Jersey Immigration Rules
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WQ.224/2026
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 19th OCTOBER 2026
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 26th OCTOBER 2026
Question
"In relation to Part 11 of the Jersey Immigration Rules, and specifically Articles 327A, 328, 329 and 345, will the Minister advise –
- the status of an individual who arrives in the Island and claims asylum because they fear persecution in their country of origin;
- how such claims are handled, whether in practice such asylum claims are processed in Jersey or the UK and whether the person faces being sent to a safe third country;
- whether, in her assessment, Jersey currently has appropriate operational and legal arrangements, procedures and resources necessary to determine asylum claims independently;
- if Jersey does not currently determine asylum claims in practice, what legal and operational arrangements govern the treatment of an asylum claimant in Jersey (including in respect of accommodation and other essential welfare needs); and
how many individuals have presented themselves to claim asylum in Jersey in the past 5 years, and what proportion have had their claim processed by the Jersey Customs and Immigration
Service?" Answer
- Any individual who presents in Jersey and claims asylum is treated as an asylum claimant and is subject to the procedures set out within the Island's immigration and asylum framework. Their claim will be assessed to determine whether it is an admissible claim and whether Jersey has responsibility for considering the claim.
- All asylum claims made in Jersey are processed by the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS).
Individuals arriving in Jersey on commercial air or sea services will have travelled from a safe country, as Jersey does not have direct international air links from countries that would typically generate significant numbers of asylum claims.
Any individual claiming asylum will initially be subject to an asylum screening interview. Where a claim is determined to be inadmissible, the individual will normally be refused entry and returned to the safe country from which they travelled to Jersey. In such cases, the individual may be detained pending removal. The decision on the validity of the claim is determined by JCIS.
Where a claim is deemed admissible, the individual may be detained pending a substantive asylum interview and a decision on their claim. Decisions on admissible asylum claims are determined by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs.
- Jersey has well established legal and operational arrangements for the consideration of asylum claims. All asylum applications made in Jersey are processed locally by JCIS in accordance with the applicable immigration and asylum framework.
- Asylum claims are determined in Jersey. Asylum claimants have no recourse to public funds and are not permitted to undertake employment while their claim is being considered.
During the past five years, five individuals have presented themselves to claim asylum in Jersey.
All five claims were processed by the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service. Accordingly, 100% of asylum claims made in Jersey during this period were processed by JCIS.
In all cases, the asylum claims were unsuccessful, and all 5 individuals were returned to a safe third country.