Cabinet approves plan to grant investors Jordanian citizenship

The Jordanian Cabinet has approved the mechanisms for a previous decision to grant investors Jordanian citizenship or a five-year residency in the kingdom.

The decision, first made in July, is part of an effort to attract investment and create a more appealing environment for foreign capital.

Paths to Citizenship and Residency

The new regulations outline several ways for investors to gain Jordanian citizenship. One path is to purchase shares in a Jordanian company for at least 1 million Jordanian dinars ($1.4 million).

Another option is to establish and register new investment projects in any productive economic sector. This route can lead to a three-year temporary Jordanian passport, with the goal of obtaining full citizenship.

The framework also specifies how to grant citizenship to investors who already have existing projects. This applies if the investor is a partner in or owns one or more projects in specific sectors, such as pharmaceutical and medical equipment warehouses, or large-scale food storage and logistics.

Additionally, citizenship can be granted to any investor who employs 150 Jordanian workers in the capital, Amman, or 100 Jordanian workers in other governorates.

The regulations also cover eligibility for the investor's family, including their spouse, unmarried daughters, widowed or divorced daughters living with them, and unmarried sons under the age of 24. This applies to both new and existing investors who meet the criteria.

The new rules also address granting a five-year residency, which can be renewed. This option is available to any investor or individual who purchases real estate, regardless of their previous length of stay in the kingdom.

Security and Application Process

All applicants must undergo a security review before any preliminary or final approval is granted for citizenship, a temporary passport, or residency.

Applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Investment, either electronically or in person, and will be reviewed by a technical committee formed specifically for this purpose.