The Jordanian Interior Ministry announced yesterday, Sunday, January 12, that it will permit Syrians residing in a number of countries to enter Jordan without obtaining prior approval.

The Jordanian Interior Ministry stated in a statement via Facebook that it allows Syrian citizens residing in European countries, the Americas, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to enter Jordan without prior approvals.

It stipulated that individuals must hold a valid residency for no less than four months in the country from which they are coming.

The ministry justified this step as a facilitation for Syrians living in those countries to return to their homeland.

This move follows the ministry’s announcement on December 23, 2024, to permit specific categories of Syrians and Jordanians to enter and leave via the Jaber border crossing, opposite the Nassib crossing on the Syrian side.

According to what was reported by the Jordanian Al-Mamlaka channel at that time, the decision includes Syrian investors and their families who hold Jordanian commercial registrations with specific capital, in addition to Syrians who hold Jordanian nationality, whether by Jordanian or Syrian passport.

The decision also encompassed Jordanian investors and employees of commercial banks operating in Syria, along with businesspersons with membership in Syrian chambers of industry and commerce, and Jordanian students in Syrian universities, provided they possess the necessary university documents, with entry and exit according to established travel procedures without any security obstacles.

The aim of the decision is to enhance trade movement and support the national economy in both Jordan and Syria, in addition to facilitating the resumption of normal life in Syria.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, met on the same day with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and a number of Syrian officials, conducting extensive discussions with al-Sharaa.

After the visit, the Jordanian Foreign Minister held a series of telephone conversations with Arab foreign ministers, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and the Turkish Foreign Minister to discuss developments in Syria.

Safadi informed the foreign ministers of Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Turkey about the discussions he held in Syria with Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Safadi confirmed that the discussions were positive and candid, reflecting the mutual desire for cooperation during this historic transitional phase that the Syrian people are going through, leading to the rebuilding of their homeland, institutions, and political system, safeguarding Syria’s unity, cohesion, security, stability, and sovereignty, protecting it from chaos, liberating it from terrorism, and creating conditions for the return of refugees.