Jordan Pass 2026: Petra, visa fee and how to buy

Quick answer

The Jordan Pass is available exclusively at jordanpass.jo. This bundle includes Petra (1, 2, or 3 days based on the tier) along with 40+ archaeological sites, and it can waive the visa on-arrival fee (around 40 JOD) if you purchase it online before arriving and stay for at least 3 nights (4 calendar days), supported by accommodation proof. The official 2026 tiers are usually priced at 70 / 75 / 80 JOD for 1 / 2 / 3 Petra days. Activation occurs at the first QR scan at Petra’s gate — not during checkout. Traveling from Egypt? You can fly Cairo–Aqaba or cross Taba–Aqaba; for a one-day Petra visit from Aqaba, check our Petra day trip from Aqaba guide.

Heading to Jordan? Compare Cairo → Amman flights, then buy Jordan Pass if it fits your itinerary.

📌 Last checked: May 2026 — visit jordanpass.jo for the latest on prices and visa-waiver regulations.

Before booking your Cairo–Aqaba flight or arranging the Taba crossing, compare prices on Vocafly. Determine if the Jordan Pass offers better value compared to buying separate tickets and paying visa fees for your travel itinerary.

What is the Jordan Pass?

The Jordan Pass is the government's official digital sightseeing package. Once you purchase it, you'll receive a PDF with a QR code to present at immigration and site entrances.

Typically, it includes (but check the live list on the official site):

• Petra: consecutive entry days by tier (1 / 2 / 3).
• Jerash, Umm Qais, Wadi Rum visitor area, Amman Citadel, Karak Castle, and many other listed sites.
• A possible visa fee waiver if the night-stay and pre-purchase conditions are satisfied.

Note that it does not cover transport, accommodation, guides, Petra by Night, in-site extras (like Monastery donkeys or shuttles), tips, or third-party “Jordan pass” resellers.

Our field checks on the Egypt–Jordan routes show that value emerges when combining Petra + at least two more sites (such as Wadi Rum + Jerash) and qualifying for the 3-night visa rule. A visitor doing a same-day Aqaba–Petra trip might still buy the Pass for entry, but will often pay the visa fee separately — be sure to budget for this.

Is it worth it? Who should buy?

When it saves money and time

Good fit

• First full Jordan loop (Aqaba base → Petra → Rum → north).
• Flying AQJ from Egypt or entering via Taba with 4+ days.
• Prefer one QR at gates instead of separate queues.

Skip or recalculate

• Hours-long transit with no sites.
• Two nights only and just Petra — run the visa math.
• Day trip from Aqaba — read the Petra day trip from Aqaba guide: 1-day Pass helps entry, but visa waiver usually doesn't.

Practical flow: buy, border, Petra scan

Official purchase only

1. Use jordanpass.jo exclusively — ignore “cheap Jordan pass” ads.
2. Choose Explorer (1 Petra day), Explorer Plus (2 days), or Expert (3 days) — names as listed; 70 / 75 / 80 JOD approx. in 2026.
3. Enter your passport name and number exactly as printed.
4. Pay by card; download the PDF + QR immediately.
5. Store on your phone and print a backup; keep your devices charged.

At immigration (Aqaba airport, Wadi Araba, Amman)

• Show your Jordan Pass PDF with the same passport used for purchase.
• For a visa waiver: buy before entry, ensure a valid Pass, and have ≥3 nights — hold onto hotel invoices or bookings as proof.
• Officers might ask about your length of stay; note that buying the Pass after entry generally doesn't refund an already paid visa fee.

Activation at Petra

Activation = the first successful scan at Petra’s main gate (or the first site visited if plans change). Until then, the Pass is paid but not activated. Petra days are counted only on days you actually enter — avoid buying 1 day if you intend on spending two full days (Siq → Treasury → Monastery trail).

Jordan Pass prices 2026 (official — verify live)

Purchase and use plan (steps + timeline)

Sample 4-day plan from Egypt (Aqaba base): Night 1 Aqaba → Day 2 Petra (activation) → Day 3 Wadi Rum → Day 4 Jerash → Night 4 before departure = 3 nights for waiver if entered Day 1 and left Day 5.

Getting there from Egypt

Cairo–Aqaba (AQJ) flights

• Direct or via Amman — compare on Vocafly.
• King Hussein Airport is close to downtown Aqaba; Petra by car ~2 hours.

Taba–Aqaba (Wadi Araba)

• Popular from Sharm/Taba; Egypt exit and Jordan entry rules are distinct from the Pass.
• Carry a printed Pass — signal can be weak at the border.

Internal transport

• Aqaba–Petra: choose a licensed driver or taxi for 350–500+ JOD round trip (agree on the cost upfront).
• Aqaba–Petra train: check seasonal schedules — not available daily year-round.

Best time to buy and enter Petra

• Purchase the Pass once your flights are confirmed — not at the airport kiosk (there isn’t one).
• Petra gates: arrive early (06:00–07:30) to beat the heat and crowds; winter provides gentler hiking conditions; summer calls for an early start.
• Ramadan / holidays: site hours can vary — consult each monument's schedule on the official site.

The 3-night visa waiver rule (detail)

Common rules on jordanpass.jo:

1. Purchase the Jordan Pass online before entering Jordan.
2. Stay for at least 3 nights = 4 calendar days (e.g., arrive Monday, depart Thursday).
3. Provide proof of actual accommodation (hotel bills, bookings) if required.
4. Show your Pass + passport at immigration.

A same-day Aqaba–Petra trip does not fulfill the 3-night requirement — the visa fee will likely still apply even if you have the Pass. In this case, the Pass mainly acts as a replacement for the Petra ticket.

Pass vs separate tickets (quick math)

Scenario A: Petra day + visa + Jerash ≈ 50 + 40 + 10 = 100 JOD vs Pass 70 + waiver if nights qualify → Clear savings.

Scenario B: Just one day from Aqaba, one night, Petra only ≈ Pass 70 + visa 40 ≈ 110 — compare with Petra-only ticket if skipping other sites.

Field tips

• Your passport name must match the Pass; don’t purchase using your spouse’s passport number.
• Children might require their own Pass — verify age rules on the site.
• Petra by Night requires a separate ticket — it’s not included in the Pass.
• Wadi Rum: The Pass covers the protected area fee; jeep tours and camps are paid to operators.
• Saving a screenshot of the QR code helps, but scanning from the original PDF is more reliable.

Common mistakes

1. Fake sites or agents with inflated prices — always use jordanpass.jo.
2. Buying a 1-day tier for a 2-day Petra hiking adventure — upgrade or pay at the gate.
3. Thinking that purchase = activation — activation starts with the first Petra scan.
4. Planning for two nights but expecting a visa waiver — this is usually denied.
5. Purchasing the Pass after entry hoping to recover the 40 JOD visa — often too late.
6. Changing to a new passport after purchase without updating data — this can cause scan conflicts.
7. Taking an Egypt day trip without allowing for border + 2-hour drive time — see Aqaba day-trip guide.
8. No printout at the Taba crossing — dead battery causes delays.

Budget: Pass vs à la carte (three levels)

Related articles

• Petra day trip from Aqaba 2026

Conclusion

The Jordan Pass 2026 pays off when you buy it via jordanpass.jo, select the right Petra-day tier, and plan for 3+ nights to qualify for the visa waiver. Activation takes effect with the first scan at Petra; one-day trips from Aqaba have different guidelines — check our specific guide. Compare Cairo–Aqaba rates on Vocafly, purchase early, and have a clear PDF at the border and the Siq gate.