Jordan
Jordan visas and residence permits: the complete guide
- 9 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Jordan work
Jordan sorts foreign visitors into two groups. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) publishes a list of "restricted" nationalities, mostly from South Asia and Africa plus Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Cuba and Belize, whose citizens need prior approval before they travel. Everyone else is "non-restricted" and can buy an electronic visa online or get a visa at Queen Alia International Airport and most land borders, where a single-entry visa costs JOD 40. Jordan Pass, bought before arrival, removes that fee for tourists who stay at least two nights.
Since January 2026 the MOI stamps three months of temporary residence into the passport of foreigners entering at a border point, instead of the former one month; people entering on a work visa are excluded. Visitors who stay longer than two weeks must register their address with the Public Security Directorate, and a stay can be extended online up to six months from the date of entry. Holders of a Jordan Pass bought before arrival who spend at least two consecutive nights in the country do not pay the single-entry tourist visa fee.
All prior-approval visas and most residence permits run through the MOI e-services portal, where a sponsor, employer or educational institution in Jordan files the application. Paid employment requires a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, normally arranged by the employer before the worker arrives. For long stays without a job, Jordan offers an annual residence backed by a bank deposit of JOD 20,000, a five-year residence for buyers of property worth JOD 150,000 to 300,000, and citizenship routes for investors set by a Cabinet decision of July 2026.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or short visit, non-restricted nationality: buy the e-visa before travel or get a visa on arrival at Queen Alia airport or most land borders; with a Jordan Pass and at least two nights in Jordan the single-entry fee is waived.
Restricted nationality (see the MOI list): a sponsor in Jordan applies for a visit visa or, for stays of up to 72 hours on the way to a third country, a transit visa on the MOI e-services portal before you travel.
Studying at a Jordanian university or school: the institution files the study visa and later the annual study residence for you.
Taking a job: your employer obtains Ministry of Labour approval and a work visa; the work permit and residence follow after arrival.
Living in Jordan without working: annual residence under a bank deposit, or the five-year residence for property buyers; investors can compare the citizenship-by-investment routes.
Visa types for Jordan
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visit visa (tourism): visa-free entry, e-visa, visa on arrival or prior-approval visit visa
How a tourist enters Jordan depends on nationality: non-restricted nationals buy an e-visa or get a JOD 40 visa on arrival, restricted nationals need a prior-approval visit visa requested by a sponsor in Jordan, and a few nationalities are visa-exempt.
Maximum stay: Three months of temporary residence stamped on entry (since January 2026); extendable up to six months from the date of entry - Transit visa Transit visa (visa for the purpose of passing through, up to 72 hours)
Jordan's transit visa is a prior-approval visa for restricted nationals who need to pass through the country on the way to a third state.
Maximum stay: 72 hours from entry; not renewable
Business and self-employment
- Investor visa Jordanian citizenship by investment (Cabinet Decision No. 9238 of 2026)
Cabinet Decision No.
Maximum stay: Residence until the project operates, then a temporary Jordanian passport for three years
Study and training
- Student visa Study visa and residence for the purpose of study
Foreign students in Jordan do not apply for their visa themselves: the Jordanian educational institution files a study visa on the Ministry of Interior e-services portal while the student is still abroad, and later applies for and renews the student's annual residence for study.
Maximum stay: Annual residence for study, renewed by the institution
Work
- Work visa Work visa, Ministry of Labour work permit and work residence
To work in Jordan a foreigner needs an employer who first obtains Ministry of Labour approval to recruit them, then requests a work visa from the Ministry of Interior while the worker is still abroad.
Maximum stay: Work permits are issued for a year or part of a year and renewed; validity starts on the date of entry
Residence
- Residence permit Annual residence under a bank deposit (residence without work)
Foreigners who want to live in Jordan on their own sponsorship can apply online for an annual residence for themselves and their family by showing a certificate from a bank in Jordan for at least JOD 20,000, or JOD 10,000 together with the title deed of an apartment in their name.
Maximum stay: One year, renewable; five years with Residence and Borders Department approval - Golden visa and residence by investment Five-year residence through real estate investment
Under Cabinet Decision No.
Maximum stay: Five years, renewable
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Electronic visa (instant e-visa of the Ministry of Interior)
Jordan's Ministry of Interior sells an instant electronic entry visa to nationals who do not need prior approval, and to certain other nationals who hold a Schengen or US visa or a residence permit in a listed country.
Maximum stay: Three months of temporary residence is recorded on entry; extendable up to six months from entry - Visa on arrival Entry visa on arrival (airports and land borders)
Non-restricted nationals can buy a JOD 40 single-entry visa on arrival at Queen Alia International Airport and at most land borders, according to the Jordan Tourism Board.
Maximum stay: Three months of temporary residence on entry (since January 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Jordan?
Almost every foreign visitor needs one, but how you get it depends on the Ministry of Interior's list of restricted nationalities. If your nationality is not on it, you can buy the instant e-visa online or obtain a visa on arrival at Queen Alia International Airport and most land borders; a single-entry visa costs JOD 40, waived with Jordan Pass for a stay of at least two nights. Restricted nationals need prior approval through a sponsor in Jordan. Work, study and residence require the relevant Jordanian permit.
How long can I stay in Jordan after entering?
Since January 2026 foreigners entering at a border point receive three months of temporary residence stamped in their passport, except those arriving on a work visa. A longer stay can be requested online through the MOI temporary residence extension service, up to six months from the date of entry.
Do I have to register my address in Jordan?
Yes, if you stay longer than two weeks. Article 11 of the Residence and Foreigners Affairs Law requires you to file a declaration with the Public Security Directorate or a security centre; hotels and hosts must report you within 48 hours. Each breach carries a fine of JOD 200.
Does the Jordan Pass really replace the visa fee?
For eligible tourists, yes. The Jordan Pass (JOD 70, 75 or 80 depending on Petra days) waives the single-entry tourist visa fee if it is bought before arrival and you stay at least two consecutive nights. Leave earlier and the fee is collected on departure; multiple-entry visas are not covered.
Can I get a visa at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge?
No. The Jordan Tourism Board states that visas must be arranged in advance for the King Hussein Bridge, and that the Wadi Araba crossing near Aqaba issues visas only in narrowly defined cases. Queen Alia airport, the Sheikh Hussein crossing and most other land borders issue visas on arrival to non-restricted nationalities.
What does "restricted nationality" mean?
It is the MOI term for nationalities that need prior approval before a visa is issued. The list covers 14 Asian, 37 African and two Latin American states, and travel documents other than passports (except those of the Vatican). Their visits are applied for by a sponsor in Jordan on the MOI e-services portal.
Do Iraqi citizens living in the Gulf need prior approval?
No, according to the MOI. Iraqis holding a residence permit in a Gulf Cooperation Council country valid for at least six months, together with a return ticket, can obtain an entry visa on arrival at the border.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.