tourist israel visa

רשות האוכלוסין וההגירה Israel Population & Immigration Authority هيئة السكان والهجرة

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The rules for  travel to Israel have changed. Starting from August 2024, visitors from visa-exempt countries are required to obtain an ETA-IL(Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter the state of Israel. An approved ETA-IL, indicates that you are allowed to travel to Israel and stay for up to 90 days per visit. 

All travelers to Israel must have a valid   visa or ETA-IL approval before they start their journey. If you are eligible, obtaining an ETA-IL is a simpler and faster process. Learn more

Note: Israeli citizens or holders of an Israeli identity number do not need to apply for an ETA-IL.

The system will be opened as a pilot for citizens of visa – exempt countries on July 1st, 2024

The pilot is intended to allow travelers to become familiar with the new regulations regarding entry into Israel, so submitting the application during the pilot period is optional.

Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to Israel. The Population and Immigration Authority recommends that travel authorization applications be submitted at least 72 hours prior to any booking of flight tickets, hotel rooms and other similar expenses that are related your planned travel to Israel.

Your ETA-IL authorization is generally valid for multiple trips over a period of up to two years from the date your application is approved, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This means that as long as you received an ETA-IL authorization to travel, you do not have to reapply during the validity period.

If your ETA-IL expires while in Israel, it will not affect your departure.

You can correct your application as long as the form has not been submitted yet. The final step of the application before submission allows you to review your data. After submission, you cannot correct the form, and you will need to fill out a new form.

If you are a citizen of an eligible country that does not require a B/2 visa for Israel, you must complete an ETA-IL form.

See the list of countries that require a visa.

• Population and Immigration Authority
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To learn more about the guidelines about travel to Israel - click here

Passports and Visa

All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they are departing the country. People with no nationality must hold a valid laissez-passer, as well as a visa back to the country that issued it.

Visitors are entitled to remain in Israel up to three months from the date of their arrival, in accordance with the conditions of the visa issued to them. Visitors intending to work in Israel must submit a request to the Ministry of the Interior for a special visa.

Israel no longer stamps passports at airports and most Land Crossings. Nonetheless, because at times technical difficulties arise, and at times, the border control must revert to back to the method of stamping passports, we recommend that tourists continuing from Israel on to Arab countries officially request that an Israeli stamp does not appear on their passport. The tourist must notify the clerk of this request before documents are stamped.

The “Electronic Gate Pass”

In accordance to section 13 of the law regarding entrance to Israel of 1952, an official inspector or police officer can request identification and proof of legal status in Israel. With this in mind, at a press of a button the Border Control station will print a card including the principle details of the traveler as in the first page of the passport. The card will also depict the date of arrival and visa information. This card is called The “Electronic Gate Pass” and it is a new and modern technological system instrumental in meeting the needs of the various Immigration, security, Airport and Tourism authorities as well as providing the tourist with the credentials necessary to prove his visa status. The “Electronic Gate Pass” replaces the system whereby passports were stamped. At the airport, this card allows the traveler to exit the arrival terminal without further delays.

The Gate Pass is an official form of identification while in Israel. We ask all tourists to keep the card at hand at all times as proof of their visa status. At the airport and designated Land Crossings, this card allows the traveler to exit the arrival terminal and continue to the luggage pickup area.

The tourist is asked to keep the card at hand at all times.

​Tourist Visas

We welcome visitors to Israel. Many countries have a Visa Waiver Program with Israel, which allows their citizens to visit Israel without a visa arranged in advance. Before embarking on a trip, visitors desiring to stop in Israel on their way to other destinations must check if they need a prearranged tourist visa. The list of countries in the following link specifies from which countries tourists are required to present a prearranged visa.

https://www.gov.il/en/subjects/certificates_and_passports/tourist_visas

All Visa Waiver Program travelers must present a machine-readable passport at the port of entry in order to enter Israel without a prearranged visa; otherwise, a visa is required. This applies to tourists arriving with a passage card from countries with a Waiver Program.

Extension of Your Stay ​Your visa can be extended (fee required) at the Ministry of the Interior office closest to you, please call their call center at: *3450 or dial 12223450.

Immigration & Customs

Passport Control

Upon arrival in Israel, visitors go to passport control and must present a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of their departure. Please note, Israel has incorporated a new and modern technological system instrumental in meeting the needs of the various Immigration, security, Airport and Tourism authorities as well as providing the tourist with the credentials necessary to prove his visa status without stamping the passport. At a press of a button, the Border Control station will print a card including the principle details of the traveler as in the first page of the passport. The card will also depict the date of arrival and visa information. This card is called The “Electronic Gate Pass”.

The Gate Pass is an official form of identification while in Israel. We ask all tourists to keep the card at hand at all times as proof of their status. Arrival by Air and Land Crossings – Incoming travelers continue to the passenger luggage area after having their passports inspected. Carts are at their disposal. From there, they continue to customs control and to the airport exit.

Information Regarding Israel’s Land Gateways​

General information regarding the laws and policies of the Customs Authority can be downloaded: https://taxes.gov.il/English/Pages/Guides.aspx

Please make note that travel through Allenby Bridge Crossing has specific limitations and directives. For example, visitors passing through the Allenby Bridge between Israel/Jordan may carry no more than the cash value of 2000 Jordanian Dinars.

Customs and V.A.T. for Tourists:

https://taxes.gov.il/English/Vat/Pages/VatLobby.aspx Aside from Allenby Bridge Crossing, and for all other Gateways including airports, the following tourist guide is relevant for visitors as defined by the Customs and Tax Authority: https://taxes.gov.il/English/Vat/pages/guides/vat-refund-for-tourists.aspx https://taxes.gov.il/English/customs/PersonalImport/Pages/CustomsTuristGuide.aspx Please note: there is a two-lane customs transit system, one green and the other red, at Ben Gurion Airport and the various Crossing Points. Visitors who do not have goods to be declared may go through the green lane at the exit from the passenger arrival hall.

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Israel to require American visitors to apply in advance for electronic travel authorization

Israel is joining the Western nations requiring an advance online application and a fee for citizens from visa-exempt countries, including the United States.

Until now, Americans who want to travel to Israel haven’t needed to do anything other than purchase a plane ticket and pack their bags.

But starting Aug. 1, electronic travel authorization through a designated website will be required, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism announced this week. A pilot program, with the NIS 25 ($7) fee waived, will launch Saturday for travelers from the United States and Germany and will extend to all visa-exempt countries on July 1.

Travelers are advised to apply 72 hours before booking flights and lodging. Travelers without the authorization will not be permitted to board planes headed to Israel, and Interior Ministry spokeswoman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The ETA-IL program is similar to others that have been put in place in recent years in Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Their goal is to screen out travelers suspected of posing a security threat or of potentially violating tourist visa restrictions through work or overstaying before they land at ports of entry.

Most countries that have launched similar programs advise a 72-hour heads-up, although the authorization frequently arrives via email within hours. The United States warns that people who do not apply in advance for travel authorization can face delays boarding flights or be turned away at the border, even if they come from countries that participate in the U.S. visa-waiver program. ( Israel was added to the program only last September .)

Citizens of visa-exempt countries who are citizens or permanent residents of Israel are not required to request authorization. Citizens of nonexempt countries will still need to complete a more arduous visa application process. The authorization will last for two years and will allow multiple entries of up to 90 days.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This travel advice covers Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel despite FCDO advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Israel and the OPTs set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Israeli Embassy in London or the   Palestinian Mission to the UK .

Check Israeli immigration policies before you travel. Allow extra time for increased security measures and checks at airports, especially during Israeli holidays and during the summer tourist season.

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Israel or the OPTs .

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to enter Israel as a tourist. On entry, visitors are given permission to stay for up to 3 months. However, if you are a dual national, read the dual nationals guidance for more information.

If you work in Israel without the proper permissions, you can be detained and deported. This process could take several months.

Passport validity requirements

If you’re visiting Israel or the OPTs , your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the country (check the expiry date).

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

 Checks at border control

Passport stamping and entry cards.

Visitors entering via Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport get an entry card instead of an entry stamp in their passport. At other entry points to the country, you may get an entry card or you may get a stamp.

Keep your entry card with your passport until you leave. This is evidence that you entered Israel legally. You may need it, particularly if you’re crossing into the OPTs . If you’re refused entry to Israel, your passport may be stamped with an entry stamp and 2 red lines drawn across it to show the refusal.

Stamps with restrictions

Entry stamps that state ‘Palestinian Authority only’ or ‘Judea and Samaria only’ have been issued to some travellers at:

• the Allenby Bridge crossing with Jordan
• Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport

Since travellers entering by the Allenby Bridge crossing must pass through Israeli checkpoints and Israeli-controlled territory to reach Jerusalem or Gaza, this effectively limits travellers who receive this stamp.

It is not clear how travellers who get this stamp at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport can leave the airport without violating the restriction.

This stamp has been issued to travellers who have no Palestinian or other Arab ancestry, and do not seem to have a claim to a Palestinian Authority ID.     

Immigration checks

The Israeli authorities decide if you can enter Israel. You may experience lengthy personal questioning and baggage searches at security when you enter and leave Israel. Searches and questioning may be longer for some visitors, including:

• visitors with Palestinian or Arab ancestry
• visitors with evidence of previous travel which may be considered suspicious
• visitors who are considered to have publicly criticised the state of Israel

Foreign nationals can legally be refused entry if they:

• have publicly called for a boycott of Israel or Israeli settlements
• belong to an organisation which has called for a boycott

Travellers may occasionally be held at border control for more checks. This is not routine, but a few travellers do experience delays, sometimes for several hours. Israeli security have sometimes requested access to travellers’ personal email or social media accounts as a condition of entry.

Previous travel to countries in the region

Evidence of previous travel to another country in the region, such as entry or exit stamps in your passport, does not normally stop you entering Israel. However, you may face extra questioning at the border.

If you have concerns about visas or entry into Israel, including whether previous travel can affect you travelling there, contact the Israeli Embassy in the UK before you travel.

Refusal of entry into Israel

If you’re refused entry to Israel, you will be booked on the next available flight back to where you flew in from, on the same airline.

Depending on the flight schedule, you may be taken to the Immigration Detention Centre (a few minutes’ drive from the airport) to wait until your flight departs. You will have access to a telephone, information in English and medical assistance if needed. Your luggage will stay at the airport, so tell officials if you need to retrieve anything urgent from your luggage, for example medication.

You can contact the British Embassy in Israel from the detention centre. They can help where possible, but cannot intervene in immigration decisions.

Entering the OPTs

Entry to the OPTs , including by sea to Gaza, is controlled by the Israeli authorities. You must show a passport and Israeli immigration slip to cross between Israel and the OPTs .

There are requirements for foreign nationals entering the West Bank. Read about the requirements for entering the West Bank on the Israel government website .

Israeli border officials at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport have asked some travellers to sign a form stating they are not allowed to enter territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority unless they get advance authorisation from the Israeli ‘Territory Actions Co-ordinator’. You can be deported from Israel and barred from entry for up to 10 years for violating this restriction.

If immigration officials believe you plan to enter Gaza without permission, or that you’re entering Israel to work in the OPTs , you may be refused entry.

FCDO cannot support individuals applying for entry or exit permits for Gaza. If you decide to visit Gaza against FCDO advice, you must contact the relevant authorities well in advance. FCDO cannot provide administrative support to UK charities wishing to enter Gaza by the Rafah crossing.

The Rafah border regularly closes with no warning and for long periods. The Erez border is currently closed. At these times it may be impossible to enter or leave Gaza. 

Israeli checkpoints may close on Israeli public holidays and during periods of increased instability. There is information on known checkpoint closures on the UN website . This can change at short notice.

British nationals of Palestinian origin

If you’re a British national of Palestinian origin (on the Palestinian Population Register or holding a Palestinian ID number), you need a Palestinian passport or travel document to leave Gaza or the West Bank.

If you’re a British national with a Palestinian name or place of birth but without a Palestinian ID number, you may face problems. British nationals of Palestinian origin or British nationals married to Palestinians have been refused entry into Israel.

British people holding dual nationality 

British-Palestinian dual nationals living in the West Bank and Gaza may only exit the OPTs via the Allenby border crossing into Jordan or the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, and must return by the same route. If you’re a British-Palestinian dual national entering Gaza against FCDO travel advice, check entry and exit procedures with the relevant authorities. There is a limit on the number of dual nationals permitted to enter and exit Gaza through Erez – this includes if you are entering for medical or humanitarian reasons. The Israeli government has the authority to make decisions on entry and exit permits through Erez.

If you’re a British national with dual nationality, check with your nearest Israeli embassy if you need pre-approval to travel to Israel. Dual nationals holding Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese citizenship have previously been impacted. If you are not a citizen of any of these countries, but have close family ties, it is also advisable to check with your nearest Israeli embassy before travel.

Children with at least one Israeli parent (father or mother) are considered Israeli nationals. These children must enter and leave Israel on an Israeli passport.

British nationals with associations with other countries in the region

Dual nationals holding Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese citizenship have previously been heavily questioned, denied entry and deported. If a deportation flight is not available immediately, this can mean being detained until one is available, which can take a number of days. If you are a citizen of any of these countries, or have associations such as close family ties, the Israeli authorities advise you to check with your nearest Israeli embassy before travel to gain pre-approval for entry.  

Children and young people

Children aged 17 years and under travelling to Israel alone or with only one parent should carry a letter from their parents or guardians confirming parental consent, accommodation plans and contact details.

Children exiting Israel alone should carry a locally issued notarised letter as advised by external firms .     

For children with at least one Israeli parent, read the advice for dual nationals above.

Entry to Jordan

To enter Jordan from Israel, you must register in advance. Find more information on the Visit Jordan website .

Vaccination requirements

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Israel guide and TravelHealthPro’s Palestinian Territories guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Israel and the OPTs . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into Israel and the OPTs

The Israeli Tax Authority provides information on taking money into or out of Israel .

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Israel Introduces New Electronic Travel Authorization System  

By: CIBT Editorial Team

June 11, 2024

The Israeli Population and Immigration Administration announced the introduction of a new electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) system, which will become fully operational in August 2024. The initiative is aimed at modernizing Israel’s border management processes and enhancing the border-crossing experience for citizens from visa-exempt countries. Here’s an in-depth look at the new system and its implications for corporate and leisure travel. 

Overview of the ETA-IL system 

Israel’s new ETA system is designed to streamline the entry process for visa-exempt travelers for stays of up to 90 days. This initiative is in line with global trends, where countries are adopting electronic systems to improve security and efficiency at their borders. The ETA-IL will be mandatory for short-term stays, including tourism and business. 

An ETA-IL authorization has a validity period of up to two years, or until the expiry date of the passport under which it was issued - whichever comes first. If the holder obtains a new passport or changes name, gender, or country of citizenship, they will be required to apply for a new travel authorization. 

Eligibility and application process 

The ETA-IL system will open for application submissions as a pilot program for holders of United States and German passports from June 1, 2024. Applications are voluntary during the pilot phase. The system will open to visitors from all visa-exempt countries on July 1, 2024, with valid ETA-IL being required for entry into Israel from August 1, 2024. 

The application process will be conducted online, requiring applicants to provide personal information, travel details, and answer security-related questions. The processing time is expected to be brief, typically within a few days. 

Summary of key ETA-IL dates 

June 01, 2024: Applications open for passport holders from Germany and the United States.   

July 01, 2024: Applications open for all other eligible nationalities. 

August 01, 2024: Full implementation of the ETA-IL system. From this date, eligible travelers are required to hold a valid ETA-IL for entry into Israel. 

Benefits of the ETA-IL system 

The introduction of the ETA-IL system offers several key benefits: 

• Efficiency: The online application process eliminates the need for in-person visits to Israeli consulates or embassies, saving time and administrative effort. 
• Security: Pre-screening travelers before their arrival enhances border security, allowing Israeli authorities to identify potential risks in advance. 
• Convenience: The ETA-IL will facilitate a faster and more streamlined entry process, significantly reducing wait times at immigration checkpoints. 

Preparing for travel 

Corporate travel managers should verify whether their employees' countries of origin are eligible for the ETA-IL. Once eligibility is confirmed, it is advisable to complete the online application well in advance of travel dates. Additionally, travelers should carry a printed or digital copy of the ETA approval, as it may be required by airline staff or immigration officers. 

In conclusion, Israel’s new electronic travel authorization system represents a significant modernization in the Israeli border-crossing experience. By simplifying the entry process, it enhances the overall travel experience. Travellers with upcoming trips to Israel should stay informed about the latest travel regulations and prepare accordingly to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience.  

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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visas and other travel documents for entering the U.S.

The visitor visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

Along with your visa, you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship. When you arrive at your port of entry into the U.S., officials will issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94.

How to renew a visitor visa

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

Understand expiration dates for visas and I-94 forms

• The date you must depart the U.S. will be shown on your Form I-94. This date is determined by the Customs and Border Protection officer when you arrive at the port-of-entry into the U.S. 
• Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas while they are in the U.S.

LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2024

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