Can a Norwegian Drive in Jordan? — Yes, IDP Recommended, No Side Switch

A Norwegian driver arriving in Jordan trades one of Europe’s strictest road cultures for one of the Middle East’s most rewarding self-drive countries. The licence is the simple part; the surprises are in the contrasts, and one figure in particular looks alarming on paper.

The verdict: you can drive in Jordan on your Norwegian licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. Jordan sits outside the EEA, so the IDP carries real weight here as the document rental desks and police expect alongside your Norwegian licence and passport. Arrange it before you fly — it cannot be issued in Jordan. Foreign licences are accepted for tourist stays.

Reassuringly, there is no side-switch. Norway and Jordan both drive on the right, so roundabouts turn the familiar way and your junction instincts hold. What changes is the texture of the driving: town limits sit at a low 40 km/h, below what you are used to and worth respecting in dense Amman traffic; rural roads run to 80 and the main highways to 110 km/h. The fine for a minor speeding offence is not well documented locally, so drive to the posted signs rather than counting on a tolerance.

The contrast that catches Norwegians out is alcohol. At home 0.02 is effectively zero and enforced hard; Jordan’s legal limit is 0.08, four times higher. Do not let the gap mislead you — alcohol simply is not part of everyday driving here, and zero before driving remains the right standard.

Practical notes: fuel is cheap at roughly $1.32 a litre, the emergency number is 112 as at home, and Amman’s congestion is the toughest driving of any Jordan trip, so collecting the car away from the centre helps. Save offline maps before you set off, since coverage thins off the main routes.

The full rules are on our Jordan driving guide; confirm what you need with the Driving Permit Checker, and the driving-fines-abroad guide explains how a penalty can reach you after you have flown home.