Interior minister announces easing of visa restrictions for Arab, foreign nationals

AMMAN — Jordan has eased visa restrictions on a number of restricted Arab and foreign nationalities, according to the Ministry of Interior. 

Jordanian diplomatic missions abroad or at border posts are authorised to approve entry visas for "restricted" Arab and foreign nationalities who have been issued visas by the US, EU Schengen zone countries or any other EU country including the UK, Canada or any Arab Gulf states, said Interior Minister Salameh Hammad on Sunday.

Hammad said restricted foreign nationalities who hold green cards or have residency in Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, European countries, the UK and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, can now receive visas directly through Jordanian diplomatic missions abroad or choose to obtain a visa upon entry.

The minister also announced that Syrians with residency in GCC countries, the US, Canada, Australia and Japan, as well as those holding an A or B category investor ID and their families, will still be allowed to enter the Kingdom without prior approval. 

Visa regulations for Syrians residing in other countries remain unchanged, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The new decisions stipulated that the visitor must have a valid residency permit in the country of departure for no less than six months and a return ticket, provided that travel is not for work purposes, with Syrian investors who hold A and B investor IDs and their families excluded from this term. 

Hammad said that these decisions on easing visas aim at boosting the economy and attracting the highest number of tourists possible, along with Arab and foreign investors.