Customs Clearance in Jordan
Import entries into Jordan are administered by Jordan Customs Department. Cargo typically sits 3–8 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Jordan
| Customs authority | Jordan Customs Department |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0–30% |
| De-minimis | JOD 200 for personal consignments |
| Certification | JSMO conformity for regulated goods; Arabic labelling for consumer products |
| Typical port dwell | 3–8 days |
| Sea gateways | Aqaba |
| Air gateways | AMM (Amman Queen Alia) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Jordan expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Aqaba Special Economic Zone rules differ from the rest of the country. Transit cargo to neighbouring markets needs bonded documentation. Arabic labelling required for retail goods.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport and also the transit gateway for cargo continuing to Iraq and, historically, the wider Levant. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone offers reduced duty for goods consumed inside it, which is worth checking before assuming standard rates apply.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Jordan
Our entries in Jordan are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Jordan clearance partner →Freight rates into Jordan
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo to Aqaba Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
- Ship Shanghai to Aqaba — FCL Container Cost from China
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Jordan — the background this clearance page assumes.
Jordan destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Jordan?
Import entries are administered by Jordan Customs Department.
How long does clearance take in Jordan?
Cargo typically sits 3–8 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Jordan?
General sales tax 16%; customs duty 0–30% The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Jordan that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Jordan?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.