Jamaica, a country in the northern Caribbean, is a State party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Jamaica has also acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, but is not yet a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Jamaica's geographic position makes it a transit point for migrants and asylum seekers, mainly from Haiti, but also from Cuba. These individuals predominantly reside in urban areas such as Kingston and Montego Bay, living within host communities. 

The country has experienced sporadic arrivals of asylum seekers, primarily from Haiti, fleeing political instability, violence, and economic hardship. These individuals often arrive by sea and are typically detained upon arrival. In some instances, they are charged with illegal entry and face deportation, though there have been calls for more humane treatment and adherence to international protection standards. In 2009, a National Refugee Policy was adopted, strengthening a previously ad hoc approach to determining refugee status. In practice, persons seeking international protection are processed on a case-by-case basis, without a formalized legal framework or dedicated procedural safeguards. A limited number of applications for international protection are recorded, reflecting the limited scale of formal refugee recognition.