Many applicants ask: How to obtain a police clearance certificate in Jordan and what documents are required? The answer depends mainly on the purpose of the certificate and whether it will be used inside Jordan or submitted to an embassy or authority abroad. The official information reviewed confirms that the Ministry of Justice issues the certificate electronically and allows the applicant to choose Arabic or English.

This guide reflects the information verified up to 26 August 2026. Some operational details may appear only in the application portal or may change through later official instructions. Applicants should therefore confirm document requirements and authentication fees with the relevant authority before completing the transaction.

Important disclaimer: This article is general educational information, not legal or administrative advice. It does not guarantee that a certificate will be issued or accepted by any authority. Requirements may vary according to the applicant’s circumstances and the receiving institution.

How to obtain a police clearance certificate in Jordan and what documents are required?

Workflow showing the Jordan police clearance application, reference number, and authentication route for foreign use

The confirmed primary channel is the Ministry of Justice’s electronic services portal. The applicant completes the police clearance application online and selects the required language, Arabic or English. The official information also states that payment is made electronically through approved channels.

The available official material does not establish every login requirement or every field shown in the application form. For that reason, applicants should follow the instructions displayed in the Ministry of Justice portal and enter their information exactly as it appears on their identification document.

Is the service available through Sanad?

Sanad is a government platform and service directory. However, the reviewed material did not provide an operational service page confirming that a police clearance certificate can be issued directly through Sanad. It would therefore be unsafe to assume that the entire application can always be completed there. The confirmed route is the Ministry of Justice website and its electronic services portal.

What document is required?

The official service card identifies the required document as an identification document for the service applicant. The sources reviewed do not provide a current, conclusive breakdown of the requirements for Jordanian and non-Jordanian applicants, nor do they establish that a passport or national identity card alone will be accepted in every situation.

The practical approach is to have the available identification document ready and confirm its acceptance in the application portal or with the competent authority before payment. Applicants should also check names, identification details, telephone numbers, language, and purpose before submitting the request.

  • An identification document for the applicant.
  • A valid mobile number capable of receiving text messages.
  • An electronic payment method accepted by the relevant channel.
  • A clear selection of the certificate language and intended purpose.

This list distinguishes the identification document expressly confirmed by the official material from the information and practical arrangements needed to complete an online request.

Choosing the correct purpose: domestic or foreign use

The Ministry of Justice identifies three principal purposes:

  • Domestic authorities: a paperless certificate for all uses within Jordan, including public- and private-sector uses.
  • Foreign authorities: a paper certificate for certificates requested through embassies and requiring authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Parliamentary and municipal elections: a paper certificate for that purpose.

The purpose should be selected carefully at the application stage. If the certificate is intended for an authority in Jordan, the domestic paperless category may be the relevant option under the official classification. If it will be submitted to an embassy or another authority outside Jordan, the foreign-use category is associated with the paper certificate and authentication process.

The official information also states that the requesting authority can verify the certificate and its result using the reference number linked to it. Applicants should therefore keep the reference number throughout the process and until the receiving institution completes its verification.

The reference number and certificate processing

After the application is submitted and the fees are paid, the Ministry of Justice sends the transaction reference number by text message to the mobile number entered in the application. The reference number is used to verify the certificate and is also required for paper-certificate and authentication procedures when applicable.

Keep the text message and reference number until the receiving authority has finished reviewing the certificate. If the message does not arrive, it is prudent to check the transaction status and the entered contact details with the competent authority before submitting duplicate applications.

Fees and processing time

The published service card lists the Ministry of Justice fee as JOD 7 and states that the processing time is the same day. This statement concerns the issuance service and should not be read as confirming that every authentication step or foreign authority requirement will also be completed on the same day.

Authentication fees require particular care. The police clearance service card lists JOD 2 for authentication through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jordan for Jordanian citizens, JOD 5 for non-Jordanians, and JOD 5 for authentication through diplomatic missions abroad. However, another official page for general document authentication lists JOD 5 for authentication of a police clearance certificate inside Jordan.

Because these official pages show a discrepancy, applicants should rely on the amount displayed in the actual authentication transaction or confirm the fee with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before payment. A single fee should not be assumed for every applicant, location, or authentication route.

Using the certificate abroad and completing authentication

For the foreign-use option, the official process requires the reference number. Applicants inside Jordan are directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while applicants outside Jordan are directed to the relevant Jordanian diplomatic mission.

The responsible officer reviews the information, prints the police clearance certificate, applies the required stamps and seal, and delivers it to the applicant. A Jordanian document intended for use outside the Kingdom then requires authentication by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by authentication through the Jordanian mission in the country where it will be used or through the foreign mission accredited in Jordan, depending on the receiving country’s requirements.

Before starting authentication, confirm exactly what the receiving institution requires. Selecting a domestic paperless certificate when the foreign institution requires a paper certificate with authentication may result in additional administrative steps.

What if the information is incorrect or the certificate cannot be issued?

The official material reviewed does not establish a detailed, uniform procedure for correcting information or addressing a failure to issue the certificate. It would therefore be inappropriate to assume that resubmitting the application or changing a particular field will produce a specific result.

  1. Review the information entered, especially identification details, telephone number, language, and purpose.
  2. Keep the reference number, notification message, and any status information shown in the application.
  3. Contact the Ministry of Justice or the authority that issued the notification to identify the available correction or follow-up route.
  4. If the issue concerns authentication or foreign use, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant diplomatic mission.
  5. Do not submit the certificate to the receiving authority until the data and required format have been confirmed.

Where the issue involves conflicting personal information or a sensitive transaction, an independent legal or administrative review may help identify the appropriate official follow-up route. Such a review should not be treated as a prediction of the reason for non-issuance or of the final outcome.

Frequently asked questions

Can I request the certificate in English?

Yes. The official instructions state that applicants may select Arabic or English when completing the electronic application.

Is the electronic certificate sufficient for use outside Jordan?

Not necessarily. The official classification distinguishes a paperless certificate for domestic uses from a paper certificate for foreign authorities and embassies requiring authentication. Confirm the receiving institution’s requirements before applying.

Must every applicant visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

The visit relates to the foreign-use and authentication process. A certificate intended for domestic use falls within the domestic category described in the official material and should not automatically be treated as a foreign paper-certificate request.

When will I receive the reference number?

The service card states that processing is completed the same day, while the official procedure explains that the reference number is sent by text message after submission and payment. If the message does not arrive, check the transaction with the competent authority.

Will a passport or identity card always be enough?

The reviewed sources confirm the need for an identification document but do not conclusively establish that one specific document is accepted in every scenario or for every applicant category. Confirm the acceptable document through the portal or with the relevant authority.

Practical conclusion

Begin through the Ministry of Justice electronic services portal. Prepare an identification document, enter a reachable mobile number, select the correct language and purpose, pay through an approved channel, and retain the reference number. For use abroad, confirm whether a paper certificate and a sequence of authentications are required, and verify the applicable fee before payment because the official pages contain differing amounts.

Careful data entry, preservation of official notifications, and prompt follow-up with the competent authority are the safest practical steps when an error or issuance problem arises. Professional review may assist with understanding the available administrative route, but it cannot guarantee issuance or acceptance of the certificate.

Official sources