The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan offers visa-on-arrival access to citizens of most countries through Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, and most land border crossings. Citizens of the United States, Canada, European Union member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore receive single-entry visas valid for 30 days upon arrival. The standard visa fee is 40 Jordanian dinars, approximately 56 US dollars as of current exchange rates. Payment accepts cash in Jordanian dinars, US dollars, euros, or British pounds, and credit cards at Queen Alia International Airport and Sheikh Hussein Bridge crossing. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates enter visa-free and may remain up to three months. Citizens of Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey, and Yemen must obtain visas prior to arrival through Jordanian embassies or consulates.
The Jordan Pass combines visa fees with entry to Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, and approximately 40 other archaeological and cultural sites. The pass must be purchased online before arrival at jordan-pass.jo. Three tiers exist: Jordan Wanderer at 70 dinars includes one-day Petra access, Jordan Explorer at 75 dinars includes two-day Petra access, and Jordan Expert at 80 dinars includes three-day Petra access. The visa waiver applies only when visitors stay a minimum of three consecutive nights in Jordan and enter through any airport or land crossing except Wadi Araba crossing from Eilat. Visitors entering for fewer than three nights pay the standard 40-dinar visa fee plus the pass cost. The pass remains valid for two weeks from first site use, and Petra tickets must be used on consecutive days.
Passport validity requirements mandate six months remaining from entry date. Immigration officers may request proof of onward travel, hotel reservations, or sufficient funds, though enforcement varies. Most international flights arrive at Queen Alia International Airport, located 35 kilometers south of Amman. The airport opened Terminal 1 in 2013, designed by Foster and Partners, and processed 8.9 million passengers in 2019 before pandemic-related reductions. Royal Jordanian Airlines serves as the flag carrier, operating direct flights from London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Montreal, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and multiple Middle Eastern cities. Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM maintain daily service. King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba receives limited international flights primarily from European leisure destinations and regional connections.
Five land borders connect Jordan with Israel, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The Syria border has remained closed since 2015. The Sheikh Hussein Bridge crossing, also called Jordan River Crossing, connects northern Jordan near Irbid with Beit She'an in Israel, operating Sunday through Thursday from 0630 to 2200, Friday and Saturday from 0800 to 2000. The King Hussein Bridge crossing, known as Allenby Bridge, connects Jordan with the West Bank near Jericho, operating Sunday through Thursday from 0800 to 1400 local time, Friday from 0800 to 1100, and closed Saturdays. This crossing serves West Bank Palestinian travelers and Israeli citizens, not international tourists using Jordanian visas. The Wadi Araba crossing, also called Yitzhak Rabin Terminal, connects Aqaba with Eilat in southern Israel, operating Sunday through Thursday from 0630 to 2000, and Friday through Saturday from 0800 to 2000. The Jordan Pass does not waive visa fees at Wadi Araba crossing regardless of length of stay. All Israel border crossings charge exit fees ranging from 10 to 15 dinars depending on location.
The Jaber border crossing connects Mafraq in northern Jordan with Naseeb in Syria but has not operated for civilian traffic since 2015 due to ongoing conflict in Syria. The Mudawwara crossing in southern Jordan connects to Saudi Arabia at Halat Ammar, requiring Saudi visas obtained in advance. Saudi Arabia introduced tourist e-visas in September 2019 for citizens of 49 countries including the United States, Canada, European Union nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. The Durra border connects Aqaba with Saudi Arabia's Haql but primarily serves local traffic. The Karameh crossing in eastern Jordan connects with Iraq at Turaibil, requiring Iraqi visas obtained through embassies prior to travel. The Iraqi e-visa system, launched in 2021, does not yet serve citizens of all countries.
Visa extensions in Jordan are processed through the Ministry of Interior's Residence and Borders Department offices in Amman and other major cities. The initial 30-day visa may be extended for up to six months total. Extensions cost 1.5 dinars per day overstayed if requested within the original 30-day period, or 1.5 dinars per day plus fines if requested after the visa expires. Travelers extending visas must present their passport, entry stamp, completed application form, and fees in cash. Processing typically completes within one business day when applications are submitted during morning hours. The main Amman office is located on Queen Rania al Abdullah Street in the Abdali district, operating Sunday through Thursday from 0800 to 1500. Visitors who overstay without obtaining extensions face fines of 1.5 dinars per day plus potential entry bans for future visits. Exit procedures at Queen Alia International Airport include automated passport control gates for visitors with biometric passports from participating countries, reducing departure processing to under five minutes during off-peak hours.
Work permits and residency permits follow separate processes requiring employer sponsorship, police clearances, medical examinations, and Ministry of Labor approvals. Student visas require acceptance letters from registered Jordanian universities and proof of financial support. The University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, and German-Jordanian University in Amman host the largest international student populations. Family reunion visas require proof of relationship and Jordanian sponsor documentation. Journalists and media workers must obtain Ministry of Information permits in addition to standard visas. Film and photography permits for commercial projects require separate applications through the Royal Film Commission Jordan, established in 2003 to promote Jordan as a filming location. The commission facilitated production of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at Petra in 1989, The Hurt Locker in 2008, and multiple Star Wars films at Wadi Rum.
Multiple-entry business visas valid for six months or one year require sponsorship from registered Jordanian companies or chambers of commerce. Applications are submitted through Jordanian embassies with company registration documents, tax certificates, invitation letters, and proof of business relationship. Processing takes 7 to 14 business days. Diplomatic and official passport holders from countries with bilateral agreements may enter visa-free or obtain visas on arrival depending on specific treaties. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes current diplomatic visa policies at mfa.gov.jo. United Nations personnel with laissez-passer documents obtain visas through official channels coordinated with host UN agencies operating in Jordan.
Special Development Zones exist in Aqaba and at King Hussein Bridge, offering streamlined visa processes for specific business activities. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, established in 2001, administers a free trade zone where foreign companies register with reduced documentation and obtain investor visas with extended validity. The authority processes approximately 500 investor visa applications annually. Duty-free imports and tax exemptions apply to businesses registered within the zone boundaries, which cover 375 square kilometers of Aqaba governorate. The Jordan Investment Commission facilitates large foreign direct investment projects and coordinates with Ministry of Interior for associated residence permits. Investment visas require minimum capital investments of 50,000 dinars for individuals or 100,000 dinars for partnerships.