Jordan Passport & License Copy Legalization

Certified Passport and License Copies for Jordan

Jordanian banks, registries, the land department and traffic authorities often need copies of a foreigner’s identity documents: the passport of a U.S. director registering a company, the passport of an American buying an apartment in Amman, the passport of someone granting a power of attorney, or a U.S. driver’s license supporting an application to drive. A plain photocopy is not enough; the copy must be certified in the U.S. and legalized by the Embassy of Jordan.

Certifying the copy

Never send your original passport or license abroad. Instead, the copy is certified. Some states allow notaries to certify a copy of a passport. Others do not let notaries certify copies of government-issued documents; there, the usual solution is a copy certification by the document holder, in which you sign a statement before a notary that the attached copy is a true copy of your own document. The notarized statement can then be authenticated and legalized like other notarized documents.

Company, banking and property uses

For company files, the Companies Control Department and Jordanian banks may want certified passport copies of directors, managers, shareholders and authorized signatories, matching the names in the board resolution and incumbency certificate. For property, foreigners buying or selling real estate in Jordan deal with the Department of Lands and Survey, often through a lawyer holding a power of attorney, and the identity of the foreign party must be proven. Consistent spelling of names across documents is essential.

Driving in Jordan

Visitors can generally drive in Jordan for a limited period with a valid U.S. license, ideally with an International Driving Permit. Residents who stay longer will usually need a Jordanian license from the licensing authorities, and a legalized copy of the U.S. license, or a certified driving record from the state motor vehicle department, may support the application. Rules on which licenses can be exchanged change, so confirm with the licensing department before you rely on it.

Legalization

The certified copy, or the notarized holder’s statement, is authenticated by the Secretary of State and then by the U.S. Department of State, before the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C., legalizes it in about a week. Jordan does not accept apostilles. Personal uses are ordered under Case 3; copies for company files can go with the rest of the corporate documents under Case 1.