Pre-arrival card
Official portal
https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/Specifics
- ETA-IL ILS 25 (around USD 7), valid 2 years, multiple-entry.
- Passport no longer stamped (since 2013); paper entry slip is the visa documentation.
- Apply only on official portal; lookalike sites charge premiums.
By passport nationality
Headline rule for the nine most-trafficked passport groups. Always confirm on Israel’s immigration portal before booking; visa policy changes frequently.
- US passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25 (~USD 7)Pre-arrival: ETA-IL (since January 2025)
- ETA-IL valid 2 years, multiple-entry.
- UK passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL valid 2 years.
- EU passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL valid 2 years for most EU.
- CA passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL valid 2 years.
- AU passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL valid 2 years.
- IN passportConsular visa requiredUp to 90 daysPre-arrival: Israeli consular visa
- Consular visa for Indian passport-holders.
- BR passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL since 2025.
- JP passportETA requiredUp to 90 days · ILS 25Pre-arrival: ETA-IL
- ETA-IL valid 2 years.
- CN passportConsular visa requiredUp to 90 daysPre-arrival: Israeli consular visa
- Consular visa for Chinese passport-holders.
Practical guidance
For most short-stay tourists
The headline rule for Israel is 90 days visa-free for most western nationalities. US passport-holders specifically get eta required for up to 90 days at ILS 25 (~USD 7), with ETA-IL (since January 2025) required pre-arrival. See the by-passport block above for your specific nationality.
Pre-arrival documentation
Israel requires ETA-IL (since January 2025) before boarding. Airlines check this at the gate; without it you will be denied boarding even if your visa is in order. Allow at least 72 hours for processing in case the portal queues, longer if you are travelling on a national holiday in Israel.
When to apply
For visa-required nationalities, apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Visa-on-arrival and e-Visa systems process in 1 to 7 days typically but can stall around major holidays or political events; do not book non-refundable travel against a pending application. Israel’s official portal is israel-entry.piba.gov.il; only apply through that portal or through your nearest Israel embassy or consulate. Third-party visa services charge for what the government provides at cost.
Common rejection reasons
Passport with under 6 months validity from intended exit date. Fewer than two blank visa pages. No confirmed onward or return ticket. Travel insurance not naming Israel explicitly (Schengen-style coverage minimums apply for many European destinations). Prior visa overstays anywhere, especially in neighbouring countries. Most rejections cite one of these five rather than a substantive concern about the traveller.
Related for Israel
More on Israel
Israel is one of the most operationally complex tourist destinations to write about honestly. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the resulting Gaza war reshaped the safety landscape and produced an approximately 75 percent drop in inbound tourism through 2024. The country’s situation has substantially stabilised through 2025 with tourism rebuilding, but the structural risks remain real and worth calibrating: closed Gaza Strip (entirely off-limits), partial-area advisories for the West Bank that vary by district and tension level, the northern border with Lebanon (Hezbollah exchanges through 2024 produced civilian fatalities and evacuations of northern communities, with quieter periods through 2025), the southern border around the Eilat-Taba area, and the April and October 2024 plus April 2025 Israel-Iran direct missile exchanges that produced brief national alerts and airport closures. The standard tourist circuit (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem Old City and central districts, Eilat, the Dead Sea, Masada, Galilee in calm periods) operates with sirens-and-shelter discipline. This guide unpacks the entry mechanics, the regional risk map calibrated honestly, the Home Front Command alert system, the religious-site etiquette, and the practical contacts for an Israeli itinerary.
Frequently asked about Israel
Do I need a visa to travel to Israel?
The headline rule is: 90 days visa-free for most Western nationalities. Specific allowance depends on your passport nationality; the by-passport block on this page covers the 9 most-trafficked passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, China). Always confirm on Israel's official immigration portal before booking, visa policy changes frequently.
How long can I stay in Israel on a tourist visa?
90 days visa-free for most Western nationalities. ETA-IL (since January 2025) is required pre-arrival. For per-passport specifics see the block above. Overstaying carries fines and re-entry bans across most jurisdictions.
Can I extend my visa once I'm in Israel?
Most countries allow a one-time extension via the local immigration office for an additional 30 to 90 days, processed within 7 to 14 working days. Israel's policy varies; the safety guide's Getting In chapter covers it where applicable. Apply at least 2 weeks before your existing visa expires.