Here's the fact that trips people up more than any other: the Jordan Pass isn't a visa at all. It's a combined ticket that bundles prepaid entry to 40+ tourist sites with a waiver of the standard visa fee, and that waiver only applies to travelers who buy the pass before arrival and meet a specific minimum-stay requirement. This guide breaks down what the pass includes, what it costs, whether US Citizens actually qualify for the fee waiver, and how to avoid the most common mistakes travelers make with it.
Did you know? The Jordanian Dinar has been pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of about 0.709 JOD per $1 since 1995 — so unlike almost any other destination, the Jordan Pass's JOD price converts to a stable, predictable dollar figure (roughly $99 / $106 / $113 for the three tiers) that won't shift with exchange rates between booking and travel. — Jordanian dinar — Wikipedia (Central Bank of Jordan peg rate)
| Quick facts for American travelers | |
|---|---|
| Visa to enter Jordan | Visa on arrival — 40 JOD, waived with Jordan Pass (2-night minimum stay) |
| Jordan Pass | Available for purchase — American isn't an Arab nationality |
| Good to know | JOD is pegged to USD at ~0.709 JOD per $1, so pass prices convert to a stable ~$99 / $106 / $113 |
This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything American citizens need to know about the Jordan Pass, plus how we can help you get it right.
File My Jordan Arrival CardWhat the Jordan Pass Actually Is (Not a Visa — a Waiver + Attractions Bundle)
The Jordan Pass is an official package from Jordan's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, sold exclusively through jordanpass.jo. It's issued as a digital PDF with a QR code, delivered to your email after purchase — there's no physical card, and it can't be bought after you've landed in Jordan.
The pass bundles two distinct things:
- Prepaid, single-entry admission to more than 40 attractions across Jordan, including Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Amman Citadel, Karak Castle, and Qasr Al-Azraq.
- A waiver of the standard 40 JOD single-entry tourist visa fee — but only for travelers who qualify (more on that below).
Worth repeating: buying the pass doesn't grant you entry to Jordan or replace the visa-on-arrival process. It simply removes the fee for that visa, if you meet the conditions.
The Three Jordan Pass Types Compared
There are three package tiers, and the only difference between them is how many consecutive days of Petra entry you get. Everything else — the 40+ other attractions, the visa fee waiver eligibility, the digital brochures — is identical across all three.
| Package | Petra Access | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Wanderer | 1 day | 70 JOD |
| Jordan Explorer | 2 consecutive days | 75 JOD |
| Jordan Expert | 3 consecutive days | 80 JOD |
Wanderer, Explorer, Expert — Petra access and pricing differences
Petra rewards more than one visit — the Treasury at sunrise looks nothing like the Monastery hike in the afternoon heat — so if you're planning to spend two or three days exploring the site, Explorer or Expert will save you from buying separate entry tickets. One important catch: you can't upgrade or downgrade your package after purchase, so decide on your Petra plans before you buy.
You can also add entry to Bethany Beyond the Jordan (the Baptism Site) during checkout for 8 JOD instead of its standalone 12 JOD price.
Does the Jordan Pass Waive the Visa Fee for US Citizens?
This is the question that matters most for US Citizens, and it comes down to two conditions.
Eligibility conditions (buy before arrival, minimum stay requirement)
To get the visa fee waived, you need to:
- Purchase the Jordan Pass before you arrive in Jordan. If you've already entered the country, or already paid the visa fee separately, the waiver can't be applied retroactively.
- Stay a minimum of 2 whole nights (3 days) in Jordan. This is the figure stated on Jordan's official Jordan Pass pages. In practice, this means a stay that spans three calendar days with two overnights in between — for example, arriving on Day 1, staying over twice, and departing on Day 3. You don't need to prove this in advance; immigration checks it automatically when you leave, and if you didn't meet the minimum, you'll be asked to pay the fee before departing.
Nationalities that still need a separate visa arrangement
Not everyone can use the Jordan Pass, and not everyone needs to worry about the visa fee in the first place:
- Arab nationality holders cannot purchase or use the Jordan Pass at all. It's designed for non-Arab international visitors.
- Some nationalities are exempt from the visa fee entirely, with or without a Jordan Pass — including South Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Vatican City.
- "Restricted nationalities," as defined by Jordan's Ministry of Interior, cannot get a visa on arrival under any circumstances, Jordan Pass or not. If US Citizens fall into this category, you'll need to arrange a visa in advance through a Jordanian embassy or consulate — the pass won't change that.
The United States isn't on Jordan's short list of nationalities exempt from the tourist visa fee — that list is just South Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Vatican City — so for US Citizens, the Jordan Pass's visa waiver is a genuine 40 JOD (about $56) saved, not a redundant perk stacked on a fee you'd have skipped anyway.
If you're unsure where American passport holders fall, check the current list on Jordan's official tourism site before you travel, since these lists are reviewed periodically.
What's Included Beyond Petra
Major sites (Wadi Rum, Jerash, Amman Citadel, Mount Nebo, Madaba)
Petra tends to dominate the conversation, but the pass covers a genuinely large footprint of the country. Beyond Petra, included sites cover Wadi Rum's desert landscapes, the Roman ruins at Jerash, the Amman Citadel overlooking the capital, Mount Nebo's biblical viewpoints, and sites in Madaba, along with Karak Castle, Shobak Castle, Ajloun Castle, Umm Qays, and Qasr Al-Azraq, among 40+ locations in total.
Lesser-known inclusions (Bethany Beyond the Jordan, 1916 Hijaz Railway)
Two inclusions surprise a lot of first-time visitors:
- Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the UNESCO-listed Baptism Site, isn't included in the base pass but can be added at checkout for 8 JOD instead of the standard 12 JOD.
- The 1916 Hijaz Railway train ride is offered free to pass holders, but only on select days and it's non-transferable — so don't count on it being available whenever you show up.
What's NOT Included
A few notable exclusions are worth planning around:
- Petra by Night, the evening candlelit program at the Treasury, is a separate ticket purchased on-site and is not covered by any Jordan Pass tier.
- Ground transportation between sites and cities isn't included — you'll need to arrange a rental car, driver, or tour separately.
- Repeat entry to non-Petra attractions isn't permitted; the pass covers single entry to each site (Petra is the exception for Explorer and Expert holders).
How to Buy the Jordan Pass Before You Travel
Buy directly at jordanpass.jo — it's the only official channel, and payment is made by credit card. Your pass and QR code typically arrive by email within minutes (check spam folders if it doesn't show up right away).
Timing matters less than you'd think: the pass stays valid for use within 3 months of the date you buy it, so there's no need to rush or time the purchase to the day. The only thing worth doing close to departure is double-checking the confirmation email arrived and printing a physical copy alongside the digital one — QR scanners at the visa desk and some attraction entrances can struggle to read phone screens, especially in bright sunlight.
Arrival Procedure — Activating Your Pass and Visa Waiver at the Airport
At Queen Alia International Airport (or other eligible entry points), head to the visa desk first, not passport control. Present your Jordan Pass QR code there so the officer can verify it and issue your visa with the fee waived. Only after that step should you move on to passport control for your entry stamp. The pass itself activates once it's scanned at the first attraction you visit.
Is the Jordan Pass Worth It for US Citizens? (Cost Comparison)
The math tends to favor the pass, particularly if Petra is on your itinerary. A standalone one-day Petra ticket runs around 50 JOD, and the visa fee alone is 40 JOD — that's roughly 90 JOD before you've seen anything else. The Jordan Wanderer pass covers the same Petra access plus the visa fee waiver plus free entry to dozens of additional sites, all for 70 JOD.
The value gets even clearer if your itinerary includes Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Amman Citadel, or other included stops — each one you'd otherwise pay for individually. The pass makes less sense if US Citizens are exempt from the visa fee anyway and only plan to visit one or two sites total.
Common Mistakes US Citizens Make
- Buying the pass after arriving in Jordan. The visa waiver only applies when it's purchased in advance — there's no way to apply it retroactively.
- Assuming a 2-night stay is the same as 2 full days. The requirement is 2 whole nights (3 days), which trips up travelers doing a quick overnight stop.
- Treating the pass as a visa. It isn't one — you'll still go through the standard entry process, just without paying the fee.
- Forgetting Petra by Night is separate. Don't expect the evening program to be covered.
- Trying to upgrade a package after buying it. Decide on Wanderer, Explorer, or Expert before checkout, since changes aren't possible afterward.
- Expecting to pay in USD at the border. The Jordan Pass itself is prepaid online by card, so this only matters if you end up owing the visa fee separately (didn't buy the pass, or didn't meet the 2-night minimum) — in that case, bring JOD cash or a card; US dollars aren't a given at government counters.
How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help American Citizens
You're always welcome to complete the Jordan Pass yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.
We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.
Get Started With TravelDeclaration.comMore Jordan Pass Guides by Nationality
- Jordan Pass for Egyptian Citizens
- Jordan Pass for Iraqi Citizens
- Jordan Pass for Saudi Citizens
- Jordan Pass for UK Citizens
FAQ for US Citizens
Can I upgrade my pass tier after buying it?
No. Once purchased, your package tier (Wanderer, Explorer, or Expert) is fixed, so decide on your Petra plans in advance.
Do children need their own Jordan Pass?
No. Children under 12 enter the touristic sites for free when accompanied by a parent, and don't need their own pass.
Will I get a refund on my visa fee if I already paid it online?
No. The Jordan Pass waiver can't be applied after the fact — it only works when the pass is purchased before you arrive and you haven't already paid the visa fee separately.
Does the Jordan Pass include Petra by Night?
No. It's a separate, on-site ticket not covered by any Jordan Pass tier.
What if I stay in Jordan less than 3 days — do I lose the visa waiver?
Yes. If you don't meet the minimum stay of 2 whole nights (3 days), you'll be asked to pay the standard visa fee before departing, even if you purchased a Jordan Pass.
Can I pay for the Jordan Pass or the visa fee in US dollars?
The Jordan Pass is paid online by credit card in Jordanian Dinars — your card issuer converts it automatically, and because the JOD is pegged to the dollar at a fixed rate, that conversion barely moves between booking and travel. If you end up owing the visa fee in person (no pass, or stay under the minimum), bring JOD cash or a card — USD isn't universally accepted at government counters.