10 days before you arrive in the Isle of Man.
If you have travelled to any countries on the red list country you will not be able to travel to the Isle of Man until you have quarantined in a managed hotel and undergone two COVID-19 tests. Once your quarantine is complete you will be able to apply to travel to the Isle of Man under a vaccination exemption. Please ensure you check the UK travel advice pages on gov.uk as advice may change while you are travelling, and this could affect your journey to the Isle of Man.
Do I need to have received a specific type of COVID-19 vaccine?
If you are aged 18 or over, you need to have completed the full course of any vaccination (either one or two doses depending on the type of vaccine you are given). Individuals taking part in a qualifying clinical trial for a vaccine would also be recognised for a vaccine exemption. At the moment only those who have had the full course of the following vaccines are able to apply to travel to the Isle of Man under a vaccination exemption:
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- Moderna
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
- Johnson and Johnson
On arrival, at least two weeks has passed since the full course was administered.
If you are aged 12 - 17, you need to have completed at least one vaccination of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination.
If you are a Manx resident who has only been within the CTA in the 10 days prior to arrival on the Island, you do not require a vaccine exemption and are eligible for the Resident Pathway.
*Individuals who have have received the full course of a COVID-19 vaccine in the following trials will also be accepted: Com-COV, Com-COV2, Valneva and Novavax.
What if I haven’t had a vaccination, have only one dose of vaccine, or my second dose was less than 14 days ago?
You do not meet the criteria for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway. The Isle of Man Government remains committed to returning to restriction free travel between the Island and the rest of the British Isles, but this will take a little more time.
If you are an Isle of Man resident you can use the Resident Pathway or the 7 Day Pathway, or the Non-Testing Pathway.
If you are not an Isle of Man resident, you may meet the eligibility criteria to apply for an exemption to travel to the Island if:
- You have immediate family resident in the Isle of Man
- You have an offer of employment in the Isle of Man for at least three months
- You own property in the Isle of Man
- You are buying property in the Isle of Man
- You have entered a rental/lease agreement for at least 3 months
- You wish to visit the Isle of Man on compassionate grounds
- You are a Keyworker and require an exemption to enter the Island (please email the Keyworker Exemptions Team for further information Exemptions.IOMG@gov.im)
As some children are not being vaccinated, different arrangements are in place for those aged under 11, please see above. A child aged 12 - 17 who is fully vaccinated does qualify for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway.
If I qualify for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway, are there any restrictions when I arrive in the Isle of Man?
No, there are no restrictions if you are entering the Island on the No Isolation or Testing pathway. Please be advised that there may be restrictions for visiting hospitals and other health and care settings which can be found in the hospital visiting policy.
It is strongly advised that face coverings are worn in crowded or indoor spaces with limited ventilation, such as when using public transport. Some businesses may require you to wear a face covering as a condition of entry.
Can I use public transport in the Isle of Man?
Yes. All those who have a vaccination exemption to travel to the Isle of Man can use public transport, as can children aged 11 and under. It is strongly advised that you wear a face covering when in crowded and enclosed spaces, including public transport.
Children aged between 12 and 17 who are following the Test to Release Pathway, the 7 Day Pathway or the Non-Testing Pathway cannot use public transport until they meet the criteria set out in their direction notice.
Will I be required to wear a face covering or social distance in the Isle of Man?
There is no legal requirement to social distance or a limit indoor or outdoor gatherings. It is strongly advised that face coverings are worn in crowded or indoor spaces with limited ventilation, such as public transport. Some businesses may require you to wear a face covering as a condition of entry.
While there are no legal COVID-19 restrictions in place in the Isle of Man, it is strongly recommended that you take measures to limit the risk to yourself and those around you. Each individual circumstance is different, but the following advice should be considered:
Hands – washing your hands properly with soap and warm water or using alcohol based hand gel and drying your hands thoroughly can help to reduce the spread of infections such as COVID-19, as can cleaning surfaces regularly and coughing or sneezing into a tissue, handkerchief or the crook of your elbow.
Face – face coverings are strongly advised at this time, as they can provide extra protection for you and those around you and can help stop the virus from spreading.
Space – COVID-19 spreads through droplets, especially in confined, close or crowded settings. It is a good idea to think carefully about which people you come into contact with, particularly if meeting with those who might be vulnerable.
Fresh air –Introducing fresh air into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and prevent the spread of COVID-19. There is less chance of COVID-19 spreading when outdoors.
Do I have to be an Isle of Man resident to qualify for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway?
No. Anyone who meets the criteria for the No Isolation or Testing Pathway can apply to travel to the Isle of Man under a vaccination exemption.
What will happen when I arrive in the Isle of Man?
You will need to complete a landing form no earlier than 48 hours before your arrival, as will all those you are travelling with. When you disembark from the aircraft or ferry, please have the following ready for inspection:
- Photographic identification
- Your vaccination exemption email and QR code
You will be directed to one of two lanes.
The first lane is for those who have their documentation in order and ready for checking, this should only take a few seconds for each person.
The second lane is for those who have not completed all of their documentation, who need assistance, or who do not have your documentation to hand. There may be a short delay whilst staff assist you.
Do I need to take a test for COVID-19 before I travel to the Isle of Man?
No, however if you do have access to a lateral flow test, you may wish to take a test to reassure yourself that you are free from COVID-19 before travelling to the Island. If you test positive for COVID-19 whilst in the Isle of Man you will need to complete a 10 day period of isolation on the Island.
I am travelling with a child between the ages of 12 and 17 – what do they need to do under the Test to Release Pathway?
Full details of either the Test to Release Pathway or 7 Day Isolation Pathway are available.
Who can apply for the Test to Release pathway?
Eligible travellers (compassionate visitors, immediate family or partners, property owners or workers/those with contractual obligations/key workers) who have not completed the full course of any approved vaccine and have only travelled within the Common Travel Area (UK, IOM, Ireland or the Channel Islands) in the 10 days before their arrival to the Isle of Man.
If you are a Manx resident who has only been within the CTA in the 10 days prior to arrival on the Island, you do not require a vaccine exemption and are eligible for the Resident Pathway.
Full details of the Test to Release Pathway are available.
Who can apply for the 7 Day Isolation pathway?
Manx residents or eligible travellers (compassionate visitors, immediate family or partners, property owners or workers/those with contractual obligations/key workers) who have not completed the full course of any approved vaccine (or one dose of Pfizer for 12 - 17 year olds) and have visited any countries classed as the 'rest of the world' in the 10 days before arrival to the Isle of Man.
Full details of the 7 Day Isolation pathway are available.
What if I am travelling from a Red country on the travel list?
Neither Manx residents nor eligible travellers will be allowed direct entry in the Isle of Man from any country on the red travel list. Individuals will instead need to either spend 10 days in another country or isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel in the UK before arriving in the Island.