Emigrating to Jordan Visa, safety, costs, and climate in Jordan: a reality check
Emigrating to Jordan: The most important answers first
✓ Visa required: The visa can be applied for online in advance and, in many cases, also directly upon entry.
✓ An economy with diverse opportunities: Opportunities exist especially in services, healthcare, IT, and logistics.
✓ Security situation is currently sensitive: Everyday life is often orderly, but regional developments should be monitored continuously.
✓ A solid healthcare system: Good medical care is available in Amman, while private care is often the stronger option.
✓ A sunny and dry climate: Hot summers, with partly cool winters depending on the region.
✓ Language skills: Everyday life in cities is often English-friendly, while Arabic brings additional advantages.
✓ Special feature: Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea shape the country’s character.
✓ Moving with pets: Good preparation, vaccinations, and veterinary documentation are required.
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Facts about Jordan
Capital City
Amman
Population
11.51 million
Surface Area
34,495 mi² or 89,342 km²
Continent
Asia
Official Language
Arabic
Currency
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
What are the customs, visa, and entry requirements for Jordan?
Anyone planning to emigrate to Jordan should clearly distinguish between simple entry and a longer-term stay. For German citizens, a visa is required. In addition, there are clear rules regarding travel documents and certain border crossings. The visa can be applied for online in advance, and in most cases it can also be issued upon entry.
Documents required for entry:
- Passport: Yes
- Temporary passport: Yes
- National ID card: No
- Temporary national ID card: No
- Child passport: Yes
Tip for expats: First secure the legal basis for entry, then organize housing, job start, and the move itself. Especially in Jordan, clean document preparation saves time, avoids unnecessary loops, and reduces risk during the process.
Is Jordan economically attractive?
Jordan is not a classic high-income destination, but it is economically attractive for certain target groups. Sectors such as IT, logistics, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and agribusiness in particular offer opportunities, while everyday life in Amman should be planned much more carefully from a cost perspective than in smaller cities.
Key facts at a glance:
- Robust growth, with average GDP growth of 3–4% per year (1993–2025).
- Income distribution: Gini coefficient = 33.7 (0 = perfect equality; 100 = maximum inequality)
- Opportunities in ITES and logistics, with tourism remaining an important sector
- The healthcare sector and medical tourism are relevant, while pharma and life sciences are also in focus
- Amman is usually more expensive than the provinces
- Plan a financial buffer from the outset
Tip for expats: When relocating, it is not just the salary that matters, but the entire cost and benefits package. Anyone who calculates rent, private healthcare costs, mobility, school fees, and reserve budget properly will start out much more stable in Jordan.
Safety in Jordan: What do expats need to know?
Jordan is generally a safe country and is often perceived as orderly in everyday life. At present, however, the geopolitical situation should be monitored closely, as there is currently an official travel warning. Demonstrations and short-notice restrictions are also possible.
What expats should know:
- Take the current travel warning seriously
- Demonstrations are possible, especially on Fridays
- Areas near the border are sensitive
- Follow local media continuously
- Avoid night travel whenever possible
- Choose your residential area strategically
Tip for expats: Security in Jordan is currently part of the location strategy. Anyone who consciously plans their place of residence, daily routes, and the initial arrival phase reduces uncertainty, friction, and unnecessary extra strain.
What is the healthcare system like in Jordan?
Jordan’s healthcare system is especially relevant for expats in Amman, because that is where the medical standard is strongest. In the capital, medical care is very good, while outside Amman significant limitations must be expected depending on the region.
At a glance:
- Medical care in Amman is very good
- Private clinics are well positioned
- Outside the capital, care is partly limited
- Medical evacuation coverage is advisable
- Bring a travel medical kit
- Check vaccination status in advance
Tip for expats: Do not treat health insurance as a side issue. In Jordan, a well-planned mix of insurance coverage, emergency planning, and local medical orientation is a clear success factor.
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Climate in Jordan: What differences should expats be aware of?
Jordan’s climate varies significantly by region and has a noticeable effect on housing comfort, mobility, and everyday life. In the northwest, the climate is more Mediterranean, while the south and east are much drier and more desert-like. In addition, there are cooler highland areas and much hotter regions such as Aqaba, the Jordan Valley, and the area around the Dead Sea.
What the climate means for your daily life:
- The northwest is more Mediterranean
- The south and east are desert-like
- Summers are hot and dry
- Winters are regionally much milder
- Higher elevations can be cool
- Pay close attention to regional differences
Tip for expats: Climate in Jordan is not a side issue, but a real factor influencing housing, settling in, and relocation logistics. Anyone who takes the climate into account when planning arrival, apartment search, and the first appointments will get started much more efficiently.
What shapes language, culture, and daily life in Jordan?
Anyone emigrating to Jordan benefits from the fact that English is widely spoken, especially in cities and in international settings. At the same time, Arabic remains the official language, and cultural sensitivity is a real lever in everyday life, particularly regarding clothing, public behavior, and during Ramadan.
What really helps in everyday life:
- Arabic is the official language
- English is widely spoken in cities
- Conservative clothing is often advisable
- Ramadan changes opening hours and everyday life
- Respectful communication is important
- Basic Arabic knowledge helps quickly
Tip for expats: From a language perspective, you can often manage well with English in Jordan, but culturally only with tact. Anyone who respects local norms gains trust faster and gets ahead much more easily in everyday life.
What makes Jordan special?
Jordan stands out above all for its extraordinary combination of history, nature, and accessibility. With Petra as a world-famous rock city, Wadi Rum as a spectacular desert landscape, and the Dead Sea as a unique natural setting, the country offers a high density of cultural and natural highlights within a small area.
In detail:
- Petra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Wadi Rum as a desert icon
- The Dead Sea as a natural highlight
- High cultural density
- Hospitality is strongly felt
- A great deal of history in a compact space
Tip for expats: Jordan is especially suitable for people seeking not just a workplace, but also an environment with cultural depth. It is exactly this mix of everyday life, history, and nature that makes the country special.
What should you bear in mind when moving to Jordan with animals?
A move with pets to Jordan is possible, but it requires much more preparation than many people initially assume. What matters are veterinary records, health certificates, any additional requirements from the relevant authorities, and close coordination with the airline.
What you should keep in mind:
- Check your pet’s vaccination status early
- Prepare veterinary documents in good time and in full; a health certificate and, in some cases, lab tests are required
- Train your pet to use the travel crate before the flight
- Coordinate entry requirements and airline regulations
- Minimize stress for your pet on moving day
- Actively support your pet’s adjustment to the new home
- Meet all deadlines exactly
Tip for expats: When relocating with pets, speed is not what matters most — precision does. Anyone who schedules documents, veterinary procedures, and flight logistics early avoids stress for both pet and owner and reduces formal errors in the process.
For whom is Jordan a suitable destination for emigration?
Jordan is especially suitable for people seeking a culturally interesting environment, an international urban lifestyle in Amman, and a good balance between tradition and modernity. The country is particularly well suited to skilled professionals, expats, and project-based stays, provided that budget, location choice, and the security situation are assessed realistically.
Checklist before emigrating to Jordan:
✓ Check entry requirements and residence regulations for Jordan
✓ Secure health insurance and medical care coverage in Jordan
✓ Choose the right place to live in Jordan and arrange your initial accommodation
✓ Plan your emigration budget for Jordan, including a financial buffer
✓ Prepare your move to Jordan carefully, including household goods and documents
✓ Use English and connect more quickly with some basic Arabic
Conclusion: Jordan is an appealing emigration destination for anyone who values culture, history, and a welcoming environment. The combination of a modern capital, impressive natural and UNESCO sites, and an everyday environment that is often English-friendly makes the country especially attractive.
FAQs for emigrating to Jordan
Do I need a visa for Jordan?
Yes. German citizens need a visa to enter Jordan. It can be applied for online before travel or issued upon arrival at certain airports and border crossings. If entering via the King Hussein Bridge, a visa obtained in advance is required.
Is Jordan a good country to emigrate to?
Jordan can be attractive for people looking for a culturally interesting country with international connectivity. Opportunities exist especially in services, IT, healthcare, logistics, tourism, and other investment-related sectors, even though the country is not a classic high-income destination.
How safe is Jordan for expats?
In everyday life, Jordan is often perceived as comparatively orderly. At present, however, there is a travel warning because of the regional escalation. For expats, this means monitoring the security situation closely and making particularly careful decisions regarding location and travel.
What is the healthcare system like in Jordan?
Medical care in Amman is good to very good, especially in private clinics. Outside the capital, the standard can be much more limited, which is why solid health insurance and a well-planned medical framework remain important for expats.
What language do I need in Jordan?
The official language in Jordan is Arabic. In cities and in international environments, English is widely spoken, which makes everyday life easier. However, with basic Arabic knowledge, integration usually happens much faster.
How expensive is life in Jordan?
The cost of living in Jordan depends heavily on location and lifestyle. Amman is noticeably more expensive than smaller cities. Housing, international schools, mobility, and private healthcare in particular should be carefully factored into any relocation plan.
Can I emigrate to Jordan with a dog or cat?
Yes, moving to Jordan with pets is generally possible. What matters most are early preparation, veterinary documentation, valid rabies proof, and coordination with the airline and the authorities, since formal requirements must be followed precisely.
Are you interested in moving to Jordan or another destination country?
Then do not hesitate and contact us today.
Sabrina Klier
Customer Service & Sales - AIR & SEA
