Jordan’s citizenship‑by‑investment (CIP) program approved 21 new investors in the second quarter of 2026, bringing total foreign capital to more than US $33 million and creating 767 Jordanian jobs.
Recent approvals
- Naturalized investors: 21, total investment > US $33 million, 767 Jordanian employees.
- Residence permits: 6 additional investors, investment ≈ JOD 2 million (≈ US $2.8 million).
- Cumulative approvals: 687 investors since the program’s inception.
- Average per investor: about US $1.5 million invested and roughly 36 Jordanian jobs created.
Core requirements (July 2025 framework)
- Eight investment routes replaced the earlier three‑category system; the program caps annual approvals at 500 investors.
- Holding period: qualifying assets must be retained for three years.
- Temporary passport: investors receive a three‑year Jordanian passport before full citizenship can be granted.
- Job creation: all investors must register created jobs with the Social Security Corporation.
- Operating‑business track: at least 90 % of the mandatory Jordanian workforce must remain on the corporation’s monthly rolls for three consecutive years.
July 15 2026 regulatory updates
- Amman Stock Exchange route: minimum investment raised to JOD 1.5 million; lock‑up period extended from three to five years; exposure to any single company limited to 10 % of the investment.
- Provincial ventures: lower investment thresholds for projects outside Amman to encourage regional development.
- Sole‑window processing: the Ministry of Investment now handles all investor files, streamlining approvals.
- New‑business capital requirements:
- Outside Amman: paid‑up capital of JOD 500,000 (≈ US $705,000).
- Inside Amman: paid‑up capital of JOD 700,000.
Practical considerations for prospective investors
- Investment size: the average approved file exceeds US $1.5 million; investors should budget accordingly, especially for the stock‑exchange route (minimum JOD 1.5 million).
- Geographic focus: projects in governorates benefit from reduced thresholds, but must meet the new JOD 500,000 capital floor.
- Job‑creation compliance: maintaining the required Jordanian workforce is essential; failure to keep 90 % of mandatory staff on the Social Security rolls for three years can jeopardize citizenship approval.
- Asset lock‑up: the five‑year lock‑up for the stock‑exchange route increases exposure risk; investors should assess market volatility and the 10 % single‑company limit.
- Processing timeline: with the Ministry of Investment acting as the sole window, applicants may experience faster but more centralized scrutiny; thorough documentation of capital, job creation plans, and asset holding periods is critical.
Risks and caveats
- Regulatory changes: the program’s rules have been adjusted multiple times within a year; investors should monitor future amendments that could affect thresholds or holding periods.
- Economic exposure: the five‑year lock‑up on stock‑exchange investments ties capital to Jordan’s market performance, which can be volatile.
- Citizenship timeline: the temporary three‑year passport precedes full citizenship, meaning full rights are not immediate.
- Annual ceiling: the 500‑investor cap may lead to competition for slots, potentially delaying approvals if demand exceeds supply.
Prospective investors should align their capital, business model, and job‑creation strategy with the latest thresholds and compliance obligations to maximize the likelihood of successful naturalization under Jordan’s CIP program.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
