A new digital permit scheme for visitors to the Isle of Man from outside the Common Travel Area is set to launch by late 2025. Known as the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), the permit will be mandatory for non-British and non-Irish citizens who don't need a visa to enter the island, mirroring the system currently being rolled out in the UK.

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson described the £10 permit as a "pivotal step" toward ensuring the island remains a safe place to live, work, and visit. The Common Travel Area comprises the UK and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

The UK's Home Office explained that ETAs, valid for two years and permitting multiple stays of up to six months, will streamline and secure the immigration process. The UK itself introduced similar permits in January for travelers from non-EU countries like the United States and Australia, with EU nations set to follow from 2 April. These digital permits are linked to passports and can be applied for online.

At a recent Tynwald session, Allinson urged that the UK government's Nationality and Borders Act be extended to the island to enable the new system. Although the Act, passed in the UK in 2022, also includes provisions for offshoring asylum and criminalizing knowingly illegal entry, Lawrie Hooper cautioned against adopting all its measures. He advocated for an amendment that would implement only the ETA requirement.

Legislators ultimately approved the amendment, ensuring that from late 2025, visitors from outside the CTA will need an ETA to enter the Isle of Man—a scheme that will be managed by the UK.