Long Residence

A person may apply for immediate settlement if they meet all the requirements for settlement or may apply for temporary leave to remain if they meet the suitability and qualifying period and continuous residence requirements but do not meet the English language or Knowledge of life in the UK and Islands requirements.

The Long Residence route is for a person who has lived in the Isle of Man lawfully and continuously for 10 years or more.

CR 1.1 The qualifying period for continuous residence will be calculated by counting back from whichever of the following dates is the most beneficial to the applicant, taking periods of absence into account — (a) the date of application; or (b)any date up to 28 days after the date of application; or (c) the date of decision.

LR 11.1. The applicant must have spent a qualifying period of 10 years lawfully in the Isle of Man, for the entirety of which one or more of the following applied — (a) the applicant had permission, except permission under Appendix Ukraine Scheme, or permission as a Visitor; or (b) the applicant was exempt from immigration control; or (c) the applicant was in the Isle of Man as an EEA national, or the family member of an EEA national, exercising a right to reside under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 prior to 11pm on 31 December 2020 (and until 30 June 2021 or the final determination of an application under Appendix EU made by them by that date); or (d) the applicant was in the Isle of Man as a British citizen, except where citizenship has subsequently been deprived. LR 11.2. The following periods will not count towards the qualifying period for Long Residence — (a) time spent on immigration bail, temporary admission or temporary release; and (b) any period of overstaying between periods of permission before 24 November 2016 even if a further application was made within 28 days of the expiry of the previous permission; and (c) any period of overstaying between periods of permission on or after 24 November 2016 even if paragraph SUI 13.1 (exceptions for overstayers) of Part 9A (Part Suitability) applies to that period of overstaying; and (d) any current period of overstaying where paragraph SUI 13.1 (exceptions for overstayers) of Part 9A (Part Suitability) applies.

CR 3.1. To meet the continuous residence requirement, the applicant must not have been outside the UK and Islands for more than 180 days in any 12- month period (unless CR 3.2., CR 3.3., CR 5.1. or CR 5.2. applies, and subject to CR 3.4.).

CR 3.3. Subject to CR 3.4, where the application is under Appendix Long Residence, the applicant must not have — (a) spent a total of more than 548 days outside the UK and Islands during their qualifying period, where that 548-day total was reached before 31 October 2025; and (b) been outside the UK and Islands for more than 184 days at any one time during their qualifying period, where that absence started before 31 October 2025.

LR 11.3. Subject to LR 11.4, the applicant must have had permission on their current immigration route for at least 12 months on the date of application, or have been exempt from immigration control in the 12 months immediately before the date of application. LR 11.4. If the applicant’s current permission was granted before 31 October 2025, LR 11.3. does not apply.

LR 13.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening of at least level B1.

LR 14.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must meet the Knowledge of life in the UK and Islands requirement as set out in Appendix KOL IOM.

LR 7.1. The applicant will be granted leave to remain for a period of 24 months. LR 8 Conditions of grant for leave to remain on the Long Residence route LR 8.1. The grant will be subject to the following conditions — (a) no access to public funds; and (b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted; and (c) study is permitted, subject to Appendix ATAS to these rules.