Jordan: Temporary Suspension of In-Country Work Permit Issuance

Effective immediately, the Ministry of Labor has temporarily suspended issuing initial work permits to foreign nationals who are applying from outside of Jordan, excluding those working in the industrial and agricultural sectors, domestic workers and highly-skilled professionals, among others. It is not yet clear if this suspension will also apply to those applying from within Jordan. The suspension was contemplated by the Ministry of Labor as early as 2019 and was expected to be implemented in 2024, but due to persistently high rates of unemployment among Jordanian nationals, it is being implemented earlier.