Jordan Pass: Complete Guide — Is It Worth It?

The Jordan Pass is a government-issued travel pass that combines your Jordanian visa fee with entry to over 40 tourist sites including Petra — the country’s most expensive individual attraction. For most international visitors spending at least 3 nights in Jordan, it is one of the few travel passes anywhere in the world that genuinely, clearly saves money. To make the most of the pass’s included sites, browse tours and guided experiences across Jordan to fill the time between major attractions.

What Is the Jordan Pass?

The Jordan Pass is sold and managed by the Jordan Tourism Board at jordanpass.jo. It is a digital pass — you receive a QR code by email after purchase, which you scan at border crossings and site entrances.

It does two things:

1. Replaces the visa fee on arrival (normally JOD 40 for most non-Arab nationalities, as of 2026). With the Jordan Pass, the QR code at the border replaces the visa sticker process — no fee paid at the window.

2. Includes entry to 40+ tourist sites including Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum Protected Area, Ajloun Castle, Aqaba Archaeological Museum, the Baptism Site, Umm Qais, Pella, and many others.

Jordan Pass Tiers and Approximate 2026 Prices

There are three tiers, differentiated only by how many days of Petra entry are included:

Pass	Petra Days	Approximate Price
Wanderer	1 day	JOD 70
Explorer	2 days	JOD 75
Expert	3 days	JOD 80

Important: These prices are approximate as of early 2026 and have increased modestly in recent years. Always verify the current price at jordanpass.jo before purchasing — the official site is the only authoritative source. The JOD 5 difference between Explorer and Expert is negligible — unless your schedule is genuinely tight, buy the Explorer as a minimum.

Is the Jordan Pass Worth It? The Break-Even Calculator

The pass only makes financial sense if you compare what you would pay without it:

Without a Jordan Pass (approximate costs as of 2026):

• Visa on arrival: JOD 40
• Petra, 1 day: JOD 50
• Petra, 2nd day: JOD 55
• Jerash: JOD 10
• Wadi Rum entry (not jeep tours): JOD 5

Running total without Jordan Pass: Visa + 2-day Petra + Jerash + Wadi Rum entry = JOD 40 + 55 + 10 + 5 = JOD 110

The Explorer pass at approximately JOD 75 saves you JOD 35 against that combination.

The more sites you visit from the included list, the more value you extract. The full list at jordanpass.jo includes sites across the country — even without visiting every one, the combination of visa fee and Petra entry alone justifies the purchase for any trip including Petra.

When the Jordan Pass may NOT be worth it:

• If you hold a passport from a country with free or discounted Jordanian visa access (check your specific nationality at the Jordanian Ministry of Interior or your country’s foreign affairs guidance)
• Very short visits of 1–2 nights that do not satisfy the minimum stay requirement
• If you genuinely only plan to visit one minor site and skip Petra (rare)

What Is Included in the Jordan Pass

The full list is available at jordanpass.jo. Key inclusions:

Major sites:

• Petra (included days vary by tier)
• Jerash (Roman city, normally JOD 10)
• Wadi Rum Protected Area entry (normally JOD 5; jeep tours are NOT included)
• Ajloun Castle (normally JOD 2)
• Aqaba Archaeological Museum (free normally, but included)
• Umm Qais (Gadara ruins)
• Pella archaeological site
• Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan)
• Kerak Castle (Crusader fortress)
• Shobak Castle
• Mount Nebo memorial basilica
• Madaba Archaeological Park

Nature and reserves:

• Azraq Wetland Reserve
• Dana Biosphere Reserve entrance
• Ajloun Forest Reserve

Key exclusions:

• Wadi Mujib Siq Trail (the gorge canyon hike — this is managed by RSCN separately and costs JOD 21 as of 2026)
• Wadi Rum jeep tours, overnight camps, and all activities
• Petra by Night (the evening candle-lit event, approximately JOD 17 separately)
• Most private tour guides and activities

The 3-Night Minimum Stay Requirement

The Jordan Pass includes a condition: you must stay in Jordan for a minimum of 3 consecutive nights to benefit from the visa fee waiver. This is assessed at the border — the immigration officer stamps your passport when you activate the pass.

In practice, this means:

• A 2-night visit does NOT get the visa fee waiver. You will be charged JOD 40 at the border and the Jordan Pass is still valid for site entries, but the visa saving is gone.
• The 3-night rule is assessed on calendar days, not 24-hour periods. Arriving at 10pm on Day 1 and departing at 6am on Day 4 qualifies.

Most Jordan itineraries of 4+ days satisfy this requirement without any adjustment needed.

How to Buy the Jordan Pass

1. Go to jordanpass.jo (the only official source)
2. Create an account and select your pass tier (Wanderer, Explorer, or Expert)
3. Pay by credit or debit card
4. Receive a confirmation email with your QR code
5. Download the PDF or screenshot the QR code — you will need it without internet at border crossings

Buy before you fly. The pass cannot be purchased once you are in Jordan. If you forget to buy it and arrive at the border without one, you pay the JOD 40 visa fee and enter normally — you can then visit sites paying the standard entry fees. You cannot retroactively apply the visa saving.

Activating the Jordan Pass at the Border

At your entry point (airport, land border, or sea crossing at Aqaba):

1. Proceed to immigration as normal
2. Show your QR code to the immigration officer (printed or on your phone — have it ready before reaching the window)
3. The officer scans the code and processes your entry — no visa fee is charged
4. Your pass activation begins from this point

Have your QR code on your phone screen or printed before you reach the immigration counter. Fumbling with apps while a queue builds behind you is avoidable. Screenshot or print it.

Using the Jordan Pass at Sites

At each included site, the entrance staff have handheld scanners. Show your QR code. The pass records which sites you have entered and on which dates. For Petra specifically, each calendar day uses one of your included Petra days — entering Petra twice on the same calendar day counts as one day.

Practical note at Petra: The Visitor Centre opens at 6:00am. If you enter on Day 1 and Day 2 of your stay, both days are recorded against the pass. You cannot enter Petra on Day 1, leave and re-enter the same day using a second Petra day — it registers as one calendar day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not buying before arrival: The single most common error. There is no online purchase option at the border or anywhere inside Jordan.

Buying the wrong tier: If you want two full days at Petra (highly recommended), buy the Explorer (JOD 75). Buying the Wanderer to save JOD 5 and then deciding you want a second day at Petra means buying an extra JOD 55 full-price day ticket at the entrance.

Assuming Wadi Rum jeep tours are included: They are not. Budget separately for jeep tours (approximately JOD 25–45 per person for a half-day tour) and overnight camp fees.

Not verifying the minimum stay: If your trip is exactly 3 nights, check that your arrival and departure days work. Arriving day 1, checking out morning day 4 = 3 nights, which satisfies the requirement.

Using Amman Beach as a Dead Sea visit: Amman Beach (the public Dead Sea beach) is NOT included in the Jordan Pass — it is run by a private operator. The Dead Sea Resort beaches are also not included. The Jordan Pass includes many sites but the commercial Dead Sea beach clubs are not among them.

FAQs

Can I enter Jordan from Israel using the Jordan Pass? Yes. The pass is valid at all border crossings including the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge and the Wadi Araba/Yitzhak Rabin crossing near Aqaba/Eilat.

Does the Jordan Pass cover the exit tax? The exit tax (where applicable at some crossings) is separate and not covered by the pass. The land crossing at Wadi Araba toward Eilat charges a departure fee — check current amounts at the crossing as these change.

What if I change my plans and visit fewer sites? The pass is non-refundable. If your plans change and you visit fewer sites, you still benefit from the visa waiver as long as you stayed 3+ nights.

Is the Jordan Pass available for children? Children under 15 from most countries already have reduced or free entry to many Jordanian sites. Check jordanpass.jo for current child pricing — there are child versions of the pass available at reduced rates.

Can I visit Petra multiple times on the same day pass? Yes — leaving and re-entering Petra within the same calendar day uses one Petra day from your pass.

Key Destinations Covered by the Jordan Pass

• Petra
• Wadi Rum
• Jerash
• Aqaba
• Dead Sea
• Amman