Jordan updates entry rules for tourists: everything you need to know before you go

Lonely Planet's pick for the Most Welcoming Destination of 2021 has relaxed the entry rules for tourists.

Travellers visiting Jordan no longer need to quarantine for seven days upon arrival. Instead, they must take a PCR test before flying to the kingdom, and then another upon arrival. This must be paid for in advance and costs 28 Jordanian dinars ($39.50). Children under 5 do not need to take the test.

An application form must also be completed before travelling, which can be found here. Upon successful completion and submission of the form, a confirmation code will be sent to tourists via email; this code must be presented when checking in for any flights to Jordan.

The pre-Covid-19 PCR test must be taken within 72 hours of departure, results from which will need to be shown at check in. All travellers must also download the Aman app before arriving in the country.

These updated rules are designed to help boost Jordan's tourism industry. The country reopened to travellers in September 2020, but only travellers from 15 destinations could fly into the kingdom without the need to quarantine. This has now been rolled out to almost all arrivals.

What rules are in place at the airport?

International flights are able to land at and depart from Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan's capital. Updated safety measures are in place throughout the airport including compulsory face masks for travellers and staff, and social-distancing markers.

A Covid-19 screening laboratory has been installed where all arriving passengers are tested for the virus. Previously, travellers had to wait here for their Covid-19 test results, which could take up to five hours. Now, most travellers will be able to proceed directly to their accommodation to wait for test results, which will be sent within 24 hours by SMS.

In the departures area of the airport, self-service check-in machines have been installed to reduce interaction between passengers and airport staff.

Foreigners must also have valid medical insurance for the duration of their stay, which should cover coronavirus treatment. Any travellers who do not have this could face fines of up to 10,000 Jordanian dinars.

Who can travel to Jordan?

Wadi Rum and other tourist attractions in Jordan are welcoming travellers again. Unsplash

Visa procedures remain as they were pre-Covid, and countries are no longer being divided into three categories relating to the scale of the coronavirus outbreak in each destination. Instead, travellers from almost all countries will undergo the same procedures when arriving in the country. The notable exception is those travelling from the UK, who are currently not permitted to enter Jordan.

The traffic-light system may be reintroduced if countries are thought to be high risk for the virus, but until then there are no quarantine requirements for arrivals in Jordan.

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Previously, travellers arriving from "green" countries could visit Jordan without the need to quarantine. A negative PCR-test result taken no more than 72 hours before flight departure time was required, and visitors were expected to do a second test on arrival in Amman.

Travellers flying to Jordan from countries classified as yellow – which included the UAE – or red, had to complete seven days quarantine in a government-approved facility, followed by a further seven days home or hotel quarantine.

People arriving from "red" designated destinations followed the same rules as those arriving from yellow countries, but also had to wear an electric tracking bracelet.

Which airlines are flying to Jordan?

'Prince Feisal Ibn Al-Hussein' arriving YYZ as a Syrian Refugee flight. — Royal Jordanian has resumed flights to several destinations. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Several airlines have resumed international commercial flights to Jordan. From the UAE, Emirates is flying daily to Amman from Dubai and flydubai operates on weekdays. Etihad is flying from Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia from Sharjah.

Royal Jordanian, the national airline of Jordan, is also flying to several destinations including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Are hotels in Jordan open?

Several hotels in Jordan have reopened with upgraded safety measures in place. Courtesy Marriott International

Yes, many hotels in Jordan reopened in July 2020 as part of a drive to boost the domestic tourism sector. All reopened properties have safety measures in place including temperature checks and sanitising hands upon entry. Some smaller guesthouses remain closed, so it's best to double check.

Travellers hoping to explore ancient Petra or the wilds of Wadi Rum will find that most lodgings in these areas are operating again. In regions populated by Bedouin, tourism is often the main source of income so people are eager to welcome guests again.

Jordan has also been awarded the "Safe Travels" stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council, which recognises it as a safe destination to visit.

What tourist attractions are open in Jordan?

Camels rest in front of the Treasury building at the reopened Petra archeological site, in Petra. EPA

Most tourism destinations are open with safety measures in place to protect travellers against the coronavirus.

These include social distancing and increased hygiene practices, as well as preventive measures as stated by the Ministry of Health. All public areas and tourism attractions are now routinely sanitised and people must wear face masks and gloves in public places.

As Jordan continues to battle the coronavirus crisis, a curfew remains in place between midnight and 6am every day, except Fridays. Public swimming pools and gyms are set to reopen from Monday, February 1. Hotels, cafes, restaurants, mosques and churches have already reopened, but are operating at limited capacity.

Other attractions such as cinemas, entertainment venues, children’s play areas, exhibition and conference centres are due to reopen in March.