Jordan (JO)

Jordan is a stable, welcoming Hashemite Kingdom at the crossroads of the Middle East — home to Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the legendary Wadi Rum desert, and the mineral-rich Dead Sea.

Capital: Amman

Region: Middle East

Language: Arabic

Currency: JOD (JD)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 39)

Emergency: 911

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Jordan.

Ministry of Labour — Employment Directorates

Wizarat al-Amal

Register at your local Ministry of Labour directorate with your Iqama and academic qualifications. Online job-seeking registration is also available at mol.gov.jo. Free of charge.

Services offered:

✓National Employment Platform (Estidama) — connecting job seekers to employers
✓Vocational training referrals
✓Work permit processing (for employer applications)
✓Dispute resolution between workers and employers
✓Unemployment benefit registration (for Jordanian nationals under Social Security system)

Expat eligibility: Expats can register for information purposes, but active labour market services (training, unemployment benefits) are primarily for Jordanian nationals. Expat employment requires a work permit obtained by the employer from the Ministry of Labour. Work permits are issued based on employer sponsorship — you cannot be "self-employed" without specific authorisation.

Visit Ministry of Labour — Employment Directorates

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens are NOT exempt from work permit requirements in Jordan. All non-Jordanian nationals (including EU citizens) require a work permit sponsored by their employer. The employer submits the application to the Ministry of Labour. Working without a valid work permit is illegal for both employee and employer.

Non-EU Citizens

Same rules apply as for EU citizens. The employer must have a valid work permit from the Ministry of Labour before the employee can legally work. Certain nationalities (e.g. Syrian nationals) face additional restrictions. Work permits are renewable annually with the Iqama (residence permit).

EU Blue Card

Jordan does not have an equivalent to the EU Blue Card. There is no fast-track skilled worker permit. All work permits are employer-sponsored and occupation-specific.

Freelancer Visa

Jordan does not have a formal freelancer or self-employment visa for expats as of 2026. Some expats operate through their own registered Jordanian company (requires significant capital and a local partner for foreign ownership). Remote workers employed by foreign companies are in a legal grey area — consult a local lawyer.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours Standard work week is Sunday–Thursday, 8am–5pm (government) or 9am–6pm (private sector). Some international companies use Monday–Friday. Friday is the Islamic day of rest. Saturday is a working day in many Jordanian businesses.

Annual leave Minimum 14 days annual leave by law for employees with 1+ year of service, increasing to 21 days after 5 years. Eid al-Fitr (3 days) and Eid al-Adha (4 days) are additional paid public holidays.

Sick leave Jordanian Labour Law provides 14 days of fully paid sick leave per year (after 3 months employment), and up to 14 days at half pay after that.

Trial period Probation period typically 3 months (some contracts specify up to 6 months). Either party can terminate during probation with limited notice.

Notice period Typically 1 month for permanent employees. May be 2–3 months for senior positions. Check your contract.

Salary range Entry-level professional: JD 400–700/month. Mid-level: JD 800–1,500/month. Senior management: JD 1,500–4,000+/month. NGO/UN positions: USD 1,500–8,000+/month (often tax-advantaged). Expats in senior roles with international organisations typically earn significantly more than local market rates.

Pay frequency Monthly, typically on the 25th–30th of the month.

Contract types

·Open-ended (Permanent) contract
·Fixed-term contract (Aqdun Muddatin Mutahayyidah)
·Probationary contract (up to 6 months)
·Part-time contract
·Seasonal/project-based contract

🔍 Job Boards

Akhtaboot

Jordan's largest job board. Covers all sectors and seniority levels.

LinkedIn Jordan

Increasingly essential, especially for international NGOs, companies, and professionals.

Bayt.com

Major Middle East job platform covering Jordan and the wider region.

Tanqeeb.com

Arabic-language regional job board, strong in Jordan and GCC.

GulfTalent

Covers Jordan plus Gulf countries — useful for senior roles.

INJAZ Al-Arab Jobs

Youth and early-career jobs in Jordan and Arab world.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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ReliefWeb

Key resource for humanitarian, NGO, and UN jobs in Jordan — very active.

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DevNetJobs

International development and humanitarian sector jobs.

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UN Careers (UNJOBS.org)

UN and international organisation positions based in Amman (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, etc.)

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Expat.com Jordan

Expat community with job listings and networking.

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InterNations Jordan

Networking events and professional contacts for Amman expats.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Standard English-language CV format is accepted at international companies and NGOs. For Jordanian companies, a photo on the CV is common but not mandatory. Mention Arabic proficiency if you have any. Keep to 2 pages maximum. Include nationality if applying at an organisation with nationality quotas (UN, USAID, etc.).

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Arabic is required for most roles in Jordanian government and private sector companies. English is sufficient for international NGOs, tech companies, embassies, and multinational corporations. Many Jordanian professionals are bilingual. French is useful for some French-funded development organisations.

Interviews: Jordanian interviews tend to be more formal and relationship-oriented than Western-style interviews. Greet warmly, accept tea/coffee offered. Expect questions about family background and personal life — this is normal, not intrusive. References (personal and professional) matter more than in European contexts. Wasta (personal connections) can influence hiring decisions in the local private sector.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Join InterNations Amman for regular expat professional networking events.
→Attend Amman Tech Meetup for the Jordan tech and startup scene.
→Many international jobs are found through personal connections — ask your existing network actively.
→LinkedIn is increasingly used by Jordanian and international employers in Amman.
→The American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham) hosts business events.
→The Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) events are useful for trade and business contacts.
→UN/OCHA and major NGO compound notice boards in Amman often carry informal job listings.

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