New Zealand has overturned a ban on issuing working holiday visas to Manx tourists.

Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man residents were no longer accepted ono the country’s UK Working Holiday Visa Scheme, which allows travellers to work while they are away for up to 23 months to fund their trip.

New Zealand immigration authorities say they had recently changed the interpretation of its instructions’ as the Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK.

Some travellers from the Isle of Man had paid £120 for visas only to be rejected due to the change in policy.

But following the intervention of Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson on behalf of a constituent, it appeared the New Zealand authorities have had a change of heart.

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade confirmed that Immigration New Zealand is amending the relevant regulations so that the UK Working Holiday Scheme is available to young British citizens, ’ordinarily resident in the UK or the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man’.

Applicants must have a minimum of NZ$350 per month available funds for their maintenance during the period of stay in New Zealand.

Dr Allinson said: ’I think this is really good news for the small number of people that want to work abroad temporarily.

’New Zealand has similar problems to us in attracting skilled young people but Manx tourists are undoubtedly the best advertisement for our island and I believe closer cultural ties between our two countries can only be positive.

’I’ve been on the NZ website and putting down that you live in the Isle of Man no longer disqualifies you from applying for a visa.’

Dr Allinson said he has also contacted the Department of Economic Development to see if the work permit structure could allow bilateral exchanges.

’This might be very interesting in terms of the agricultural sector,’ he said.

The UK Working Holiday Visa is available to applicants age 18 to 30.

You can choose to apply for a 12 to 23 month visa and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months and train or study for up to six months in total.

You can’t accept a permanent job and if you apply for a 23 month visa, you must normally provide medical certificates.

The Manx government had insisted the changes to the Working Holiday Scheme were not new.

A spokesman said: ’We are aware that it has affected Isle of Man residents in the past.