International visitors to Jordan pay $60 USD at the airport for a visa—unless they buy a $99 Jordan Pass before departure. The pass waives the 40 JD visa fee entirely while bundling Petra entry (normally $70 USD separately) and 40+ other attractions into a single QR code.
Air Traveler Club’s analysis of Jordan Pass tier pricing confirms net savings of $106-156 USD depending on Petra days selected. For US, EU, and Australian passport holders planning stays of 3+ nights between January and December 2026, this represents the single most valuable pre-trip purchase available for Jordan.
The catch is non-negotiable: you cannot buy this at Queen Alia International Airport or any land border. Purchase must happen online through the official jordanpass.jo site at least one business day before arrival. Show up without it, and you’ll pay full visa plus full attraction fees—potentially $180+ more than prepared travelers.
The math that makes this obvious
Petra alone costs 50 JD ($70 USD) for a single day visit. The Jordan visa costs 40 JD ($60 USD). That’s $130 USD before you’ve seen anything else.
The Jordan Wanderer pass costs 70 JD ($99 USD) and includes both. You’re saving $31 USD on just those two items—plus gaining free entry to Jerash, Wadi Rum, Kerak Castle, and 37 other sites.
| Pass Tier | Price (JD/USD) | Petra Days | Net Savings vs. Separate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Wanderer | 70 JD / $99 | 1 day | $106+ |
| Jordan Explorer | 75 JD / $106 | 2 consecutive days | $135+ |
| Jordan Expert | 80 JD / $113 | 3 consecutive days | $156+ |
| No Pass | N/A | N/A | $0 (pay $130+ minimum) |
The Expert tier delivers 137% return on investment for travelers planning extended Petra exploration. Add Wadi Rum and Jerash to your itinerary, and ROI exceeds 200%.
The visa waiver requirement most travelers miss
You must stay at least 2 consecutive nights (3 days) in Jordan. Shorter transits—even 36-hour layovers—disqualify you from the visa waiver. You’ll still get attraction access, but you’ll pay the 40 JD visa fee at immigration.
The official jordanpass.jo site states this clearly, though some unofficial .org domains incorrectly list 4 days minimum. Trust only the .jo domain—scam sites charging inflated prices or delivering nothing have proliferated since 2023.
The scam site problem
TripAdvisor forums document dozens of travelers who purchased from fake Jordan Pass sites, receiving nothing or invalid QR codes. The only legitimate purchase URL is jordanpass.jo—not .com, not .org, not any third-party reseller. Bookmark the official site before searching, as scam domains often rank higher in search results.
How to cut fares to Asia by 40–80%
Our custom AI ✨ tracks pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss.
Get the these deals in your inbox, for free:
Purchase and activation: the timeline that matters
Processing takes up to one business day. During Ramadan, Easter, and summer peak season, apply 3+ days before departure to avoid delays. The pass arrives via email as a PDF with QR code.
Print the QR code. Digital screens sometimes fail immigration scanners. Carry both paper and phone versions. You’ll also need your passport at every attraction—no ID means paying full ticket price regardless of pass ownership.
Once purchased, the pass remains valid for 3 months. However, it expires exactly 1 month after your first attraction scan. If you visit Jerash on day one, your pass dies 30 days later—even if the 3-month purchase window hasn’t closed.
Add-ons worth considering
The Bethany Beyond the Jordan baptism site costs 12 JD separately but only 8 JD as a Jordan Pass add-on—a 33% discount. Select it during initial purchase; you cannot add it later.
A free heritage train ride is available on select dates but requires booking through the pass portal. The ticket is non-transferable and date-specific, so only claim it if your itinerary is locked.
When the Jordan Pass doesn’t make sense
Three scenarios eliminate the value proposition entirely:
- Stays under 2 nights. Transit passengers and quick business trips won’t qualify for the visa waiver. You’ll pay 40 JD at immigration anyway, reducing savings to Petra-only benefits.
- Arab nationals. The pass explicitly excludes Arab passport holders from purchase. This includes dual nationals traveling on Arab documentation.
- Visa-exempt nationalities. Some GCC citizens don’t require Jordanian visas. The pass still provides attraction bundling, but the 40 JD waiver benefit disappears—weakening the ROI calculation.
For overland arrivals from Israel via Wadi Araba, the pass works but requires activation at the border crossing itself. Aqaba and other entry points follow standard QR presentation.
The immigration queue advantage
Beyond dollar savings, the Jordan Pass creates a tangible time benefit. Visitors without pre-purchased visas queue at payment counters, often 30-45 minutes during peak arrivals. Pass holders show their QR code and walk through—the electronic visa is emailed automatically after purchase.
For connections to Petra-bound transport or tight hotel check-ins, this alone justifies the pre-trip effort.
Questions? Answers.
Can I visit Petra multiple times on any pass tier?
Only Explorer (2 days) and Expert (3 days) tiers allow multiple Petra entries. Wanderer provides single entry only. Petra days must be consecutive—you cannot split them across your trip. No upgrades or downgrades are possible after purchase.
What if the pass email never arrives after payment?
Check spam and junk folders first. If missing, return to jordanpass.jo and use the secure redownload link with your transaction reference. Firefox or Opera browsers work best if the purchase page fails due to cookie or Java issues.
Does the pass work for entry from Aqaba’s special economic zone?
Yes. The Jordan Pass functions at all entry points including Aqaba port and airport. However, Aqaba itself offers visa-free entry for stays under 30 days—if you’re only visiting Aqaba and not traveling north to Petra, the pass may not be necessary.
How do I handle the pass if my flight arrives at midnight?
Immigration counters operate 24/7 at Queen Alia International. Your pass QR code works regardless of arrival time. The 2-night minimum counts calendar nights, not hours—arriving at 11pm and departing 48 hours later still qualifies.
Can I share the pass with family members?
No. Each traveler requires their own Jordan Pass. Children under 12 may have different attraction policies at individual sites, but the visa waiver applies per-passport. Purchase separate passes for each family member requiring a visa.
What happens if I buy the pass but my trip gets cancelled?
Jordan Pass purchases are non-refundable. If your travel plans change, the pass remains valid for 3 months from purchase—rebook within that window if possible. No extensions are granted for unused passes.
