Asylum seekers

Summary

The requester asked for statistics on asylum seekers, benefits, housing, and deportations in the Isle of Man. The Cabinet Office responded that no information is held because the Isle of Man lacks the legislative framework to process asylum claims, meaning no asylum seekers are present.

Key Facts

• People cannot claim asylum on the Isle of Man.
• The Island does not have the appropriate legislative or administrative framework to handle asylum seekers.
• Anyone wishing to claim asylum must travel to the UK to do so.
• Asylum seekers in the UK must reside there until their application is processed.
• The Cabinet Office does not hold the requested information.

Data Disclosed

• 4861253
• 11 August 2025
• 2025-08-11
• 2025-08-12
• IM1 3PN
• 01624 686244

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

I would like to know how many asylum seekers are here and how many are on benefits and giving them houses etc and whom is letting them in and how many are deported from the Isle of Man

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 4861253 11 August 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 11 August 2025, which states:

"I would like to know how many asylum seekers are here and how many are on benefits and giving them houses etc and whom is letting them in and how many are deported from the Isle of Man"

By way advice and assistance, please note that people cannot claim asylum on the Isle of Man. The Island does not have the appropriate legislative or administrative framework in place to handle asylum seekers.

Anyone who arrives in the Isle of Man wishing to claim asylum would need to travel to the UK to do so. People who claim asylum in the UK must continue to reside there, until their application has been processed and their status determined.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office therefore does not hold the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 4861253 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or

1. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.