Citizenship by investment in JordanOverview
Jordan's investor citizenship framework was introduced by Cabinet decision in 2018 and has since been revised several times. The decision adopted on 13 September 2021 set the core routes still referred to today, and a 2022 decision added sector-specific thresholds for activities such as pharmaceutical warehouses, logistics and tourism. There is no stand-alone statute: the routes are policy instruments of the Council of Ministers, reviewed periodically and subject to change.
Investors may qualify passively by placing USD 1 million as an interest-free deposit with the Central Bank of Jordan for three years, or by purchasing USD 1 million of Jordanian treasury bonds held for six years. Active routes include buying at least USD 1.5 million of shares in Jordanian companies held for three years, and establishing a registered project with capital of USD 1 million in Amman (20 Jordanian jobs) or USD 750,000 elsewhere (10 Jordanian jobs). Project investors typically receive residence and a temporary passport first, with citizenship following once the employment and capital conditions have been sustained.
Applications are submitted to the Ministry of Investment, whose specialised technical committee reviews them and coordinates security clearance before recommending them for Cabinet approval. The Jordan Times reported that 531 investors had been granted citizenship by the end of 2024. Separately, property purchases of at least JOD 200,000 lead to residence rather than citizenship.
The Jordanian passport offers limited visa-free travel and is not a mobility product in the conventional sense. The programme is best suited to investors who already have, or intend to build, operating interests in Jordan or the Levant, value stable institutions and are comfortable with a conditional, compliance-heavy process in which citizenship may be withdrawn if investment conditions are breached.
Key benefits
- Citizenship of a stable, internationally engaged Middle Eastern state
- Passive routes through Central Bank deposit or government bonds with return of principal
- Business routes reward genuine investment and job creation
- Broad family inclusion, extended to adult sons for investments above USD 3 million
- No language test and no long residence period for passive routes
- Access to Jordan's free trade agreements and regional market
Requirements
- Qualifying investment under a route defined by Cabinet decision
- Security approval from the Jordanian authorities
- Lawful, documented source of funds
- Deposit route: USD 1,000,000 with the Central Bank of Jordan, interest-free, for three years, without pledging
- Bond route: USD 1,000,000 of treasury bonds held for six years
- Share route: at least USD 1,500,000 in Jordanian companies, with a lien for three years
- Project route: USD 1,000,000 and 20 jobs in Amman, or USD 750,000 and 10 jobs elsewhere, evidenced through social security records
- Compliance with holding and employment conditions; breach may lead to withdrawal of citizenship
Investment options
Central Bank deposit
USD 1,000,000
Interest-free deposit with the Central Bank of Jordan for three years; principal returned at maturity.
Treasury bonds
USD 1,000,000
Purchase of Jordanian treasury bonds held for six years at the rate set by the Central Bank.
Shares in Jordanian companies
USD 1,500,000
Acquisition of shares or stakes in Jordanian companies, held for three years under a registered lien.
New project in Amman
USD 1,000,000
Registered project creating at least 20 jobs for Jordanians; residence and temporary passport first, citizenship after compliance.
New project outside Amman
USD 750,000
Registered project in the governorates creating at least 10 jobs for Jordanians.
Employment-based route
100–150 employees
Investors employing 150 Jordanians in Amman or 100 in other governorates, registered with social security, may qualify under the 2022 amendments.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Route selection
We assess whether a passive placement or an operating investment best suits the family and model the capital commitment over the holding period.
- 2
Application to the Ministry of Investment
The application and supporting documents are lodged with the Ministry, which opens the file with its technical committee.
- 3
Security clearance
Jordanian security agencies review the applicant and family members.
- 4
Investment execution
Following preliminary approval, the deposit, bond purchase, share acquisition or project capitalisation is completed and evidenced.
- 5
Committee and Cabinet decision
The technical committee recommends the application and the Council of Ministers decides.
- 6
Passports and ongoing compliance
Passports are issued; the investment and employment conditions are then maintained for the required period.
Typical documents
- Valid passports and civil status documents for all applicants
- Criminal record certificates
- Evidence of source of funds and bank references
- Deposit or bond confirmation from the Central Bank of Jordan or bank
- Company registration, share register and lien documents (share and project routes)
- Audited financial statements and social security employment records (project routes)
- Feasibility study or business plan for new projects
- Photographs and completed application forms
How Legal Wealth helps
Legal Wealth supports investors who see Jordan as part of a long-term regional strategy. We help structure the investment so that it meets the Cabinet criteria and remains commercially sensible, prepare the security and source-of-funds file with care, and coordinate with licensed Jordanian advisers on company, banking and employment compliance through the holding period. Every engagement is discreet and tailored, and we consider how the new nationality interacts with the family's existing passports, tax residence and succession plans.
Enquire with Legal WealthFrequently asked questions
Is the Central Bank deposit returned?
Yes. The USD 1 million deposit is returned after three years but earns no interest and cannot be pledged during the term.
Can I qualify by buying property?
Property of at least JOD 200,000 leads to a five-year residence permit, not citizenship.
Is there an annual limit?
The 2021 Cabinet decision capped grants at 500 investors per year.
Can citizenship be withdrawn?
Yes. Breach of the investment or employment conditions can lead to withdrawal of citizenship or cancellation of residence.
Are adult children included?
Generally only minor sons and unmarried daughters, but for investments above USD 3 million sons under 30 and their families may be included.
Are the criteria fixed?
No. They are set by Cabinet decision and are reviewed periodically, so current terms should be confirmed before committing funds.
Last reviewed: 2026-10. Requirements, fees and timelines change. Information is general, reviewed on the date shown, and is not legal or tax advice.
