Iceland vs Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Iceland
Iceland - an EEA and Schengen member, but not an EU country - administers residence through the Directorate of Immigration, with work permits issued separately by the Directorate of Labour. Headline routes include the qualified-professional work-and-residence permit, entrepreneur and family routes, and permanent residence after four years. A short remote-work visa (up to 90-180 days) exists but is not a residence permit, and there is no EU Blue Card.
- Official portal
- Directorate of Immigration / Directorate of Labour (Iceland)
- Languages
- Icelandic
- Currency
- Icelandic krona
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Jordan administers residence through the Ministry of Interior, with day-to-day residence handled by the Public Security Directorate. Headline routes include employer-sponsored work residency, a multi-year Annual Residence for Five Years, investor residency via qualifying real-estate purchase, and self-funded residency, alongside family and study routes. The five-year permit is renewable but is not a permanent-residence card.
- Official portal
- Ministry of Interior (Jordan)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Jordanian dinar
How Iceland and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan differ
| Dimension | Iceland | Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 7 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 0 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Residence Permit for Qualified Professionals (Iceland) | Work Residency (Employer-Sponsored) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Icelandic | Arabic |
| Currency | Icelandic krona | Jordanian dinar |
| Primary regulator | LMFI | JBA |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Iceland
Routes unique to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Visa routes side by side
Iceland (7)
Residence Permit for Qualified Professionals (Iceland)
Sponsor · To settlement · Commonly issued for up to one year first and renewable for longer periods while you keep the qualifying job - confirm current validity on the official page.
Temporary Work Permit due to Labour Shortage (Iceland)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Commonly granted for up to one year at a time and renewable for a limited further period - confirm current validity on the official page.
Residence Permit for the Self-Employed (Iceland)
Sponsor · To settlement · Commonly issued for up to one year first and renewable while the business stays genuine and active - confirm current validity on the official page.
Residence Permit for Family Reunification (Iceland)
Sponsor · To settlement · Generally aligned to the sponsor's status and renewable - confirm current validity on the official page.
Residence Permit for Students (Iceland)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Granted for up to one year at a time and renewable while you stay enrolled - confirm current validity on the official page.
Long-Term Visa for Remote Work (Iceland)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A single stay of 90 to 180 days, generally not repeatable within twelve months - confirm current validity on the official page.
Permanent Residence Permit (Iceland)
No sponsor · To settlement · Longer-term status, subject to conditions on continued residence - confirm current rules on the official page.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (6)
Work Residency (Employer-Sponsored)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Generally valid for one year and renewed annually while the employment and work permit continue. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Annual Residence for Five Years (Renewable)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Granted as a renewable five-year residence permit; it is not permanent residence. Confirm current validity and renewal conditions on the official page.
Investor Residency (Qualifying Real-Estate Purchase)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A renewable residence permit tied to continued ownership of the qualifying property; it is a residence route, not citizenship. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Self-Funded ("Workless") Residency with Bank Deposit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · A renewable residence permit while the deposit (or property) condition is maintained. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Family / Follower Residency
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Generally valid for one year and renewed annually, tied to the primary resident's status. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Study Residency
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Generally valid for one year and renewed annually as your studies continue. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Iceland or Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan?+
Iceland’s Residence Permit for Qualified Professionals (Iceland) is the dominant skilled route; Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Work Residency (Employer-Sponsored) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Iceland or Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Iceland. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.