Jordan Pass 2026: Complete Guide to Petra, Visa Fees & Attractions

The Jordan Pass is an official tourism package offered by the Jordan Tourism Board that bundles together the Jordan tourist visa fee waiver with prepaid entry to Petra and access to over 40 government-operated tourist attractions throughout the country. Purchased online before arrival, the pass transforms into a digital or printed QR code that you present at attractions for seamless entry without additional payment or ticketing processes.

The pass was designed to encourage international visitors to explore Jordan's diverse attractions beyond just Petra, offering significant savings that incentivize visits to archaeological sites, nature reserves, museums, and historical monuments across the kingdom. From the Roman ruins of Jerash to the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, from the biblical sites of Mount Nebo to the crusader castles overlooking the Jordan Valley, the Jordan Pass opens doors throughout the country.

Three package tiers accommodate different Petra exploration preferences — one day, two days, or three days at the ancient city. Since Petra alone requires significant time to explore properly and has expensive individual entry fees, the Jordan Pass quickly pays for itself while adding tremendous value through visa fee savings and bonus attraction access. For most international visitors planning any meaningful time at Petra, the Jordan Pass represents not just a convenience but a financial necessity.

The pass is available to purchase online at any time before your Jordan arrival and must be activated within 12 months of purchase. Once activated at your first attraction (typically immigration for the visa waiver or Petra for sightseeing), the pass remains valid for two weeks, providing flexibility for multi-week Jordan itineraries that might include side trips to neighboring countries.

For most international visitors planning to visit Petra, the Jordan Pass is almost always worth purchasing. The math is straightforward: if you're visiting Petra for at least one day and staying in Jordan for at least three nights (which qualifies you for the visa fee waiver), the Jordan Pass saves money compared to purchasing individual entry tickets and paying the visa fee separately at the border.

The calculation becomes even more favorable when you factor in the 40+ additional attractions included with the pass. Even if you visit just one or two extra sites beyond Petra — which most travelers do, given Jordan's concentration of world-class archaeological sites — your savings multiply. The Jordan Pass transforms what could be hundreds of dollars in individual admission fees into a single, predictable cost.

Let's examine the specific scenarios where the Jordan Pass provides value versus situations where individual tickets might make more sense for your particular travel plans and budget considerations.

The Jordan Pass is available in three package tiers, with the primary difference being the number of days you can access Petra. All packages include the same visa fee waiver benefit and access to the same 40+ additional attractions throughout Jordan. Choosing the right package depends entirely on how much time you plan to spend exploring the ancient Nabataean city.

Petra is vast, with the main archaeological site covering roughly 60 square kilometers and featuring hundreds of carved structures, tombs, temples, and monuments. While the famous Treasury can be viewed in an hour, thoroughly exploring the site's full extent — including the Monastery, High Place of Sacrifice, Royal Tombs, and countless other features — genuinely requires multiple days. Consider your fitness level, interest in archaeology, and overall Jordan itinerary when selecting your package.

One of the Jordan Pass's most valuable features is the tourist visa fee waiver. Normally, most international visitors pay 40 JOD (approximately $56 USD) for a visa on arrival at Jordanian airports and major land borders. The Jordan Pass waives this fee entirely, providing immediate savings that offset a significant portion of the pass cost.

However, the visa waiver has important conditions that travelers must understand and meet. The primary requirement is that you must stay in Jordan for at least three consecutive nights to qualify for the waiver. If you stay fewer than three nights, the visa fee waiver does not apply, and you'll need to pay the standard visa fee at immigration despite holding a Jordan Pass.

The three-night requirement is calculated as three nights (not days) spent in Jordan. Arriving on Monday evening and departing Thursday morning counts as three nights and qualifies for the waiver. Immigration officers verify this based on your departure flight or travel plans, so having your itinerary readily available speeds up the entry process.

Beyond Petra, the Jordan Pass includes admission to over 40 government-operated tourist attractions throughout the kingdom. These sites span Jordan's diverse heritage, from Greco-Roman cities to crusader castles, biblical locations to nature reserves, and archaeological museums to ancient desert fortifications. While you won't visit all 40+ sites on a typical trip, the selection ensures that most popular tourist destinations are covered by your pass.

Understanding which sites are included helps you plan an itinerary that maximizes your Jordan Pass value while experiencing the country's remarkable diversity of attractions.

Purchasing the Jordan Pass is a straightforward online process completed through the official Jordan Pass website. The entire purchase takes about 10 minutes and results in an instant digital pass delivered to your email. Buy your pass before departing for Jordan to ensure you qualify for the visa fee waiver benefit — purchases made after arriving in Jordan do not qualify.

Using the Jordan Pass is simple — present your QR code (digital or printed) at each attraction entrance for scanning. Staff verify the code, mark your entry in their system, and grant access. For multi-day Petra packages, your entries are tracked to ensure you use the correct number of days without exceeding your allocation.

Understanding activation and validity rules ensures you maximize your pass value without accidentally invalidating or wasting included entries.

Petra is the highlight of most Jordan visits and the primary reason travelers purchase the Jordan Pass. Understanding how to make the most of your Petra time enhances the experience and helps you see more of this extraordinary ancient city carved from rose-red rock over 2,000 years ago by the Nabataean civilization.

The archaeological park is vast — roughly 60 square kilometers containing over 800 registered structures including tombs, temples, theatres, and processional ways. While the famous Treasury seen in countless photos is the most iconic image, Petra offers much more for those with time to explore. Planning your visit strategically ensures you see what matters most to you.

Strategic planning helps you extract maximum value from your Jordan Pass investment. While the pass saves money even with minimal use, travelers who visit multiple included attractions and plan efficient itineraries can save hundreds of dollars compared to individual ticket purchases throughout their Jordan adventure.

The Jordan Pass transforms a Jordan trip from an expensive proposition into an exceptional value experience. By combining your visa fee waiver with Petra entry and access to dozens of additional attractions, the pass ensures you experience more of Jordan for less cost while enjoying streamlined entry at every site. For travelers planning even a modest Jordan itinerary including Petra, the Jordan Pass is essentially mandatory for smart travel.

Jordan rewards visitors with an extraordinary concentration of world-class attractions in a compact, friendly country. From the rose-red city of Petra to the Roman grandeur of Jerash, from the biblical landscapes of Mount Nebo to the otherworldly deserts of Wadi Rum, from crusader castles to Dead Sea shores, Jordan offers experiences that create lasting memories. The Jordan Pass opens doors to this remarkable heritage while keeping your budget under control.

Purchase your Jordan Pass before departure, plan an itinerary that visits multiple included sites, and prepare for an adventure through one of the Middle East's most welcoming and historically rich destinations. The ancient Nabataeans built Petra to impress visitors 2,000 years ago, and it still succeeds beyond all expectations today. With your Jordan Pass in hand, you'll join millions of travelers who have discovered why this remarkable kingdom consistently ranks among the world's must-visit destinations, offering unparalleled value for discerning travelers seeking authentic experiences, ancient wonders, and memories that last a lifetime. Your truly extraordinary Jordan adventure awaits beyond the magnificent rose-red cliffs of Petra.