Do you need a visa for Jordan?
Most nationalities can enter Jordan on a visa issued on arrival, and the process at Queen Alia airport is quick and unfussy. But there's one rule that decides whether you pay 40 JD or nothing at all, and it has to be sorted out before you get on the plane. Here's the whole picture, plainly.
Immigration rules change and depend on your nationality and your entry point. This is a plain-language orientation, not immigration advice — confirm with the Jordanian Ministry of Interior / your nearest Jordanian embassy, and check jordanpass.jo before you travel.
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The single most important thing on this page
Buy the Jordan Pass online before you arrive, and your 40 JD tourist visa fee is waived entirely.
The pass costs 70–80 JD and also includes Petra (50 JD on its own) plus 40+ other sites. So for anyone visiting Petra, the visa effectively becomes free and you save money on top. Buy it before you fly — if you buy it after landing, the waiver does not apply and you'll pay the visa fee anyway.
Two conditions, and they're strict:
- You must buy it before arriving in Jordan.
- You must stay at least 3 days / 2 nights in Jordan. Leave sooner and you'll be charged the visa fee on the way out.
Full breakdown: Is the Jordan Pass worth it?
If you're not buying the Jordan Pass
Visa on arrival is available to most nationalities at Queen Alia International Airport (Amman), and costs 40 JD for a single-entry tourist visa, normally valid for 30 days. Pay at the counter before immigration — cards are usually accepted, but bring cash as backup.
Some nationalities must obtain a visa in advance from a Jordanian embassy, and some (including several Arab states) enter visa-free. Because these lists change, check your specific passport with the Jordanian embassy for your country before you book.
Group visas (5+ travellers arriving together through a registered Jordanian tour operator) are often free — worth asking your operator.
The border trap: arriving from Israel or Egypt
This is where people get caught, and it's worth reading twice.
The Jordan Pass visa waiver does not work if you enter overland from Israel at the King Hussein / Allenby Bridge crossing. That crossing has its own rules, and the waiver isn't honoured there.
If you're crossing from Israel, the Wadi Araba crossing (Aqaba, in the south) and the Sheikh Hussein crossing (in the north) are the ones where a visa can be issued — and Aqaba, as a special economic zone, has historically issued free visas to visitors entering there under certain conditions.
And remember the double penalty for day-trippers: come to Petra for a single day without an overnight stay in Jordan and you pay the 90 JD day-visitor rate at Petra instead of 50 JD, on top of losing the visa waiver.
If your route involves a land border, confirm the current rules for your specific crossing before you travel. They differ by crossing and they change.
What immigration will want
- A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival.
- Your Jordan Pass QR code (on your phone is fine) if you have one.
- Proof of onward travel and an address in Jordan — occasionally asked for, rarely.
In practice, arrival at Queen Alia is one of the smoother experiences in the region: scan the pass, get the stamp, walk out. Budget 30–45 minutes.
Practical things worth knowing on arrival
Getting into Amman from the airport: the Airport Express bus (Sariyah) runs to the 7th Circle / North Terminal for around 3–4 JD. A taxi is a fixed rate of roughly 25–30 JD. Uber and Careem both work.
SIM cards: Zain, Orange and Umniah all sell tourist SIMs at the airport — cheap, and worth it for maps and WhatsApp (which is how everyone in Jordan communicates, including your desert camp).
Money: withdraw dinars at the airport ATMs. Note that the dinar is strong (1 JD ≈ $1.41), which trips people up.
Is it safe? Jordan is a stable, safe country for visitors and has been for decades, with a strong tourist police presence at every major site — but it sits in a region that makes headlines, and the honest answer deserves more than a line in a FAQ. Ask Salim on the quiz page: safety questions get a proper, current, human answer rather than an AI guess.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Jordan?
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Queen Alia International Airport for 40 JD, valid 30 days. However, if you buy the Jordan Pass online before you fly, the tourist visa fee is waived entirely — provided you stay at least 3 days / 2 nights in Jordan.
How much is a Jordan visa on arrival?
A single-entry tourist visa on arrival costs 40 JD and is normally valid for 30 days. The fee is waived completely if you buy a Jordan Pass (70–80 JD) online before arriving, which also includes Petra entry and 40+ other sites.
Does the Jordan Pass work at the Israel border?
Not at all crossings. The visa waiver is not honoured at the King Hussein / Allenby Bridge crossing. The Wadi Araba (Aqaba) and Sheikh Hussein (north) crossings have different rules. If your route involves a land border, confirm the current rules for your specific crossing before travelling.
How long can tourists stay in Jordan?
A tourist visa is normally valid for 30 days. Longer stays require an extension, which is arranged at a police station in Jordan before the visa expires.
Is Jordan safe to visit?
Jordan is a stable country that has welcomed visitors for decades, with a visible tourist police presence at all major sites. It does sit in a region that generates headlines, so check your own government's current travel advice before booking — and ask Salim on the quiz page, where safety questions get a curated, current answer rather than an AI guess.