Jordan’s visa system is more visitor-friendly than many travellers expect. Most Western nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival — no embassy appointment, no advance application required. There are also two ways to avoid paying the 40 JOD visa fee entirely: the Jordan Pass, or entering through Aqaba’s Special Economic Zone.
This guide covers the full picture: who needs what, what it costs, how to get it, and the rules for specific entry points.
Who gets visa on arrival
The following nationalities can obtain a Jordanian tourist visa on arrival at all international entry points (Queen Alia Airport, Aqaba Airport, and the Wadi Araba/King Hussein/Sheikh Hussein land crossings):
Visa on arrival, 40 JOD (single entry, 30 days):
- United States
- All European Union member states
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- South Korea
- Many other nationalities — the full list is updated regularly on the Ministry of Interior website (moi.gov.jo)
Conditions for visa on arrival:
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date
- Onward travel evidence (return ticket or proof of onward journey) may be requested, particularly if your passport shows stamps from conflict zones
- Sufficient funds for your stay — not typically asked for Western nationalities but officially part of the entry requirements
The 40 JOD visa fee: when you pay it and when you do not
You pay 40 JOD if:
- You enter Jordan at any point (airport or land border) without a Jordan Pass
- You enter with a Jordan Pass but stay fewer than 3 nights in Jordan
You do not pay if:
- You have a Jordan Pass AND stay a minimum of 3 nights in Jordan — the Pass includes the visa fee waiver
- You enter Jordan through Aqaba (King Hussein International Airport or the Wadi Araba/Yitzhak Rabin land crossing from Eilat) — Aqaba falls within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, where tourist entry is free regardless of your visa status
The Aqaba entry exemption is a significant planning tool: if your Jordan itinerary starts in the south (Aqaba → Wadi Rum → Petra), you save the 40 JOD visa fee automatically. If you then exit through Amman, you do not pay again — you pay exit fees but not re-entry.
Jordan Pass: the tourist visa solution
The Jordan Pass is a pre-purchased tourist package that includes:
- The visa fee waiver (for stays of 3+ nights)
- Petra entry for 1, 2, or 3 days
- Entry to 40+ additional sites across Jordan
For virtually any tourist itinerary longer than 3 nights, the Jordan Pass saves money compared to paying for the visa plus Petra entry separately. The entry price for Petra alone (50 JOD for one day) exceeds the cheapest Jordan Pass (70 JOD, which includes the visa waiver and one Petra day).
Buy the Jordan Pass at jordanpass.jo before arrival. It is activated online and shown on your phone or printed. See our detailed Jordan Pass guide for tier comparison and a full worth-it calculation.
E-visa option
Jordan offers an electronic visa through the official portal vis.gov.jo. The e-visa is issued online before you travel, which can save time at the immigration desk on arrival.
E-visa details:
- Available to most nationalities eligible for visa on arrival
- Single-entry: 40 JOD (same price as on-arrival)
- Multi-entry: 90 JOD (allows multiple entries within the visa validity period)
- Processing time: typically 2–7 business days
- Valid for stays of up to 30 days (single entry) or 90 days across multiple entries
When to use the e-visa vs on-arrival:
- If you want a multi-entry visa (90 JOD, only available via the e-visa route)
- If you prefer to have your visa confirmed before you leave home
- If you are concerned about on-arrival processing time during busy periods
The on-arrival visa is perfectly reliable for most travellers and does not require pre-arrangement.
Multi-entry visa
If you plan to cross in and out of Jordan during your trip — for example, entering from Israel at Wadi Araba, touring Jordan, crossing back to Israel at King Hussein Bridge, then returning to Jordan — you need a multi-entry visa.
Multi-entry visas (90 JOD, 6-month validity, up to 90 days total stay) are available:
- Via the e-visa portal (vis.gov.jo) before travel
- From Jordanian embassies and consulates in your home country
The 40 JOD on-arrival and Jordan Pass visas are single-entry only. They cannot be reused after you exit Jordan.
Visa for Israelis and specific nationalities
Israeli nationals: May enter Jordan through all three crossings (Wadi Araba, Sheikh Hussein, Allenby Bridge). Israeli passport holders require a visa, obtained at the crossing or pre-arranged. Entry at the Wadi Araba (Aqaba) crossing is visa-free under the Aqaba SEZ exemption, same as all other nationalities.
Nationals of specific countries with no diplomatic relations: A small number of countries’ nationals cannot enter Jordan on a standard tourism visa. These situations are rare and specific. Check with your nearest Jordanian embassy or the official Ministry of Interior portal before booking.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi nationals can enter Jordan without a visa and with their national identity card (no passport required). Duration of stay: up to 30 days.
GCC nationals (UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain): Can enter without a visa.
Egypt and Turkey: Can enter without a visa, or with simplified visa procedures.
Duration of stay and extensions
Standard tourist visa: 30 days from date of entry (not date of issue)
Extending your stay: Extensions are available from the Residency and Borders Affairs Department at any governorate’s civil status and passport department. Cost: approximately 1.5 JOD per day beyond 30 days for the first month of extension, with escalating fees after that. This is rarely needed for normal tourist visits.
What happens if you overstay: A fine is imposed on departure, calculated per day of overstay. Avoid overstaying — the process is bureaucratic and the fines accumulate quickly.
Entry with an Israeli stamp in your passport
Jordan and Israel have had full diplomatic relations since 1994. Jordanian immigration officials see Israeli stamps routinely and there is no restriction on entry for travellers with Israeli passport stamps. This is different from the situation at some other Arab country borders.
Practical tips for arrival
At Queen Alia Airport:
- Passport control queues can be long on busy evenings (multiple evening arrivals from Europe)
- Having your entry form completed before you reach the window speeds up the process
- The on-arrival visa desk is alongside passport control — you pay 40 JOD (cash — USD accepted, change given in JOD) or present your Jordan Pass QR code
- ATMs are in the arrivals hall if you need to withdraw JOD before paying
At land border crossings:
- Visa procedures at Wadi Araba (Eilat ↔ Aqaba) take 15–30 minutes under normal conditions
- At King Hussein Bridge (Allenby), allow 2–3 hours for the full crossing including both sides’ procedures
- At Sheikh Hussein, typically 1–2 hours
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Jordan Pass at the border?
No. The Jordan Pass must be purchased online at jordanpass.jo before you arrive at the entry point. It cannot be purchased at the airport or border. If you have not bought it in advance and you are arriving without it, you will pay the 40 JOD on-arrival visa and then purchase a separate Petra ticket at the site.
Is there a departure tax?
Yes. A departure tax is charged when leaving Jordan:
- By air: typically included in the airline ticket price
- By land (border crossings): approximately 10 JOD, paid at the crossing departure window
- By sea (Aqaba ferry): approximately 10 JOD, paid at the port departure terminal
What if I lose my passport while in Jordan?
Contact your embassy or consulate in Amman immediately. Most major countries have embassies in Amman. An emergency travel document can be issued for departure. You will need a police report and two passport photos.
Do children need a separate visa?
Yes. Each person entering Jordan, regardless of age, requires a visa. Children listed on a parent’s passport in older international passport formats — increasingly rare — should check current regulations with the Jordanian embassy. Most countries now issue separate children’s passports.
Can I extend my stay if I fall in love with Jordan?
Yes, through the extension process described above — or by exiting and re-entering (requires a multi-entry visa). The most common “extension” strategy for long-term travellers has been to cross briefly into Israel at the Wadi Araba crossing and re-enter — but this only works if you have a multi-entry Jordan visa or can get a new on-arrival visa (the Aqaba SEZ exemption applies for re-entry through Aqaba). This is a grey area — do not rely on it without confirming current policy with immigration authorities.
Jordan entry: what actually happens at the airport
For travellers arriving at Queen Alia International Airport, the process is:
- Disembark and follow signs to “Passport Control / Immigration”
- Separate queues exist for Jordanians, GCC nationals, and international visitors. Follow the international/passport line.
- Visa window: Before the main passport control desk, there is a visa issuance window where you pay the 40 JOD visa fee (if not using Jordan Pass or entering via Aqaba). Have cash (JOD or USD) or a credit card ready.
- Jordan Pass: If you have a Jordan Pass, proceed directly to the passport control desk and present your QR code and passport. The officer scans your QR code and stamps your passport.
- Passport stamp: You receive a Jordan entry stamp. This does not cause problems at other Arab country borders — Jordan’s status as a neutral, peaceful kingdom means its entry stamp is widely accepted.
- Baggage claim and customs: Standard baggage claim. Customs is selective; green channel (nothing to declare) is the standard route for most tourists.
The full process typically takes 20–45 minutes for most Western nationalities. During peak arrival times (multiple evening European flights landing simultaneously), it can extend to 60–75 minutes.
Land border entry: what actually happens
At the Wadi Araba (Eilat ↔ Aqaba) crossing, which is the most tourist-used land crossing:
- Israeli exit: Pay the 116 ILS exit tax at a designated window. Pass through Israeli immigration and security (thorough — allow 30–60 minutes).
- No-man’s land: Walk or take a short shuttle (usually included) across the crossing zone.
- Jordanian entry: Present passport. If entering via Aqaba, no visa fee (SEZ exemption) — you receive a free entry stamp. If you have a Jordan Pass, show the QR code.
- Currency: There are ATMs on the Jordanian side in Aqaba shortly after crossing. If you have no JOD yet, you can use USD for early purchases (taxis, SIM card) until you reach an ATM.
- Onward transport: Taxis to central Aqaba wait outside the crossing exit — 2–3 JOD.
Countries that need visa pre-arrangement
While most Western nationalities can get a visa on arrival, a small number of nationalities require arranging a visa through the Jordanian embassy in advance. These include nationals of:
- Some African countries
- North Korea
- Countries with specific bilateral restrictions
The authoritative list is on the Jordanian Ministry of Interior website (moi.gov.jo). If you are unsure whether your nationality qualifies for visa on arrival, check this list or contact the nearest Jordanian embassy at least 6 weeks before your travel date.
The official sources
Always verify visa information against official sources before booking non-refundable travel:
- Jordanian Ministry of Interior: moi.gov.jo (visa policy and requirements)
- Jordan e-visa portal: vis.gov.jo (e-visa applications)
- Jordan Pass portal: jordanpass.jo (Jordan Pass purchase, includes visa waiver conditions)
- Your country’s Jordan embassy: For nationality-specific questions and visa pre-arrangement
Visa rules change — particularly around new bilateral agreements and digital visa programmes. A check 4–6 weeks before departure is always worthwhile.