My Amman Life

I’ve been recently working on getting my Jordanian residency as I need it to stay here legally, but also because I can’t drive a Jordanian plate car (only a rental car) without having my residency. Once you get residency you can then translate your driving license to a Jordanian one (here’s how to do it). The process is always confusing regarding documents, where to go, what to bring, etc. I wanted to create this step-by-step guide on how to obtain Jordanian residency by yourself.

Many cases make you eligible for Jordanian residency (in Arabic “iqama“):

Now if you’re reading this article, probably that image doesn’t help you much, so let’s make it more concise and in English. There are other ways to qualify for residency (and renewal), but in this article I will be focusing on these cases:

• Wife/Husband of a Jordanian citizen
• A Foreign Student studying in Jordan
• A Foreigner with intent to work in Jordan
• Child of a Jordanian woman

Note: Scroll to the bottom of the article for help finding which Borders and Residence (“al iqama wa al hodood“) department you need to go to with your documents.

Note 2: Do not wear shorts/tank tops to any government office. You will not be allowed in. This applies to everyone.

Wife/Husband of a Jordanian citizen Residency/Renewal Application Process

1. Apply on the Ministry of Interior website or app (Android app or Apple app). Select “Family/Follower Residency”.
2. Once you receive the approval online, print the paper and bring it to the closest police station (Borders and Residence department) to your residence to be fingerprinted (scroll down to the bottom of this article to figure out which location to visit). Once your application form has been stamped that you have been fingerprinted, proceed to the marked area in the police building (ask for help if needed) along with the rest of the documents listed below. You will fill out a self-declaration form when you submit the documents:
   • the Jordanian spouse must be present in person (or a lawyer with power of attorney to sign for the spouse if they can’t be present)
   • two personal photos (passport size)
   • passport
   • photocopy of passport information page
   • recent marriage certificate (must be maximum 1 week old) – you can get this at the “Civil Status and Passports Department” or on the Sanad app
   • sponsor’s identity cards (Jordanian ID)
   • photocopy of the sponsor’s identity
   • disease-free certificate (to get this go to the Ministry of Health in Weibdeh (map) and pay 85 JD for the blood test. See below for more details about how to do this.)
3. Fee: 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees (cash only. bring exact change)

To renew your residency as a spouse of a Jordanian citizen, you need to go to the closest Borders and Residence department to your residence with: 1 personal photo (passport size), photocopy of passport information page, your passport (must have a validity of at least 6 months), recent marriage certificate (maximum 1 week old), copy of sponsor’s identity,. There you need to fill out the form provided and submit it with the abovementioned documents. The renewal fee is 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees.

Note 1: You do not need to do the blood test again at the Ministry of Health.

Note 2: When I received my residency card it had my name, father’s name, and surname on it (the Arab way). This information does not match what is in my passport. Be sure to request that your name on the residency card matches your passport exactly.

Foreign Student Residency Application/Renewal Process

1. Apply on the Ministry of Interior website or app (Android app or Apple app). Select “Study Residency”
2. Once you receive the approval online, print the paper and bring it to the closest police station (Borders and Residence department) to your residence to be fingerprinted (scroll down to the bottom of this article to figure out which location to visit). Once your application form has been stamped that you have been fingerprinted, proceed to the marked area in the police building (ask for help if needed) along with the rest of the documents listed below. You will fill out a self-declaration form when you submit the documents::
   • one personal photo (passport size)
   • passport
   • photocopy of passport information page
   • disease-free certificate (to get this go to the Ministry of Health in Weibdeh map and pay 85 JD for the blood test. See below for more details about how to do this.)
   • proof you are a student in Jordan
   • previous residency proof (in the case of renewal)
3. Fee: FREE

Foreigner with intent to work in Jordan Residency Application/Renewal Process

1. Once you have a work permit from the Labor Office, apply on the Ministry of Interior website or app (Android app or Apple app). Select “Work Residency”.
2. Once you receive the approval online, print the paper and bring it to the closest police station (Borders and Residence department) to your residence to be fingerprinted (scroll down to the bottom of this article to figure out which location to visit). Once your application form has been stamped that you have been fingerprinted, proceed to the marked area in the police building (ask for help if needed) along with the rest of the documents listed below. You will fill out a self-declaration form when you submit the documents::
   • photocopy of work permit
   • two personal photos (passport size)
   • passport
   • photocopy of passport information page
3. Fee: 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees (cash only. bring exact change)

To renew your residency for intent to work, you need to follow all of the above steps including applying on the Ministry of Interior website or app. With the approval go to the closest Borders and Residence department to your residence with: 1 personal photo (passport size), your work permit from the Labor Office, a photocopy of the passport information page, and your passport (must have a validity of at least 6 months). There you need to fill out the form provided and submit it with the abovementioned documents. The renewal fee is 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees (cash only. bring exact change).

Child of a Jordanian Woman Residency Application Process

1. Apply on the Ministry of Interior website or app (Android app or Apple app). Select “Family/Follower Residency”.
2. Once you receive the approval online, print the paper and bring it to the closest police station (Borders and Residence department) to your residence to be fingerprinted (scroll down to the bottom of this article to figure out which location to visit). Once your application form has been stamped that you have been fingerprinted, proceed to the marked area in the police building (ask for help if needed) along with the rest of the documents listed below. You will fill out a self-declaration form when you submit the documents::
   • the Jordanian mother must be present in person
   • two personal photos (passport size)
   • child’s passport
   • photocopy of child’s passport information page
   • copy of child’s birth certificate
   • sponsor’s identity cards (Jordanian passport and ID)
   • photocopy of the sponsor’s identity
   • disease-free certificate only if the child is 12 years or older (to get this go to the Ministry of Health in Weibdeh map and pay 85 JD for the blood test. See below for more details about how to do it.)
3. Fee: 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees (cash only. bring exact change)

To renew your residency as a child of a Jordanian mother, you need to follow all of the above steps including applying on the Ministry of Interior website or app. With the approval go to the closest Borders and Residence department to your residence with: a copy of the child’s passport, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, one personal photo of the child, sponsor’s identity cards (original and copy). There you need to fill out the form provided and submit it with the abovementioned documents. The renewal fee is 30 JD + 1 JD postal fees (cash only. bring exact change).

How to obtain your disease-free certificate – Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan

In many cases, as mentioned above, a “disease-free certificate” is required in the list of documents to apply for residency. To do this, you must visit one of two Ministry of Health Centers in Amman:

1. Ministry of Health Weibdeh location (map) – mainly for expats.
2. Ministry of Healthy Gardens Street location (map) – for foreign laborers, housemaids, etc.

I will venture to guess that if you’re reading this you should visit the Weibdeh location like I did. Even if the Gardens location is closer to you, you won’t be allowed to do your test there if you’re an “expat”. Here’s more about the Weibdeh Ministry of Health location and how to get your disease-free certificate:

Step 1: You need to book an appointment online here. The appointment booking system is in Arabic only, so make sure you have someone to help you if you don’t read Arabic fluently.

Step 2: Once you book your appointment you will receive an SMS with the efawateercom payment reference number. You need to pay this via efawateercom and not directly at the Ministry of Health.

Step 3: Once you’ve set your appointment and paid, you can go to the Weibdeh location for your blood test.

When you enter the front gate from the street, go up the stairs into the building on the left.

Proceed up the stairs to the 2nd floor (follow the signs that say “FOREIGNERS”). On the second floor, you can proceed to the doctor’s office in the left-hand corner to do your blood test. The test results are sent electronically to the police station nearest your official residence after 3-4 days (not counting weekends or public holidays). Test results are valid for 1 year as long as you don’t leave Jordan.

Note: You will not receive any notification that your results are ready nor will you receive a copy of your results. You just have to proceed directly to the police station.

Parking: only street parking

Hours: Saturday to Wednesday 8 am to 1:45 pm and Thursday 8 am to 12:45 pm

Contact number: 06 4649830

How to find the closest Borders & Residence Department to your home

This was the part that made us lose a lot of time running around to different places. I could not find anywhere online that had a search form to put in my residence location that would tell me which Borders & Residence Department (in Arabic “al iqama wa al hodood“) in Amman I needed to visit.

Strategy option 1: Ask a neighbor where the nearest police station to your house is.

Strategy option 2: Contact the Borders and Residence Department (ادارة الاقامة والحدود)

• on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Borders.and.Residence.Department/
• via email res.dept@psd.gov.jo
• by phone +962 6 550 5360

Strategy option 3: If option 1 & 2 fail, go to Bayader 8th Circle Police Station and ask them where they think you should go based on your house location. Have them show you on your phone on Google Maps where the location is exactly.

• For South Amman residences (Marj al Hamam area) you need to go here to do your residency:
  • Muqabalayn https://maps.app.goo.gl/H9LhQSzNFKGmycJU7
• 8th Circle area residences you need to go here to do your residency:
  • Bayader https://maps.app.goo.gl/XYXM1bV5jZTsmYpT7
• Khalda area residences you need to go here to do your residency:
  • Tla Al Ali https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUXDsTfdt1d2gwHk8