Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2015 (FOIA) gives persons resident in the Isle of Man a legally enforceable right to obtain access to information held by the public authorities specified in Schedule 1 to FOIA. 

FOIA provides for the disclosure of information held by public authorities in accordance with the principles that:

• the information should be available to the public to promote the public interest; and 
• exceptions to the right of access are necessary to maintain a balance with rights to privacy, effective government, and value for the taxpayer.

FOIA applies in relation to information held by public authorities that was created on or after 11 October 2011.  It operates in addition to, and not in substitution for, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 2016 approved and issued by the Council of Ministers.

Non-resident persons cannot make FOI requests but can make requests under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. 

Information disclosed in response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act is available in a disclosure log maintained by Isle of Man Government for that purpose.