Interior Ministry launches Electronic Visa Project

AMMAN — The Ministry of Interior on Monday launched the Electronic Visa Project aimed at facilitating the entry procedures for travellers into the Kingdom through border centres. 

The new project was completed through a partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, and with the efforts of all related entities, Interior Minister Mazen Faraya said.

During the launch event, attended by representatives from the relevant authorities, Faraya said that the project would enable travellers to obtain their visas and pay their fees electronically before their arrival, without having to visit border centres and diplomatic missions abroad. 

However, the option to obtain visas upon arrival at border centres would still be available, he noted.

Faraya emphasised that the project is in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision, the national efforts to attract investment and localise existing investments, encourage various types of tourism, promote Jordan as a tourist destination and simplify procedures for entry, residence, and citizenship for the purpose of investing in the Kingdom.

The project will bring a shift in the process of facilitating and simplifying procedures for those wishing to visit the Kingdom from different nationalities, and will reduce congestion at border centres as a result of providing the option for travellers to submit visa applications and pay fees before their arrival in the Kingdom, eliminating the previously used procedures of stickers, stamps and traditional fee payment methods, he added.

He also said that the project will also contribute to achieving financial savings by eliminating the need to attach stickers and stamps to the passports of those arriving in the Kingdom, as well as achieving a higher level of accuracy in visa issuance, especially with the possibility of electronically verifying the authenticity of each visa using the QR-Code that is assigned to it. 

All visa-related data and fees collected will be stored electronically, making it easy to access at any time, he noted.

The minister explained that the project is part of the measures and facilities taken by the Ministry of Interior to simplify procedures for obtaining visas and residence permits for foreigners who wish to visit or reside in the Kingdom.

It also includes simplifying the procedures for obtaining Jordanian citizenship in exchange of investment, as well as completing the renewal transactions for investors and their families within one working day, according to Faraya.

The implementation of a one-year and five-year multiple-entry visit visa, was introduced, marking the first time such an initiative has been introduced. 

Furthermore, foreign students studying at Jordanian universities can now renew their residency permits directly through security centres without the need for prior approval from the ministry. 

The expansion of tourist visas for foreigners wishing to visit the Kingdom for tourism purposes includes nationals from different countries who previously required prior approval to enter. 

Additionally, the process for obtaining treatment visas for patients from different nationalities has been simplified as well.