Visitors to Israel must obtain a visa from one of the Israeli diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. From January 2025, all visitors from visa-exempt countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) before traveling to Israel.[1]
Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries do not need a visa for Israel for tourism, business or to study for up to 90 days, or culture or sport activities for up to 30 days. From January 2025, they must obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) before traveling to Israel. The ETA-IL costs 25 ILS and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever occurs first.[1][2]
In 1952 the Knesset passed the law "The entry law to Israel" which describes the first official entry policy of Israel. The law permits four types of visas for foreigners, transit visa (5 days), visit visa (3 months), temporary resident visa (3 years), and permanent visa. [86] During the 50s' discussions on visa free took place as in 1955 the Israeli government decided to exempt visa fees from visitors from United States, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Luxemburg to boost the early tourism sector. [87][88]
Visa exempt countries in 1966 Ordinary passports: Uruguay, Iceland, Argentina, USA, Brazil, Denmark, Switzerland, UK, Lichtenstein, Norway, Finland, Chile, France, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxemburg. Diplomatic and service passports: Austria, Italy, El Salvador, Belgium, Dahomey, The Netherlands, Switzerland, The Philippines, Brazil, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanganyika, Luxemburg, Liberia, Niger, France, Colombia, Costa Rica, Thailand, Togo, Honduras, Siera Leone, and Congo Leopoldville. [87][89]
1967 Israel started to consider the vise exemption of German diplomatic and service passports as Germany promised not to allow Germans with Nazi background to use the visa exemption. Germany exempted Israeli ordinary passports even if Israel haven’t as Germany understood that they can’t demand it from Israel due to the Holocaust. In the same year Israel also exempted German passport from visa. [90][91][20] Israel signed visa exemption agreement for ordinary passports with the United Kingdom, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland in 1967. [90][92] For the international tourism year of 1967 Israel called in the UN to other countries to extend their visa exemptions for tourist to boost tourism and the share of cultures. [90][93]
For clergymen for the purpose of long-term fulfilling their clerical duties among their religious communities in Israel, pursuant to the invitation of a recognized religious institution in Israel.
A/4
Family of holders of A/2 and A/3 visas
For spouses and minor children of recipients of A/2 or A/3 visas.[96]
A/5
Temporary resident visa
General temporary resident visa for any other reason that is not under A/1, A/2, A/3, or A/4 visas. Usually for partners of Israeli citizens or for humanitarian reasons.
Work
B/1
Work visa
For those whose stay in Israel is approved for a limited period of time for the purpose of work.
Working holiday visa
For nationals of certain countries between the ages of 18 and 30 years.
Visitor
B/2
ETA-IL
Electronic travel authorization for nationals of visa-exempt countries for tourism, business or study up to 90 days.
Visitor visa
For nationals of visa-required countries for tourism, business or study up to 90 days.
Visitor visa extension
Extension of visit for tourism, business or study.[97]
Nationals of countries that are exempt from the requirement to issue a tourist visa to Israel, their salary is double as the Israeli average wage, and they are working for Israeli high-tech companies. Citizens of Ukraine are exempt from minimum salary limitation requirement.[103]
Investor visa
The Israeli investor visa is reciprocity to the American E1 and E2 Visas for citizens of the United States which allows the visa holder including his family to live and work for a temporary time in Israel.[104][105]
Tourist group visa
Nationals of countries who require a visa in advance and their country of nationality has diplomatic mission in Israel can obtain tourist group visa from Israeli national or resident licensed travel agent, as long the tour group follows the criterions:[106][107]
The tour group is in size of 10 - 50 visitors
The trip itinerary is known to the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority Border Control
The group enters, stays, and leaves together
The group follows the minimum size requirements and other requirements
1 - Application 10 days in advance (Minimum) 2 - Countries Under Consideration - "Countries, that do not have official representation in Israel, whose representatives in Israel do not cooperate with the Population and Immigration Authority in identifying or issuing their nationals' travel documents, with a high emigration rate, whose nationals have a tendency to settle, or to stay illegally in Israel, and have a tendency to apply for asylum in Israel.", Application 30 days in advance (Minimum) 3 - Exceptional circumstances only - Application 3 months in advance (Minimum) 4 - Service fee exemption 5 - Eligible Tourist group visa even in lack of diplomatic mission or offical relations
Working holiday visa
Nationals of the following countries between the ages of 18 and 30 years may apply for a working holiday visa for 12 months in Israel.[108]
In 2023, Israel signed agreements for a working holiday visa with Japan[109] and Taiwan.[110]
Israeli passport stamps
Entry card as replacement for passport stamp
Visitors with an Israeli passport stamp are not allowed to enter a number of countries because of the Arab League boycott of Israel. Some countries, such as Austria, Canada, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States, allow their nationals to hold two or more passports of their country to circumvent such travel restrictions, but some of these countries also restrict or forbid the holding of passports of more than one country (multiple citizenship).
However, since 15 January 2013, Israel no longer stamps passports at airports and land border crossings with Jordan. Instead, the entry or departure record is printed on a small paper card, called an electronic gate pass, which includes the traveler's passport data, date, visa status, and other details. The card also includes a barcode which is used to pass through the gate out of the passport control hall.[111]
Foreign nationals who may travel to Israel without a visa or who hold an Israeli visa may also enter the West Bank on the same basis. Foreign nationals may also apply for an entry permit valid only for the West Bank.[119] All foreign nationals need a permit to enter the Gaza Strip.[120]
Palestinians registered in the West Bank need a permit to enter Israel or the Gaza Strip, and Palestinians registered in the Gaza Strip need a permit to enter Israel or the West Bank. Palestinian men over age 55 and women over age 50 registered in the West Bank, without a security restriction, receive an automatic permit to enter Israel for up to 6 months. Palestinians who receive a permit to depart from an Israeli airport may also return in the same way.[112]
Validity for other countries
Israeli visas or residency permits can be valid as substitute visas for the following countries:
Georgia Holders of valid Israeli visas or residency permits may enter Georgia without an additional visa for 90 days every 180 days with the requirement to show evidence of a valid Israeli visa or residency permit.[122]
Visitor statistics
Most visitors arriving in Israel were from the following countries of nationality:
A working holiday visa is a residence permit that allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa to supplement their travel funds. For many young people, holding a working holiday visa enables them to experience living in a foreign country without having to find work sponsorship in advance or go on an expensive university exchange program.
Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.
Visa requirements for Japanese citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Japan.
Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China who hold Mainland passport by the authorities of other states.
Visa requirements for British citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the United Kingdom.
Visa requirements for Israeli citizens refers to regulations pertaining to visas for holders of Israeli passports.
Visa requirements for Italian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Italy.
Visa requirements for Czech citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Czech Republic.
Visa requirements for Dutch citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Netherlands, the joint nationality of the four countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Visa requirements for Singapore citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states which are imposed on citizens of Singapore.
Visa requirements for Slovak citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Slovakia. As of November 2024, Slovak citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 184 countries and territories, ranking the Slovak passport 9th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
All nationalities traveling to Samoa can enter visa free. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. All visitors must have a return or onward ticket, copy of a bank statement, no record of deportation from other countries, no health problems that would pose a risk to Samoa, no history of criminal charges.
Visitors to Ukraine must obtain a visa from one of the Ukrainian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
The visa policy of the Philippines is governed by Commonwealth Act No. 613, also known as the Philippine Immigration Act, and by subsequent legislation amending it.
Visitors to the Dominican Republic must obtain a visa from one of the Dominican Republic diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
Citizens of specific countries and territories are eligible to visit Bolivia for tourism or business purposes without having to obtain a visa.
The nations of Israel and Kuwait do not have diplomatic relations. Kuwait does not allow entry in its territory to anyone with a passport issued by Israel or documenting travel to the State of Israel; anyone can be barred from entry for having Israeli visa stamps on their passport or if they are dual citizens between Kuwait and Israel. Citizens of Kuwait can enter Israel as long as they apply for a visa. Israel does not have formal entry or trade restrictions. During the wars between Israel and the Arab countries, Kuwaiti forces participated against Israel.
Visitors to Chile must obtain a visa from one of the Chilean diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
A foreign national wishing to enter Eswatini must obtain a visa unless they are a citizen of one of the eligible visa exempt countries.
Visa requirements for German citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Germany.
References
1 2 "ETA-IL". Israel Population and Immigration Authority.
↑ "一部旅券査証及び査証料の相互免除に関する日本国政府とイスラエル政府との間の取極（口上書）"[Arrangement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Israel concerning reciprocal exemption of certain passport visas and visa fees (verbal note)](PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 21 April 1971. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
↑ "Dohoda SR s Izraelom o zrušení vízovej povinnosti"[Agreement between the Slovak Republic and Israel on the abolition of the visa requirement]. www.noveaspi.sk (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
↑ "Kosovo and Israel sign visa-free waiver". Prishtina Insight. 18 June 2024. This news article stated that the visa waiver would start on 19 September 2024, but as of November 2024 the Israeli government had not yet implemented it.
↑ "נוהל תיאום כניסת זרים לרצועת עזה"[Procedure for coordinating the entry of foreigners to the Gaza Strip](PDF) (in Hebrew). Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories. June 2015.
1British Overseas Territories. 2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Partially recognized. 4Unincorporated territory of the United States. 5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 6Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.
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