Jordan Work Visas & Permits

Types of Jordan Work Visa and Permits

This section will delve into the types of Jordan work visas & permits, ensuring a smooth transition for your hired foreign talents, including digital nomads. 

Jordan work visa types

• Employment Visa:
  • This work visa in Jordan allows foreign professionals to take on paid work.
  • As an employer in Jordan, you must initiate the application process on behalf of the foreign employee you wish to hire.
  • Depending on the company's needs and Jordanian labor regulations, you can invite any skilled and unskilled professionals.

• Business Visa:
  • This visa allows corporate executives to enter Jordan for commercial activities. 
  • It's ideal for entrepreneurs, investors, and company representatives attending meetings, conferences, or trade shows.
  • Activities Permitted:
    • Negotiating contracts
    • Conducting market research
    • Attending business meetings and conferences
    • Establishing a business presence in Jordan (limited activities)
    • Exploring investment opportunities
  • Activities Not Permitted: Engaging in paid employment or providing professional services directly to Jordanian clients.

• Additionally, visitors entering Jordan outside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) can get a free entry visa if they reach ASEZ within 48 hours of their arrival in Jordan.

Jordan work permit types

While a work visa permits one to enter the country, a work permit in Jordan gives employees residence rights on arrival.

• Standard Work Permit:
  • For foreign professionals with a job offer from a Jordanian company.
  • Typically lasts for the duration of your employment contract, up to three years, and is renewable.

• Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) Work Permit:
  • Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority can issue work permits and visas (including visitor and residency visas), simplifying the process for businesses and foreign workers.
  • Businesses in ASEZ can hire more than 70% of foreign workers.
  • Moreover, Egyptian workers entering through Aqaba pay an insurance fee as a commitment to join their employer.
  • The insurance is refunded if they join the employer and obtain a work permit in Jordan within 30 days.

Requirements for Jordan Work Visa and Permits 

Obtaining a work permit in Jordan for foreign workers, including freelancers or independent contractors, involves careful consideration of the following guidelines:

Jordan work visa requirements

• Securing a job offer is essential before applying for Jordan work visas and permits.
• Additionally, they will need documents like:
  • Valid passport
  • Completed visa application form
  • Proof of financial solvency (bank statements)
  • Employment reference letter from your current employer
  • Invitation letter from Jordanian employer
  • Proof of accommodation in Jordan
  • Visa processing fee

• However, Jordan's regulations limit foreign worker participation in certain professions like:
  • Trades and Crafts: Carpentry, blacksmithing, metalworking, upholstery, and furniture repair.
  • Food Production: Small-scale production of desserts, pastries, ice cream, and similar items for direct sale.
  • Traditional Crafts: Embroidery, clothing workshops, goldsmithing, and pottery production.
  • Service Industries: Laundry and dry cleaning services, water bottling for direct sale, and nut roasting/packing for direct sale.

Jordan work permit requirements

• As an employer, you must convince the Ministry of Labor that you’ve exhausted all options for hiring Jordanians with the necessary skills.
• Employers are required to pay a fee for hiring foreign workers, with lower costs for Arab nationalities. Moreover, Jordanian law prioritizes hiring Arab workers over other nationalities.
• Further, you must submit comprehensive documents to apply for a work permit in Jordan, including company information, employment contract, passport details, medical certificate, and proof of social security registration.

How to Apply for Jordan Work Visa and Permits

Here’s what to follow while applying for Jordan work visas & permits: 

Work visa in Jordan

1. Applicants can contact their home country's Jordanian embassy or consulate for specific requirements and procedures. 

Work permit in Jordan

2. Submit all documents to the Employment Department for review.
3. Verify departure status with the data entry department (if applicable).
4. Obtain approval for work permit request from the department director.
5. Pay the work permit fee (varies based on nationality and sector).
6. Submit the approved work permit, stamp your passport, sign the work contract, and complete a residency form.
7. Furthermore, fill out and submit a separate application for a work permit in ASEZA. 

Special procedures for workers from Egypt

8. Submit a "bringing application" form approved by the Ministry of Labor. The bringing application is valid for two months.
9. Provide a valid vocational license for the establishment.
10. A recommendation from a relevant association or union verifying the need for the Egyptian worker(s).
11. Copies of projects or tenders undertaken by the employer.
12. Proof that all the employer's workers are registered and have paid social security contributions.
13. Submit additional worker documents (upon entry):

• Approved work contract by the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower.
• Worker's passport and photocopy.
• Medical checkups, non-conviction, and professional classification certificates (all issued by Egyptian authorities).
• Worker's photograph.

14. You can change the selected worker under certain conditions, such as if the worker doesn't sign the contract within two weeks or doesn't enter Jordan within 30 days of signing. 
15. However, you cannot obtain approval for new Egyptian workers after canceling valid Egyptian work permits.

Application processing time

The application for Jordan work visas & permits can be submitted online, and the authorities may take up to 60 days to process it.

Looking to Hire in Jordan? Skuad Can Help

Skuad’s one-stop EOR solutions can simplify your global hiring in 160+ countries. Partnering with Skuad as your Employer of Record (EOR) unlocks a multitude of benefits:

• Simplified work permit and visa assistance in Jordan
• Compliance with Jordanian employment laws during hiring, onboardings, and benefits administration
• Eliminate the need to set up a local subsidiary, saving you time, money, and administrative burdens.
• Handles payroll processing, taxes, and social security contributions for your Jordanian employees.

Start your demo today and simplify your hiring in Jordan.

FAQs

Q1. How do I get a work permit in Jordan?

A1. You can obtain a work permit in Jordan following a two-step process. First, secure a job offer and enter Jordan with a business or employment visa. Then, your employer will initiate the work permit application on your behalf, submitting documents like a work contract, passport copy, and medical certificate to the Ministry of Labor.

Q2. How much does a work permit cost in Jordan?

A2. A work permit in Jordan costs around 300 Jordanian Dinars (around USD 420) for non-Jordanian workers in most sectors. Meanwhile, for Arab workers in most sectors, the cost was reduced to 180 JOD (around USD 250). 

In the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, a 40 Jordanian Dinars (JD) fee is charged every three months during the visa or permit validity period. 

Additional fees include stamp duty (around 5%) applied to monthly salary, two Jordanian dinars for the work permit certification fee, and Employer of Record (EOR) services. 

Q3. Where is it easiest to get a work permit?

A3. Getting a work permit in Jordan is easier within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). The Zone allows businesses to employ more than 70% of foreigners. 

Q4. How to get a work visa for Jordan?

A4. Getting a work visa for Jordan requires a job offer first. Employers will then handle the work permit application. This involves submitting documents like your work contract, passport, and medical certificate to the Jordanian Ministry of Labor. Processing can take weeks, so plan. Remember, work visa assistance is also available through Employer of Record (EOR) partnerships with companies like Skuad.

Q5. How much is a Jordan work visa?

A5. The Jordan work visa is a multiple-entry visa with a six-month validity period and may cost up to 120 Jordanian dinars (approximately 170 USD).