Some visitors to the Isle of Man will soon be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling.

The government says the move will align its border controls with measures already implemented across the Common Travel Area (CTA), which includes the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.

From 10am on Thursday April 9, travellers from outside the CTA or the Republic of Ireland will be able to apply for an ETA before entering the island directly,

That requirement will become mandatory from Thursday April 23.

An ETA is a digital permission to travel, designed for visitors planning short stays of up to six months who do not require a visa.

The authorisation will be linked electronically to an applicant’s passport and will remain valid for two years (or until the passport expires), while the scheme applies to all eligible travellers including children.

However, several groups will be exempt from the requirement.

British and Irish citizens, including dual nationals, will not need an ETA but must travel using their respective passports.

Individuals who already hold valid visas or immigration permissions within the CTA are also excluded, as are those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Additional exemptions include residents of the Republic of Ireland travelling within the CTA, certain school groups visiting from France, and travellers holding specific British nationality passports.

A spokesperson from Isle of Man Government commented: ‘The island’s scheme mirrors the UK’s, and ETAs issued in the Isle of Man, United Kingdom and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey will be mutually recognised.

‘That means valid ETAs issued in each of the four jurisdictions will be valid for travel to any of them.’

More information on ETA’s can be found on the Immigration Service website at https://www.gov.im/immigration