Jordan

Currency: Jordanian Dinar (JOD)

Q. Are there any requirements, when sending JOD?
A. Just your details, the beneficiary details and the purpose of the payment. The payment beneficiary may be required to provide documentation of their own bank, in order to ensure they are complying with Jordanian exchange control regulations.

Q. Can I send inbound and outbound payments?
A. Yes, there are no restrictions on sending money into or outside of Jordan.

Q. How much can I send?
A. As much as you want.

Q. How long will it take for my funds to be received?
A. Standard international payment times. Please note that the working days in Jordan are from Saturday to Thursday.

Q. Who can I send JOD to?
A. Both individuals and businesses can receive funds.

Q. Is sending JOD expensive?
A. Not if you use the right currency broker, who will be able to offer you bank-beating exchange rates and significantly lower payment charges.

Q. Can you use forward contracts with JOD?
A. Yes. With the right currency broker, you can book a JOD exchange rate forward, protecting you against any adverse currency movements. With these contracts, you will always know exactly what is coming out of your bank account.


Information courtesy of Currencies Direct.

Visas & Work Permits

Film crews travelling to Jordan on Western passports can obtain a visa, on arrival, at most points of entry, except for the Wadi Araba and King Hussein/Allenby Bridge land border crossings. Visas are valid for stays of up to 60 days.

There are no work permits required to film in Jordan.

Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.


Film Location Permits

Jordan is a very film friendly country and most public locations are free to permit.

B-roll filming around Amman usually takes no more than a day to permit. Shoots that require exclusive use of public space or large equipment set-ups take no more than a week to permit.

Drone filming is possible but strictly controlled. Permits take up to three weeks to process.

Filming at refugee camps is highly restricted, so plenty of lead time is required.

Compared to other countries in the region, Jordan also offers relatively easy access to full military rental services. The Jordanian Army has a unit that works frequently with films. As such, visiting productions have access to battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, armoured combat support vehicles, mine-protected vehicles and light armoured vehicles.


Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Jordan is not an ATA carnet country.

Jordan offers complete grip and lighting kits, but camera equipment needs to be brought in from abroad. Lebanon is the closest production centre an hour’s flight away. Dubai also has all of the standard and specialised equipment needed for a shoot.

Bringing in gear is an easy process. A list of gear being brought, including serial numbers and the passport information on the crew member(s) responsible for the gear needs to be provided.

Regarding aerial drones, the government policy is that a representative of the army will collect a drone upon arrival, deliver it to the set and then return it to the crew upon airport departure.

When to Film

Jordan’s climate has regional variations, with higher elevations experiencing cold winters and lower lying areas experiencing very hot summers.

From March to May, the weather is temperate and everything is green. June to August has the longest days for shooting, although temperatures can get very hot in desert areas. September to November has cloudy, cooler weather. December to February can get very cold and rainy, with snow a possibility.

Jordan is a predominately Muslim country. Ramadan is widely observed with many services closed during this period.


Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Jordan.

On average, Jordan is at a similar price point to other service centres in the Middle East.

By comparison, hotels are much cheaper in Jordan than Egypt or UAE. Jordan is also overall less expensive and has less red tape than Israel. Lastly, equipment in Jordan is more costly, as most of it needs to be brought in from abroad.

The standard VAT rate in Jordan, at the time of writing, is set at 16%.

UK-Jordan Association Agreement