To get a coffee shop license in Jordan, secure a municipal vocational license (Rukhsat Mihan) and pass health and Civil Defense approvals after registering your business. Start by checking the site’s zoning for “café/coffee shop” with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) or your local municipality, then reserve a trade name and register a sole proprietorship or LLC with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply/Companies Control Department. Sign a lease and keep the landlord’s deed and the building occupancy certificate ready. For the vocational license, submit the lease, deed copy, commercial registration, approved floor plan; GAM may inspect for parking, frontage, and signage location. Health approval requires washable surfaces, dedicated hand-wash sinks, a grease trap if preparing food, pest-control contract, potable water test, and valid staff health cards from the municipal health unit. Civil Defense checks fire-rated exits, emergency lighting, extinguishers (typically 6L foam/CO2), hood ventilation, and electrical safety. Register with the Income and Sales Tax Department for a tax number (and sales tax if applicable) and enroll employees with the Social Security Corporation. Obtain permits for exterior signage and outdoor seating before installation. Typical timeline: 3–6 weeks if fit-out complies; delays come from wrong zoning or missing layout details.
