Citizenship by Investment in Jordan

Despite the small geographical size of Jordan, it contains a fertile environment for investment due to its strategic location, which enables investors to compete at the highest level, since Asia, Europe and Africa share being in the center, in addition to its outstanding location by the Rede Sea, which is considered a significant location, especially for Iraq and Syria; and the most significant is the provision of outstanding human resources, competencies, and experiences, and keeping pace with technological development, which contribute to investment development.

In the most recent amendments of the 2023, one of the privileges given to investors is that when depositing an interest-free deposit amounting one million dollars at the Central Bank of Jordan, for 3 years, without withdrawing during all that period, and purchasing bond funds amounting one million dollars for 6 years;

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan allowed foreign investors the ability to acquire the Jordanian citizenship for the purpose of promoting investment and maintain its increase. Who are investors? What is the citizenship? How the foreign Investor can acquire the Jordanian citizenship? And What are the rules for its granting? This is what we are going to find out in this article, through the following main elements:

We are going to present a detailed explanation for each of the aforementioned main elements as follows:

First: Important Definitions:

We address a number of significant definitions as follows:

What is Jordanian Citizenship?

It is what a citizen holds and enjoys withing the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; obtained either by being born on the Jordanian land, or being born for Jordanian parents or a Jordanian father; anyone else may acquire the Jordanian Citizenship through staying in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for one year or more, provided that they shall be well-mannered; in accordance with the provisions of the Jordanian Nationality Law.

What is Investment?

One of the Economists has defined investment as the financial development in any field, in compliance with the legal provisions when invested; it is the fruit and growth of money, whether in trade, industry or other economic activities.

Who are Investors:

They are defined in (Article No. 20 of the Jordanian Investment Law as “any person who invests in the Kingdom in an economic activity, in accordance with the provisions of the law, whether a Jordanian or foreign investor.”

Citizenship by Establishment:

“It is the citizenship that identifies the original population who are considered the State founders. This citizenship is imposed on the individuals; and might be chosen on individuals upon the establishment of the State, or changing of sovereignty over the territory. The rules of imposing such citizenship vary in each state.”

Citizenship by Descent:

This citizenship is established either by the right of blood, which means that an individual acquires citizenship of his parents by birth, where the base for the citizenship is the family origin from which the born is descendant; or by the right of the territory, which means that the born derive his citizenship from the State on which land he/she was born; regardless of his/her parents’ citizenship, nationals or foreigners.”

Citizenship by Grant:

Legal practitioners define it as “the subsequent nationality an individual acquires according to his/her choice and desire; it is called by grant, as it is granted, not imposed; it is also called optional citizenship, according to the role an individual perform in choosing it. This citizenship is granted to individuals upon the fulfillment of specific requirements, which are provided by a constitution of a specific State.”[1]

The most significant feature that distinguish this type from the Citizenship by Descent is that it is applied for, not imposed by law; when imposed, such as in certain conditions, an individual may relinquish the same through denial, as one of his personal rights. It is granted upon the approval of the State, since it is considered as a grant from the State, which grants it to whomever it desires, without giving reasons. The State is not obliged to accept application for naturalization even if all if all requirements provided by law has been met.”[2]

 Types of Acquiring the Jordanian Citizenship through Investment

The Ministers Council approved amending the rules of granting investors the Jordanian Citizenship and residency through investment, for purpose of creating an attractive environment for foreign investment.

The rules also provided for granting the Jordanian citizenship for an investor’s wife, single daughters, widows, divorcees, who live under his wings, his sons who are below eighteen years old at the time of submitting the application, and his dependents parents; regarding investors who achieved the citizenship requirements mentioned below.

In case the investment was in amount exceeding three million dollars, the investor’s sons who are below thirty years old at the time of submitting the request shall be granted the Jordanian Citizenship, as well as their wives and children.

An investor or normal person of non-investors shall be granted five years residency, regardless of the length of their previous stay in the Kingdom, when purchasing one or more properties, with a total amount not less than two hundred thousand dinars, according to the estimations of the Department of Land and Survey; and holding the property without disposal or mortgage for a minimum period of five years. The residency shall be issued in that case by the approval of the Minister of Interior, upon the recommendation of the Investors Commission.

The rules also included that the Jordanian Citizenship shall not be granted to any investor holding the shares of another investor who had been granted the Jordanian Citizenship based on those shares. These rules shall be applied only to five hundred investors annually, and after following all required proceedings and verifying their solvencies before such proceedings, according to the priority of submitting the applications. In case of violation of any of the requirements, the Jordanian citizenship shall be denaturalized and the residence shall be cancelled as the case may be. The rules shall be reviewed and evaluated once every six months, and shall not apply retroactively.

According to the new amendments, the Jordanian citizenship shall be granted for investors in the following cases:

1. First type: When depositing a deposit amounted one million dollars, and purchasing bond funds amounting one million dollars:

The Jordanian Citizenship may be granted to investors when depositing an interest-free deposit amounting one million dollars at the Central Bank of Jordan, for three years, without withdrawing during all that period, and purchasing bond funds amounting one million dollars for six years, with an interest to be determined by the Central Bank of Jordan; conditioned on the investor’s stay within the Kingdom’s territory for a minimum period of one month before the final recommendation with being granted the Jordanian citizenship.

The Jordanian Legislation has specified the required documents:

• Financial solvency from the bank with which the investor deals.
• A copy of the passports of the investor and his family members.
• Non-marriage certificate for girls above 18 years.
• Dependency Evidence for the parents .
• Copies of the Bridges Identity (for West Bank citizens).
• Submitting the application as appropriate at the Ministry of Investment.

2. Second type: Purchasing stocks and/or shares in Jordanian companies with an amount not less than one and a half million dollars.

The Jordanian Citizenship may be granted to investors when investing through purchasing stocks and/or shares in Jordanian companies with an amount not less than one and a half million dollars; provided that these shares shall not be disposed for a minimum period of three years; and condition on setting an attachment mark on the same by the Companies Control Department and /or Jordan Securities Commission.

The required documents are:

• A recent Commercial Register for the shares purchase prior to purchase.
• The company’s balance sheet for the last year.
• The purchase of shares shall be certified by increasing the company’s capital with an amount of 1.5 million dollars.
• Submitting a financial receipt with the deposit issued by the bank after depositing.
• Submitting a recent Commercial Register after the purchase of shares.
• Copies of the Passports.
• Submitting the application as appropriate at the Ministry of Investment.

3. Third type : Establishing and registering one or more investment projects at any of the productive sectors of economy:

A Jordanian temporary passport for three years shall be granted to investors when establishing and registering one or more investment projects at any of the productive sectors of economy, with a total paid-up capital not less than one million dollars within the capital governorate; conditioned on providing (20) real job opportunities for the Jordanians.

Or when establishing and registering one / or more investment projects at any of the productive sectors of economy, with a total paid-up capital not less than 750 thousand dollars within the capital governorate, conditioned on providing (10) real job opportunities for the Jordanians, upon the actual commencement of the project, according to the Social Security Corporation records.

In this case, the investor shall be granted a residency till the actual operation of the project/s and completion of numbers of the Jordanian employees; provided that – after fulfilling the requirements – shall be granted a  Jordanian temporary passport for three years, by virtue of which, shall be treated as a Jordanian  Citizen, except for the political rights.

After the lapse of three years, he shall be granted the Jordanian Citizenship, after verifying his commitment to the aforementioned obligations.

In regards with the required documents, they include:

• A recent Commercial register.
• A Statement of Financial Position, approved by the auditor.
• Copies of the passports.
• Submitting the application as appropriate at the Ministry of Investment.

4. Fourth type: Investments based within the Capital City:

The Jordanian Citizenship may be granted to investors whose investments are based in the Capital City, whether the investor was a partner or owing a current project/s; he shall be granted the Jordanian Citizenship according to the following:

Current Investments based within the Capital City, according to the following requirements, collectively:

• If the average share of the investor in the total fixed, non-fixed and tangible assets, which can be calculated, for the current project or projects, according to approved annual balance sheets for the last three years; is not less than one million dollars.
• Providing at least twenty job opportunity for the Jordanians within three years, according to the Social Security Corporation records; with taking into account the consequences of Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020, so that half of the required number shall be approved during that year.
• Merging or combining the workers in case there was two separate projects in the Capital Governorate or in any other governorate for the purpose of counting the number of workers according to the governorate.

In regards with the required documents, they include:

• A recent Commercial Register indicates that the investor has stayed for three years at the company.
• Balance sheets for 3 previous years, stamped and approved as appropriate.
• Social Insurance record for three previous years.
• Copies of the passports.
• Submitting the application as appropriate at the Ministry of Investment.

5. Fifth type: Investments based outside the Capital City:

The Jordanian Citizenship may be granted to investors whose investments are based outside the Capital City, whether the investor was a partner or owing a current project/s; according to the following:

Current Investments based outside the Capital City, according to the following requirements, collectively:

• If the average share of the investor in the total fixed, non-fixed and tangible assets, which can be calculated, for the current project or projects, according to approved annual balance sheets for the last three years; is not less than five hundred thousand dollars.
• Providing at least ten job opportunity for the Jordanians within three years, according to the Social Security Corporation records.
• Merging / combining the workers in case there was two separate projects in the Capital Governorate or in any other governorate for the purpose of counting the number of workers according to the governorate.

In the event of involving a partner, or transferring the company for any of the branches of the same family from the first-degree relatives; the Jordanian Citizenship shall be granted to the new owner / partner; according to the aforementioned applicable requirements; conditioned on non-disposal of the share held by the investor desiring to acquire citizenship, for three years, and setting attachment mark on the same as appropriate.

In regards with the required documents, they include:

• A recent Commercial Register indicates that the investor has stayed for three years at the company.
• Balance sheets for 3 previous years, stamped and approved as appropriate.
• Social Insurance record for three previous years.
• Copies of the passports.
• Submitting the application as appropriate at the Ministry of Investment.

it is worth noting that the Jordan Investment Commission has provided for investors the ability to apply electronically for the Citizenship; through following the following steps:

• Visiting the website: https://www.moin.gov.jo/.
• Selecting E-Services.
• Selecting Investors Services Department.
• Selecting Apply for Citizenship / Residency.
• Filling in the electronic form and attach all required documents.
• Sending a message to the investor via their e-mail with the application status.
• Presenting all documents, after completion, on the competent commission.
• Notifying the investor, through a text message, with the application status and the payment receipt No.

Third: Temporary Marriage and Residency for Investors

In the case of any of the aforementioned has been provided in a foreigner investor, he shall be granted a Jordanian Citizenship after the lapse of 3 years from the actual operation of the project, conditioned on the continuity of the aforementioned requirements during the three years.

 Which grants an investor or normal person of non-investors residency for five years, regardless of the length of their previous stay in the Kingdom, when purchasing one or more properties, with a total amount not less than 200 thousand dinars, according to the estimations of the Department of Land and Survey; and holding the property/properties without disposal / or mortgage for a minimum period of five years.

The Jordanian Citizenship shall be granted to “an investor’s wife, single daughters, widows, divorcees, who live under his wings, his sons who are below 18 years old at the time of submitting the application, and his dependents parents;” regarding investors who met the citizenship abovementioned requirements; and in case the investment was in amount exceeding 3 million dollars, the Jordanian Citizenship shall be granted to the investor’s sons who are below 30 years old at the time of submitting the request, as well as their wives and children.

Conclusion

According to the most recent amendments of the year 2023, the Jordanian Citizenship shall be granted to an investor when depositing an interest-free deposit amounting one million dollars at the Central Bank of Jordan, for 3 years, without withdrawing during all the said period of time, and purchasing bond funds amounting one million dollars for 6 years; with an interest to be determined by the Central Bank of Jordan; conditioned on the investor’s stay within the Kingdom’s territory for at least one month before the final recommendation with being granted the Jordanian citizenship.

The Jordanian Citizenship may be granted to an investor when investing through purchasing stocks or shares in Jordanian companies with an amount totaling not less than one and a half million dollars; provided that these shares shall not be disposed for at least 3 years; and condition on setting an attachment mark on the same by the Companies Control Department and /or Jordan Securities Commission.

Prepared by/ Sami Alawad

[1] Raheel Muhammed Al-Raheel – Citizinship in Islamic Sharia’ – (page No. 38).

[2] Dawood bin Soliman – Acquiring Citizenship in Omani Legislation (page No. 15).