Date of publication:

09/30/2026

Jordan

Do domestic laws and policies provide access to asylum procedures for people seeking asylum?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

IDPs
Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Stateless persons
Analysis

Jordan has adopted an administrative approach to refugee protection, working with UNHCR under a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Through this arrangement, UNHCR registers asylum seekers, conducts interviews, determines refugee status in accordance with international standards, and issues documentation, which serves as the primary channel for accessing protection in Jordan.

However, domestic law does not establish a formal asylum system. Jordan is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and has not enacted a national asylum law. As a result, refugee status determination (RSD) is not legally guaranteed and depends on administrative practice rather than enforceable rights. The MoU, while central, is an administrative arrangement rather than a binding statute.

While Jordan has made significant strides in hosting displaced populations, operational constraints continue to affect the consistency and fairness of protection delivery. Registration delays, gaps in documentation, and limited public awareness of procedures can hinder access to protection and services—especially for non-Syrian asylum-seekers and those outside formal registration systems.

Despite these limitations, Jordan has maintained a consistent commitment to refugee protection by facilitating temporary stay, access to basic services, and coordination through the Jordan Response Plan (JRP). 

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of Jordan and UNHCR
    • Year: 1998
    • Type: Other
    • Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation

    Legal provision

    Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of Jordan and UNHCR - Generic

    Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of Jordan and UNHCR - Generic

    Law No. 24 of 1973 on Residence and Foreigners' Affairs

    Legal provision

    Law No. 24 of 1973 on Residence and Foreigners' Affairs - Generic

    Law No. 24 of 1973 on Residence and Foreigners' Affairs - Generic

    Jordan Response Plan for Syria Crisis
    • Year: 2023
    • Type: Domestic policy
    • Rights Category: Health

    Legal provision

    Jordan Response Plan for Syria Crisis - Generic

    Jordan Response Plan for Syria Crisis - Generic