Jordan Visa

The Kingdom of Jordan is rapidly becoming an important tourist destination for one reason or the other. With continued peace and security in the region, many people are opting to come to the Middle East to have a glimpse of the wonders of the Kingdom of Jordan. There are others who visit Jordan either, to visit their friends or relatives, to make Jordan their home by virtue of their marriage, for visiting the holy shrines here, for the purpose of higher studies, or for seeking employment here. Whatever be the purpose of your visit, you need a visa to enter the country.

You should be well acquainted with all the rules and regulations pertaining to the issue of visa for entry into the country. Arrivals at Aqaba, either through the port, the airport, through the crossing from Israel or Saudi Arabia are issued a free visa to Jordan. The only condition attached with this visa is that they should leave the country within one month of arrival without having to renew their visa.

Visitors arriving at Jordan through any other entry point other than Aqaba are entitled to a free visa, without payment of the arrival tax. But, they must report to the authorities and register with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Visa Office in Aqaba within 48 hours of their arrival at Jordan. Those failing to do so would have to make the payment of the tax when they leave. All visitors, without any exemption, will have to pay the exit tax whenever they leave the country.

Citizens from Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Vatican do not require any visa for entry. Everyone else needs a visa and visitors from most of the countries can get a visa on arrival.

Citizens of UK, USA, Mexico, South America and countries of Western Europe are issued visas on arrival at the airport or at the borders in Amman. Visitors from other restricted countries will have to submit the following documents for all types of visas:

Jordanian Airport Transit visa:
- A completed visa application form
- One photo
- Photocopy of your passport (the passport should be valid at least for another six months)
- A photocopy of proof of your permanent residential address
- A letter specifying the purpose of visit
- A self addressed, stamped special delivery envelope to return your passport by mail

These documents you will need for the following visa types:
- Jordanian Visitor visa : To visit relatives or friends in Jordan
- Jordanian Business visa : For Business trip to Jordan
- Jordanian Tourist visa : To visit Jordan as a tourist
- Jordanian Student Visa : To study in Jordan / Exchange Students
- Jordanian Employment Visa : To take up employment in Jordan
- Jordanian Permanent Residence visa : With a Jordanian spouse
Documents as above along with a certificate of marriage

You should note that visa approvals take between 6 to 8 weeks, though some applications may take longer. Visa processing may take 2-3 days for U.K. and European citizens. For a business visa, you need a letter from your employer or your company stating the purpose of your visit. The fee for the visa varies, depending on the duration of the visa. You are advised to check with the Jordanian diplomatic mission in your country before travel to ensure that you have all the necessary documents and papers for travel and completion of visa formalities.