Jordan offers investors more pathways to citizenship after rules revamp

The National

6 hours ago

Jordan 's move to revamp its Citizenship By Investment programme has opened up more pathways for foreign investors to obtain a passport, but it is unlikely to make an economic impact in the short term, analysts say.
Amman will grant Jordanian nationality to foreign investors through additional routes including pouring capital in local companies' shares, establishing new projects in important sectors or purchasing equity in existing projects, according to Petra news agency.
The Cabinet last week approved an updated framework for granting citizenship and residency to investors that is aimed at attracting more foreign capital, creating new jobs and contributing to the Jordanian economy.
'While we appreciate the Jordanian government's efforts to develop the private sector, we believe the new citizenship policy will have limited economic impact in the near term,' Tianchen Peng, economist at Oxford Economics, told The National.
'The investment thresholds across all three routes – along with additional requirements like maintaining high employment levels – are prohibitively high.'
Jordan has granted citizenship to 561 investors since 2018, with Syrian and Iraqi investors topping the list, according to Jordan's investment minister Mothanna Gharaibeh.
However, Mr Peng said combined with Jordan's existing social welfare system and escalating tension in the region, 'the policy may lack sufficient appeal to attract eligible investors, particularly those based outside the region'.
Jordan's economy is projected to expand by 2.6 per cent this year before accelerating further to 2.9 per cent in 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund's recently published Regional Economic Outlook.
Both projections were lower than previous forecasts, mirroring a broader downwards trend because of US tariffs uncertainty.
The Washington-based fund last month approved about $700 million to Jordan to address its long-term vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and address public health emergencies.
The Jordanian passport has relatively better strength in the Middle East compared to various countries in the region, according to the Henley Passport Index.
It ranks 88th on the latest index, with visa-free access to 51 countries, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025 Global Ranking.
By contrast, Syria ranks 102nd, Iraq 101st, Yemen 100th and Libya in the 99th position. The UAE is 8th and Saudi Arabia is 59th. This is out of a ranking of 103, where some countries are in tie positions.
With stricter immigration rules in some protectionist economies, investors are casting a wider net for citizenship opportunities.
Pathways to citizenship
Under the revised criteria, Jordan will grant citizenship to foreign investors who inject at least one million Jordanian Dinars ($1.4 million) in new capital by buying shares in Jordanian companies.
A maximum of 20 per cent of the investment can be concentrated in a single company, and the investor must retain the shares and any related proceeds for three years, according to Petra.
Citizenship can also be granted to investors who set up new projects in vital sectors with a paid-in capital of at least 700,000 dinars in Amman or 500,000 dinars outside the capital, provided the projects create 20 jobs for Jordanians in the capital or 10 jobs outside it.
Another route is purchasing equity in existing projects with a capital injection of at least one million dinars and new fixed assets worth at least 500,000 dinars. Investors must submit a feasibility study and audited financial reports, create 20 new jobs and hold the new shares for three years to qualify.
Existing investors may qualify if their average equity share in fixed assets over the past three years totals at least 700,000 dinars in Amman or 350,000 dinars outside the capital.
First-degree family members of the investor, who are inheriting or receiving shares, may also qualify for citizenship. This is provided the original investor's stake remains unchanged for three years.
Citizenship can also be granted to investors in the pharmaceutical warehousing, medical equipment and large-scale food logistics sectors, with minimum capital of 3 million dinars and 20 Jordanian pharmacists employed in Amman or 10 outside the capital over three years.
Another route is employing 150 Jordanians in Amman or 100 in other governorates for at least one year before application, with employment levels sustained for two consecutive years after receiving citizenship, Petra said.
A cap of 500 investors per year will be applied, subject to security clearance and financial due diligence, the state news agency said.