Jordan is a peaceful Middle Eastern country with an established expat community, offering excellent living standards and quality healthcare. The country is more progressive than many of its neighbours and has a strong police and military presence. Citizenship can be obtained through a minimum investment of $750,000, with various options available, including bank deposits, investments in businesses or government projects, and job creation.
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Successful applicants can travel to over 50 countries with a Jordanian passport, and applications are usually processed within three months.The Middle East country of Jordan is packed with culture and history, and although it borders some nations with ongoing conflicts or volatile political environments, it is a peaceful, content and relaxed place to live, with an established expat population.
Quality of life is among the best in the Arab world. Living standards are excellent, with good healthcare provision and a steady pace of economic growth attracting businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Petra is a remarkable city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Expats move to Jordan to experience the Red Sea and Dead Sea resorts alongside the archaeological ruins and unique attractions such as the Grand Treasury.
While Jordan is more conservative than many Western countries, it is also more progressive than much of the Middle East. Although a predominantly Muslim country, it is welcoming and inclusive, with a strong military and police presence to deter conflicts from neighbouring countries from reaching its population.
As a developing economic powerhouse, Jordan is a unique place for foreign nationals to live, and the heritage of Petra sits in sharp contrast to the highly modern, efficient and busy capital city of Amman, the cultural, political and economic hub.
This informative article concisely overviews Jordan, its culture, and its Citizenship by Investment program. It highlights the various options available for investors looking to obtain a Jordanian passport and includes information on travel, visas, taxes, and the cost of living in the country. This article will be useful for individuals seeking to understand Jordan better and explore the potential benefits of investing in its economy.
About Jordan
Currency
Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
Capital
The capital of Amman has a population of 4.008 million people and is famous for ancient ruins, which now sit alongside ultra-modern skyscrapers and international business centres.
Towns and cities
Amman is the largest city by a long way, followed by smaller towns such as Aqaba, Russeifa, Madaba, Irbid and Zarqa.
Population
11.15 million
British Expats
Roughly 197,400 foreign nationals live in Jordan, with most living in the capital Amman.
Languages
The national language is Arabic, although some people also speak English, German and French, alongside other European languages.
Climate
Jordan has an arid, dry climate with varying temperatures, from Mediterranean, warm conditions to dry, desert heat; the northern highlands are significantly cooler, with an average temperature of between 9°C and 13°C (48.2°F to 55.4°F), compared to the desert regions with averages of 9°C to 22°C (48.2°F to 71.6°F) year-round.
Summers in Jordan are scorching and dry, and the winters short, with a subtropical weather pattern linked to the nearby Arabian desert and the eastern Mediterranean.
GDP
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in Jordan is $45.74 billion (£36.39 billion), categorised as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank, with growth in tourism and service sectors.
Map
Jordan is a southwest Asian country north of the Arabian Peninsula and is separated from Palestine by the Jordan River.
Citizenship By Investment Options
British nationals can apply for citizenship in Jordan through the investment programme, which provides a second passport with a minimum investment of $750,000 (£596,706). However, there are varied options, such as:
- Depositing funds in a local bank
- Purchasing treasury bonds
- Investing in securities
- Investing in a small or medium business
- Creating new jobs in the economy
Option one includes a bank deposit plus treasury bonds. Bank deposits must be made in zero-interest accounts with a minimum value of $1 million (£795,608), deposited through the Central Bank of Jordan for at least three years. Treasury bonds are issued at an interest rate at the central bank’s discretion, with a minimum purchase of $1 million (£795,608), and must be retained for six years.
The second route is to invest in shares in Jordanian businesses worth at least $1.5 million (£1.193 million) and keep the shares for three years or more – the Jordan Securities Commission temporarily controls shares for the duration.
Lastly, applicants can invest in government projects in specific economic sectors, with a minimum investment of $750,000 (£596,706) for projects outside Amman or $1 million (£795,608) within the capital city.
If the project relates to local governments outside the capital, government investments must generate at least 20 jobs.
Travel
Successful applicants can travel on a Jordanian passport to various countries, including Turkey and Hong Kong, as well as 50+ other destinations.
Timescale
Citizenship by investment applications are normally processed within three months.
Visas
British nationals must have a valid visa to travel to Jordan. Short-stay travellers will normally purchase a single-entry visa valid for one month following arrival for JOD 40 (£45). JOD 10 (£11) exit taxes are also payable at all borders.
Visitors can apply to extend a visa for up to six months and can be fined if they stay past their expiry date – applications for visa extensions can be made and paid for online.
Find out more about applying for a Jordanian visa.
Tax
Expats become categorised as Jordanian tax residents if they live in the country for at least 183 days per year – otherwise, regardless of their citizenship status, they may still be considered tax residents in the UK.
Personal income tax rates work in brackets and extend up to 30 per cent for earnings of over JOD 1 million (£1.121 million), although any tax payable above JOD 200,000 (£224,307) is taxed an additional one per cent as a national tax contribution.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in Jordan is considerably lower than in the UK, and rental prices are an average of 73.6 per cent more affordable; other general costs are also cheaper and approximately 28.8 per cent lower.
A family of four needs a budget of around £1,880 per month to live comfortably, excluding mortgage or rental costs, and a single person needs roughly £534, excluding accommodation.
Property
Foreign nationals have plenty of choices when renting a property in Jordan, although any plots of land subject to a rental agreement cannot be larger than 10 acres, and the maximum lease term is three years.
Most tenants pay rent in advance, so landlords do not normally ask for a deposit or guarantor, although a two per cent government tax is payable annually, based on your rental cost, and tenants are usually responsible for services and utilities.
Purchasing a home can be more complex but may be eligible for citizenship by investment, and most local banks have specific products designed for foreign nationals. Expats can purchase one property for personal use, whether as an investment or a primary home.
Properties vary from buildings constructed from sun-dried adobe brick to modern apartments.
The average price of a property in Jordan is around $475,000 (£377,914), depending on where you live – homes in central Amman are inevitably more expensive than in less heavily populated parts of Jordan.
| Property Type | Average Monthly Rental Cost |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom city centre apartment | JOD 210 / £236 |
| One-bedroom apartment elsewhere | JOD 158 / £177 |
| Three-bedroom city centre apartment | JOD 379 / £425 |
| Three-bedroom apartment elsewhere | JOD 285 / £320 |
View properties for sale in Jordan through Rightmove.
Healthcare
The Jordanian social security system funds a high-quality healthcare system, with low costs and good treatment standards, with even private care costing between 10 and 30 times less than comparable pricing in the US.
Most top-quality facilities are based in Amman, and the public hospitals are well-equipped.
Expats can also take out private healthcare insurance, which may be more comfortable, although public healthcare contributions are automatically taken from all employees, allowing national free or subsidised healthcare.
Jordan Citizenship By Investment FAQ
The FAQ section answers common questions about Jordan’s Citizenship By Investment program. If you’re considering applying for citizenship through investment in Jordan, these FAQs may help address any queries or concerns you have about the application process, requirements, and other relevant details.
The Jordanian government does not expressly forbid multiple citizenships but can require a domicile to renounce their passport to be permitted to become a citizen of a third country. They may also require foreign nationals to rescind their passport to comply with foreign nationality laws.
Citizenship legislation in Jordan can be complex; for example, a child born to a Jordanian mother but a non-national father is not considered a citizen. Applicants must comply with minimum investment values and retain their investments for the applicable period – if they sell or transfer the investment beforehand, their citizenship may be revoked.
The reasons for refusing citizenship include a lack of evidence about the source of funds, not providing a police clearance certificate or having a criminal record or other background details that mean an expat does not pass the ‘good character’ assessments.
The average flight time between London and Amman is around five and a half hours. British travellers can fly direct from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton, to Queen Alia International, based in the capital city.
The Jordanian currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD).
Yes, foreign nationals arriving in Jordan must have a short-stay tourist visa and can apply for an extension or an additional work or residency permit if they intend to stay for 30 days or longer.
Related Information
Below is a list of related articles you may find of interest.
Resources
- The official website of the Government of Jordan: https://www.jordan.gov.jo/wps/portal/Home
- The website of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates: https://www.mfa.gov.jo/
- The website of the Jordan Investment Commission: https://www.jic.gov.jo/
