CROSSING BORDERS
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There are three border crossings between Jordan and Israel / Palestinian Territories. The Sheikh Hussein Bridge, Also Known as the Jordan River Crossing, is the northernmost point of entry in the country. The King Hussein Bridge, also known as the Allenby Bridge, popular for its central position between Amman and Jerusalem. Wadi Araba, also known as the Yitzhak Rabin is the third crossing and furthest south, essentially connecting the Red Sea resort towns of Eilat on the Israeli side with Aqaba in Jordan.
SHEIKH HUSSEIN/ JORDAN RIVER CROSSING:
The Sheikh Hussein Bridge/ Jordan River crossing border located in the northernmost point between Irbid in Jordan and Beith She’an in Israel.
KING HUSSEIN/ ALLENBY BRIDGE
The Allenby/ King Hussein Bridge is the closest border crossing to both Jerusalem and Amman, located approximately between the capital Amman and Jerusalem. It crosses the Jordan River and connects Israel/ Palestinian Territories with Jordan. Since it crosses into the occupied Palestine Territories, and Palestine is not an independent state, it is an unofficial border. The Jordanian authorities do not grant entry visas to foreign passport holders at this crossing, in contrast to border crossings with Israel. Tourists who wish to travel to Jordan must be in possession of a visa from Jordan in advance. Those who leave Jordan via the Allenby Bridge may return by showing the exit visa. Israeli citizens are not permitted to use the terminal, except pilgrims to Mecca, the Hajj and Umra.
WADI ARABA / YITZHAK RABIN CROSSING:
Wadi Araba is the third crossing and the furthest south, essentially connecting the Red Sea resort towns of Eilat on the Israel side with Aqaba in Jordan. For travellers interested in beelining to Petra or Wadi Rum, both are less than a two-hour drive away.
Seven days a week, year-round, except Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) when Israeli government facilities are closed, and the first day of Eid El-Adha (Muslim Feast of Sacrifice ) when Jordanian facilities are closed
Sunday through Thursday: 07:00 am to 08:30 pm.
Friday and Saturday: 8:30 am to 06:30 pm.
Operation hours may also differ on other Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and national holidays. As various holidays approach, it is recommended to check the terminal’s operating hours. For Jewish holidays, you can find the operation hours here
On the Jordanian side, the operation hours for holidays are usually announced at very short notice. When making your travel plans, keep upcoming holidays in mind, and be prepared to be flexible.
We recommend being at the border about 30-60 minutes before its closing time.
GETTING TO AND FROM AMMAN:
Private Car:
You can travel in your private car from Jordan to Palestine/ Israel, and back (but NOT with a taxi or rental car). If you don’t want to take your car over the border, you can also leave it in a parking lot on either side of the border.
Public Transport
Public transport to and from either side of the Sheikh Hussein / Jordan River Border Crossing is very limited. The easiest (and still relatively cheap) option is, to take a bus to Irbid/ Beit She’an, and then from there a taxi to the border. After crossing the border, you can then subsequently take a taxi from the border to Beit She’an/ Irbid, and then continue from there by bus.
Bus between Amman & Nazareth
A bus operates several times a week between Amman and Nazareth. This bus crosses at Sheikh Hussein/ Jordan River Crossing.
ARRIVE AT THE JORDANIAN TERMINAL:
After arriving at the Jordanian side, you enter the building and head to the exit tax booths to pay your departure tax. Take your exit tax to the immigration counter and hand it over with your passport.
OUTSIDE THE JORDANIAN TERMINAL:
After processing your passport continue outside towards the bus stop. Here you can wait until called to board your shuttle bus to the Israeli Terminal
SHUTTLE BETWEEN BORDER TERMINALS:
Before you board you have to place your luggage underneath the shuttle bus, and wait until called to board the shuttle bus to the Israeli Terminal. Before you have your seat you pay for your ticket JD 1.6 (approx. 2.50 US). The shuttle bus will leave to the Israeli terminal (Please note the distance between the Jordanian and Israeli terminal is very short around 500 meters, also the shuttle bus leaves every 25- 30 minutes).
ARRIVAL AT THE ISRAELI TERMINAL:
After you got off, you will collect your luggage and continue inside the border terminal. You will go through the metal detector for a body scan and passport check combined. You then enter the immigration hall and go to the immigration booths. Take your passport and hand it over to the immigration counter.
OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI TERMINAL:
After processing your passport continue outside the terminal, you take a taxi to your destination.
VIP SERVICES:
VIP Escort services ensure a faster, smooth, and stress-free journey when crossing the border to and from Israel. The service includes a lounge, luggage collection, security screening, baggage inspection, and passport control. Also, VIP clients are taken across the border in a private shuttle service and escorted to their waiting driver.
Arrive at the Israeli Terminal:
Pick up from your location in Jerusalem or any other point in Israel/ Palestine. Our driver will drop you off outside the Israeli terminal. You enter the building and head to the exit tax booths at window 1 or 2 to pay your departure tax. Next, take your exit tax to the immigration counter at window 7 or 8 and hand it over with your passport.
Outside the Israeli Terminal:
After processing your passport continue through the Duty-Free shop towards the bus stop just across the parking lot. Here you can wait until called to board your shuttle bus to Jordan Terminal.
Shuttle between Border terminals:
Before you board you have to place your luggage underneath the shuttle bus, and before you have your seat you pay for your ticket from the bus driver 5 NIS (approx. 2 US). The shuttle bus will leave to the Jordanian terminal (Please note the distance between the Israeli and Jordanian terminal is very short around 500 meters). After you got off, you will collect your luggage and continue to inside the border terminal.
Arrive at the Jordanian Border Terminal:
Inside the terminal, you pay for your Jordan visa at the first both. They only accept cash in Jordanian Dinars. Inside the terminal, there is no ATM but there is a currency exchange. Continue to immigration where they will stamp your passport.
Outside the Jordanian Terminal:
Once you complete the immigration formalities you go outside and walk to the border control to have your luggage checked. After you finish, cross on foot and walk to the parking lot taxi office. You must take a taxi from there to the checkpoint which is around 2 Km away. Please ask the driver to drop you off at the rest house outside the checkpoint gate where our driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. our driver will pay for the taxi from the terminal and will take you to your destination in Amman or any other point in Jordan.
The whole process takes between 60-90 minutes, and sometimes it may take more than this.
VIP SERVICES:
VIP Escort services ensure a faster, smooth, and stress-free journey when crossing the border to and from Israel. The service includes a lounge, luggage collection, security screening, baggage inspection, and passport control. Also, VIP clients are taken across the border in a private shuttle service and escorted to their waiting driver.
Please note that Israel and Jordan both require you to pay an exit tax when you leave the country
| BORDER TERMINAL | EXIT TAX PER PERSON |
| AT JORDANIAN TERMINAL | 10 JOD ($15) |
| JORDAN RIVER CROSSING ISRAEL | NIS 102 ($30) |
At the Jordan River/ Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border, you have to take a shuttle bus to cross the space between the border terminals.
| BORDER CROSSING | SHUTTLE BUS (PER PERSON) | LUGGAGE (PER PIECE) |
| JORDAN RIVER/ SHEIKH HUSSEIN | 1.6 JOD | FREE |
What is the VIP Service?
The VIP Service is a provision run by the staff at the borders to enable faster crossing. The service includes “VIP” waiting rooms, assistance with immigration, security and luggage; plus a private van shuttle between the terminals. Usually, clients go to the front of any queues. The VIP service can save lots of frustration, speed up the crossing considerably (especially when the border is busy) and allow it to be done more comfortably. Crossing from Jerusalem to Jordan, using the VIP service means you normally get through the border in 1 hour (without, it can be up to 4 hours on a busy day). Please note, the VIP service doesn’t mean you get less checks, and you still may have to wait if the authorities want to ask you any questions. Please let us know if you would like to use the service, as this affects the timing of the onward transportation.
VIP SERVICE
Jordan River/ Sheikh Hussein Crossing:
| NUMBER OF PERSONS | PRICE (PER PERSON) |
| 1 | $71 |
| 2 | $54 |
| 3 | $48 |
| 4 | $45 |
| 5 | $43 |
| 6 | $42 |
Seven days a week, year-round, except Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) when Israeli government facilities are closed, and the first day of Eid El-Adha (Muslim Feast of Sacrifice ) when Jordanian facilities are closed
Sunday through Thursday: 8:00 am to 09:00 pm. Make sure to be there around 6 pm latest, in order to catch the last shuttle.
Friday and Saturday: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Make sure to be there around 10 am latest, in order to catch the last shuttle.
Operation hours may also differ on other Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and national holidays. For Jewish holidays, you can find the operation hours here
On the Jordanian side, the operation hours for holidays are usually announced at very short notice. When making your travel plans, keep upcoming holidays in mind, and be prepared to be flexible.
Please note, the official operation times at the border represent when the border staff want to leave, not when the last travelers are admitted. The latest times you can arrive at the border is based on the schedule of shuttle bus running between the two terminals. We highly recommend arriving at the terminal at least one hour before closing time.
ARRIVAL AT THE JORDANIAN TERMINAL:
After arriving on the Jordanian side, make sure you go to the tourist terminal. At the first window, the agent examines your passport. If you owe the departure tax, you will pay it at the next window. If you entered Jordan that day or the day before, the departure tax will be exempted- subject to change). After immigration, you leave your passport and go out and get on the shuttle bus and wait until departure. The Jordanian agent brings the passports to each person personally on the bus when they are finished processing them.
BETWEEN BORDER TERMINALS:
The last distance between Jordan and Israel is crossed by the shuttle bus which is around 5 Km. The bus leaves until it is full, so you have to wait a while before it moves. Please note that there is a VIP service available for the crossing that alleges to save you time, and the process takes you through on both immigration on both sides.
ARRIVAL AT THE ISRAELI TERMINAL:
The bus stops and everything is unloaded in front of the Israeli terminal. On the Israeli side, you will give your passport to a porter who will give it to a security person. Your passport and luggage will be checked (you leave your luggage there and collect it at the very end of the process again). Then you will be given your passport back with a sticker on it indicating the number of checked luggage you have. You will go through the metal detector for a body scan and passport check combined. You then enter the immigration hall and go to the immigration booths for tourists. An Israeli immigration officer will give you a small piece of paper with your photo and details on it and you must carry it with your passport during your stay in Israel. Please note that this system is to replace the stamp in your passport.
After the immigration booths, there is another passport check. Finally, you walk out to the hall where you can see a collection of checked and discharged luggage on the ground. Collect your luggage and continue past the customs counter and out of the terminal.
ARRIVE AT THE ISRAELI TERMINAL:
After arriving at the Israeli side, you enter the building and head to the exit tax booths to pay your departure tax. Take your exit tax to the immigration counter and hand it over with your passport. After processing your passport you will enter into a waiting area. You then can wait till called to board your shuttle. Please note that there are different shuttles and you should go on the one for tourists. If you are unsure you are on the correct one, ask your driver.
BETWEEN BORDER TERMINALS:
The shuttle bus will leave for the Jordanian Terminal. Along the way, the Jordanian police will enter the bus and to check the passports and collect them. Passports will be held by the driver who will handle them to the Jordanian authority at the Jordanian terminal. On arrival at the Jordanian terminal, a ticket collector will board the bus or (sometimes the same bus driver) and you will pay 7 JOD pp, (10 US$ subject to change), plus 1.5 JOD pp, (2 US$ subject to change) per each bag you need to put under the bus shuttle. You will then disembark the bus at the Jordanian border terminal.
JORDAN BORDER TERMINALS:
Inside the Jordanian terminal, your name will be called and your passport will be given back to you. You then have to pass by a counter to control/ confirm your visa. (Important- The Jordanian authority doesn’t issue visas to Jordan upon arrival at this border).
Please note that Israel and Jordan both require you to pay an exit tax when you leave the country
| BORDER TERMINAL | EXIT TAX PER PERSON |
| AT JORDANIAN TERMINAL | 10 JOD ($15) |
| ALLENBY/ KING HUSSEIN ISRAEL TERMINAL | NIS 177 ($50) |
At the Allenby/ King Hussein Bridge, you have to take a shuttle bus to cross the space between the border terminals.
| BORDER CROSSING | SHUTTLE BUS (PER PERSON) | LUGGAGE (PER PIECE) |
| ALLENBY/ KING HUSSEIN | 7 JOD | 1.5 JOD ($2.3) |
What is the VIP Service?
The VIP Service is a provision run by the staff at the borders to enable faster crossing. The service includes “VIP” waiting rooms, assistance with immigration, security and luggage; plus a private van shuttle between the terminals. Usually, clients go to the front of any queues. The VIP service can save lots of frustration, speed up the crossing considerably (especially when the border is busy) and allow it to be done more comfortably. Crossing from Jerusalem to Jordan, using the VIP service means you normally get through the border in 1 hour (without, it can be up to 4 hours on a busy day). Please note, the VIP service doesn’t mean you get less checks, and you still may have to wait if the authorities want to ask you any questions. Please let us know if you would like to use the service, as this affects the timing of the onward transportation.
VIP SERVICE
Allenby/ King Hussein Bridge:
| PRICE (PER PERSON) |
| $115 |
Seven days a week, year-round, except Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) when Israeli government facilities are closed, and the first day of Eid El-Adha (Muslim Feast of Sacrifice ) when Jordanian facilities are closed
Sunday through Thursday: 06:30 am to 08:00 pm.
Friday and Saturday: 8:00 am to 08:00 pm.
Operation hours may also differ on other Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and national holidays. For Jewish holidays, you can find the operation hours here
On the Jordanian side, the operation hours for holidays are usually announced at very short notice. When making your travel plans, keep upcoming holidays in mind, and be prepared to be flexible.
Please note, the official operation times at the border represent when the border staff want to leave, not when the last travelers are admitted. The latest times you can arrive at the border is based on the schedule of shuttle bus running between the two terminals. We highly recommend arriving at the terminal at least one hour before closing time.
At both sides, the Israeli and the Jordanian there is no public transport to and from the Wadi Araba/ Yitzhak Rabin border Crossing. The best option is to take a taxi on both sides.
GETTING TO THE BORDER FROM ISRAEL:
The cheapest option for you to get to the crossing border from the Israel side is to take a taxi from the central bus station. If you are coming from all major cities in Israel, there are regular buses that go to Eilat ($22 USD from Tel- Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa).
GETTING TO THE BORDER FROM JORDAN:
The best option to get from the Jordanian side to the Israeli side through Wadi Araba/ Yitzhak Rabin is to take a taxi.
Unlike the bridge crossing, WADI ARABA / YITZHAK RABIN CROSSING doesn’t require a shuttle ride- you can walk 500 meters from the Israel terminal to the Jordanian terminal, and luggage carts are available at no extra charge. There are no shuttle buses between terminals, you can cross on foot.
Please note that Israel and Jordan both require you to pay an exit tax when you leave the country.
| BORDER TERMINAL | EXIT TAX PER PERSON |
| AT JORDAN TERMINALS | 10 JOD (15 US$) |
| AT YITZHAK RABIN CROSSING | ILS 102 (30 US$) |
Yitzhak Rabin/ Wadi Araba Crossing:
| PRICE (PER PERSON) |
| NIS 21 |
Traveler crossing to Jordan through Yitzhak Rabin/ Araba border crossing and stay 4 nights or more, you do not pay any bridge fees (including Visa and Exit Tax fees). This assumes you enter and depart via the same crossing. If a traveler stays less than 4 nights (0-3 nights), he/she have to pay for his Visa (40 JOD) and Exit Tax (10 JOD)
PLEASE NOTE !
We try to keep everything up to date, but sometimes border regulations change rather quickly, or deflect for individuals.
For that reason, we can’t promise any accurate for the information given above.
Please make sure to keep your plans flexible and with enough buffering time for complications.