Jordan offers a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program designed to attract foreign capital and create jobs in the country. Under this program, foreign nationals can obtain Jordanian citizenship if they make a qualifying investment, create employment opportunities for Jordanians, and maintain these commitments for a specified period.
The program is relatively new and was updated in July 2025 to make it more attractive to investors. The government’s goal is to encourage serious investors to support the economy while offering them and their families the opportunity to become Jordanian citizens.
The program is open to foreign nationals who pass due diligence checks and can prove that their funds come from legitimate sources. Applicants must have a clean criminal record and be able to make the required financial commitment. While the main applicant must be an adult, immediate family members — including a spouse, children, and sometimes dependent parents — can usually be included in the same application.
Applicants must choose one of the approved routes and fulfill the associated requirements. The main options include:
Purchasing New Shares: Investors can buy at least JOD 1,000,000 worth of new shares in Jordanian companies. These shares must not be mortgaged or purchased with loans, and they must be held for three years. No more than 20 percent of the investment can be in any single company.
Starting a New Business Project: Investors can establish a productive project with a minimum capital of JOD 700,000 if the project is in Amman or JOD 500,000 if it is outside Amman. The project must employ at least 20 Jordanians in the capital or 10 in other governorates. After the project starts, investors have a short window — usually about four months — to meet the job creation requirements.
Investing in Existing Projects: Investors who put at least JOD 1,000,000 into existing productive projects may also qualify, provided that at least half of this amount is spent on fixed, tangible assets and that the project employs the required number of Jordanians.
Recognizing Existing Investments: Investors who have already been involved in projects in Jordan may qualify if they have maintained at least JOD 700,000 in fixed assets in Amman or JOD 350,000 outside Amman for the past three years, and have kept roughly 90 percent of required employment levels during that time.
Strategic Investments: For some key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, food logistics, and large warehousing, investors can qualify by contributing at least JOD 3,000,000 and employing 20 pharmacists in Amman or 10 outside the capital.
Large Employers: Businesses that employ at least 150 Jordanians in Amman or 100 outside the capital can also be considered for citizenship.
All investments must be maintained for three years, and job creation obligations must continue throughout this period. The government has capped the program at a maximum of 500 investors per year.
If you meet all requirements, the advantages include:
Fully legal Jordanian citizenship (passport, rights) after compliance with investment / employment / holding requirements.
Inclusion of immediate family: spouse, children (age limits differ by type of investment), sometimes dependent parents. For large investments some expansion of ages / dependents.
Temporary passport / temporary residency during performance period (e.g. before full citizenship is granted) in many cases.
No explicit language requirement, no long residence requirement in many cases beyond what is required for compliance / activity. The new rules do not stipulate strict residency period for all routes.
The programme aims to give investor and family access to a stable Middle Eastern country, regional business opportunities, and rights of citizenship (education, health, etc.).
John, who is a businessman, invests JOD 1,000,000 in new shares across several Jordanian companies, carefully staying under the 20 percent limit per company. They hold these shares for three years and comply with all requirements. At the end of the period, they and their family are granted Jordanian citizenship.
Donald, who is an entrepreneur, sets up a manufacturing plant outside Amman with an investment of JOD 500,000, creating 10 jobs for local workers. After maintaining operations and employment for three years, they and their dependents receive Jordanian passports.
Applicants usually receive a temporary passport once the investment is made and the job creation obligations are in place. Full citizenship is granted after three years of meeting the program conditions.
Yes. Your spouse, children (up to certain age limits), and dependent parents can generally be included. For larger investments, the age limits for children may be more flexible.
There is no strict long-term residency requirement, though some presence may be necessary for document processing. The main requirement is to keep your investment and meet employment obligations.
Selling your investment before the three-year holding period ends will likely disqualify you from obtaining citizenship.
Yes, the program currently accepts a maximum of 500 investors per year.