The United Kingdom has suspended visa-exempt travel for Jordanian nationals, introducing a new barrier for visitors after officials linked the move to a rise in asylum claims from Jordanians.
The decision was relayed by the British Embassy in Amman to Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, according to reporting based on the state news agency Petra. The embassy said the suspension of the Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA, was tied to what it called “continued violations” by Jordanian travelers.
The Home Office said the shift was prompted by a rise in asylum claims filed by Jordanians. That makes the policy change part of a broader tightening of entry controls as the UK continues to expand its digital travel screening system.
The ETA is not a traditional visa, but it does require travelers to obtain permission before entering the country. It was first introduced for Qatari nationals on November 15, 2023, and then widened in February 2024 to cover citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. For Jordanians, the suspension means the streamlined entry route they had been using is now interrupted while British authorities reassess the arrangement.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the issue through spokesperson Sufian Qudah, who said there had been “continued misuse” of the program despite efforts by Jordanian officials in London to resolve the matter with British authorities. Qudah said future talks could still lead to changes in the UK’s decision, leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic effort to restore easier entry.
The move comes against a wider backdrop of British efforts to digitize travel checks and tighten restrictions for visitors. The UK has already signaled that more travelers will have to use the ETA system in the future, including visitors from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada starting in 2025, ending their visa-free access under those terms.
For Jordan, the suspension is likely to be read as both a travel and diplomatic setback. The change directly affects ordinary travelers while also reflecting concerns in London about the use of the program. It is also another sign that the UK is willing to reshape its border procedures quickly when officials judge that a route is being used in ways they consider inconsistent with its purpose.
The announcement does not appear to end travel between the two countries, but it does make access more cumbersome for Jordanian nationals than it had been under the ETA system. Any broader reversal will depend on whether talks between the two governments can address the concerns raised by British officials.
For now, Jordanian travelers heading to the UK will have to navigate a stricter entry process, as London moves to clamp down on misuse of a system that had been designed to simplify short-term travel.
