Isle of Man Global Business Mobility Replaces New ICT Applications
Briefing summary
- Global Business Mobility and its sponsor-licensing policy took effect November 2, 2026.
- The five categories cover temporary company assignments. Intra-Company Transfer is closed to new applications.
- Existing ICT holders retain the settlement rights available under Appendix W 3.4; ordinary Worker Migrant hiring remains separate.
The Isle of Man now uses Global Business Mobility for specified temporary business assignments. An employer arranging an overseas transfer must identify the applicable category and meet its sponsorship requirements. The change does not close the ordinary Worker Migrant route for qualifying local employment.
Which assignments the framework covers
The five categories are Senior or Specialist Worker, Expansion Worker, Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, and Service Supplier. They address different business purposes rather than providing a single interchangeable transfer visa. Employers must select the category that matches the assignment and use the new sponsor-licensing framework.
These are temporary routes. A new Global Business Mobility grant should not be presented as carrying the settlement prospects of the former ICT arrangements. The applicable category’s conditions govern the assignment, permitted stay, and any later application.
Existing ICT holders and accompanying families
The closure applies to new ICT applications from November 2, 2026. The government expressly preserves the settlement rights available to existing ICT holders under Appendix W 3.4. That protection depends on the holder’s existing permission and the requirements of that provision; it is not an automatic settlement grant.
For partners and children, the main applicant’s exact category determines the relevant dependent rules. A family accompanying a new GBM transferee should not use an existing ICT holder’s protected position as evidence of its own settlement rights.
Choosing the right application
An ordinary local hire should be assessed under Worker Migrant requirements, including the employer’s Confirmation of Employment and the applicable job and salary rules. A temporary company assignment needs the relevant Global Business Mobility category and sponsorship process. Existing ICT holders should review their current grant and Appendix W 3.4 before making plans around settlement.