Amman – Experts and specialists say Iraq’s recent decision to grant Jordanian citizens visit visas upon arrival at land and air border crossings is expected to facilitate travel for traders, businesspeople and workers in the transport and services sectors, while creating additional opportunities to stimulate bilateral trade.
They stressed, however, that realizing the decision’s economic benefits will require parallel measures to improve the movement of trucks and goods across the borders, reduce waiting times and lower operating costs.
The new arrangements eliminate the time and effort previously required to obtain visas in advance, giving business owners greater flexibility to travel and manage their commercial activities. This is particularly important as Jordan’s role as a transit route for goods destined for the Iraqi market continues to grow.
At the same time, experts noted that the decision’s impact on trade will remain dependent on other factors, particularly transportation costs, customs procedures and the readiness of infrastructure at border crossings.
Iraqi authorities decided to allow Jordanian citizens to obtain visit visas directly upon arrival at land and air border crossings, effective November 1, according to an announcement by the Iraqi Embassy in Amman. The decision followed the outcomes of the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Jordan on October 26.
Under the decision, directors of residency and passport departments at border crossings have been authorized to issue visas directly to Jordanians, subject to the legally prescribed fees. This removes the requirement to obtain a visit visa in advance, but does not constitute a complete exemption from visa requirements or fees.
Business Sector: Streamlined Procedures Expand Opportunities
Wail Al-Shuqairat, head of the interim committee managing the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, said the decision represents a positive and significant step toward facilitating business movement between Jordan and Iraq. It saves time and effort previously associated with visa procedures, which used to take around 20 days, according to his estimates.
He explained that issuing visas directly upon arrival at airports and border crossings will make it easier for traders, industrialists and businesspeople to travel, strengthen direct communication with commercial partners in Iraq, support bilateral trade and provide greater flexibility in managing business activities and transactions.
Al-Shuqairat noted that the decision’s importance extends beyond the commercial and industrial sectors to include services. Jordanians work in the Iraqi market in fields such as consulting, law, accounting and other professional activities that require frequent travel between the two countries.
He added that Jordan’s position as a major transit route for goods heading to Iraq further increases the importance of these facilities, particularly as cargo movement through the Port of Aqaba and land border crossings expands. This creates broader opportunities for companies operating in trade, transport and logistics.
Al-Shuqairat also pointed out that introducing broader reciprocal travel arrangements between the two countries, if approved, could benefit tourism and business visits. It could stimulate economic activity associated with travel, accommodation and services, building on the existing commercial, investment and social ties between Jordan and Iraq.
Trucking Sector: Easier Entry for Drivers and Reduced Waiting Costs
For his part, Nael Thiabat, deputy head of the Jordanian Truck Owners Association, highlighted the decision’s importance in facilitating travel for Jordanian truck drivers heading to Iraq.
He explained that previous visa procedures required applications to be submitted through the association and forwarded to the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Transport. The process typically took between 15 and 20 days.
Shortening these procedures will give drivers greater flexibility in arranging trips, particularly when they need to make one or two additional journeys after their multiple-entry visas expire. It will also reduce the burden of obtaining visas and help address the reluctance of some drivers to work on the Iraqi route.
Thiabat said truck traffic between Jordan and Iraq is experiencing considerable activity in transporting various types of goods. He estimated that around 1,500 trucks cross the border daily, based on the association’s figures, highlighting the importance of providing operational facilities capable of accommodating this level of activity.
He stressed that benefiting fully from the decision requires addressing the challenges facing trucks at the border, particularly congestion and lengthy waiting periods. This could be achieved by establishing additional lanes and dedicated inspection and parking areas, as well as special facilities for trucks carrying petroleum products.
The association has discussed these requirements in meetings with the relevant authorities, he said, emphasizing that improving infrastructure and border procedures is essential to ensuring smoother freight movement and reducing operating costs, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of Jordan’s land transport sector.
Aqaba Strengthens Its Role as a Transit Route for Trade Bound for Iraq
Data from the Jordanian Shipping Association point to a significant increase in container traffic heading to the Iraqi market through the Port of Aqaba, reflecting the growing volume of transit trade passing through Jordan.
This growth has come amid changes to some shipping routes toward the Red Sea following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the data, total container handling at the Aqaba Container Terminal increased by 6.6% during the first nine months of this year, reaching 786,948 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared with 738,349 containers during the same period last year.
Transit container traffic recorded an even stronger increase of 151.8%, reaching 115,762 TEUs.
The association said the Iraqi market emerged as one of the main drivers of this growth. Container traffic destined for Iraq surged by 1,040.5%, reaching 56,286 TEUs, compared with 4,935 containers during the corresponding period last year.
These figures reinforce the importance of the Port of Aqaba as a transit gateway for trade heading to Iraq and highlight the need to continue streamlining border and customs procedures to accelerate cargo movement and strengthen the competitiveness of the transport and logistics sectors.
Goods Movement Depends on Transport Costs and Border Procedures
Economic expert Dr Qassem Al-Hamouri said Iraq’s decision represents an important step toward facilitating the movement of people between the two countries, particularly since visa requirements had been an obstacle for traders and service providers seeking to travel and manage their business activities.
He explained that Iraq has been an important market for the Jordanian economy for many years. Facilitating the entry of Jordanians through border crossings and airports will provide greater flexibility for people involved in economic activities, whether in imports and exports, service provision or logistics operations.
Al-Hamouri noted that the decision will have a more immediate impact on the movement of people than on goods, since shipping and trade operations require advance arrangements and preparations and are not dependent solely on visa procedures.
He added that stimulating bilateral trade depends on several factors, foremost among them transportation costs and customs procedures at the borders, as well as commercial relations, exchange rates, and economic and political conditions. These factors may have a greater influence on the movement of goods than travel facilities for individuals.
In this context, the decision represents one of several measures supporting business activity between the two countries. However, its ability to deliver tangible economic results will depend on further improvements to transport, shipping and customs-clearance procedures, as well as greater efficiency at border crossings to accommodate the growth in trade and logistics activity between Jordan and Iraq.
