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Review of the Common Travel Area 4 September 2008 THE United Kingdom Border Agency has confirmed that residents, businesses and other organisations from the Isle of Man can submit views to its consultation on changes to the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA covers the UK, Irish Republic and Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man and Channel Islands). Free movement of persons within the area has been under review by the UK and Irish Governments amid concerns that it is being abused for the purposes of illegal immigration and other crime. Proposed reforms include the introduction by 2014 of full immigration controls for non-CTA nationals travelling by air and sea between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic, and new measures to verify the identities of CTA nationals on those routes. These new regimes - the detail of which will be decided after the current Border Agency consultation - are also expected to apply to traffic between the Isle of Man and the Irish Republic. The introduction of immigration controls between the Isle of Man and the Irish Republic will mean they will not be necessary between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man Government has been in dialogue with CTA partners throughout the review and will continue to express its views as the proposals are finalised. The Border Agency consultation is an opportunity for individuals and groups from the Isle of Man to submit their views direct to the UK Government. The UK Border Agency consultation can be found at: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/consultations/strentheningthecommontravelarea/ or by going to the Home Office website www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk and typing ‘common travel area’ into the search box. The address for written correspondence is: Ccommon Travel Area Consultation Border and Visa Policy UK Border Agency 7th Floor, Apollo House 36 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 3RR The public consultation closes on 16 October 2008. More stories >>>
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