Israel Customs Regulations

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Import Regulations

250 cigarettes or
250 grammes of other tobacco products
1 Litre of spirits
2 litres of wine
250 ml of perfume
Legal gifts valued up to 125 USD

The Ministry of Agriculture in Israel states that “Importing plants and plant products into Israel, either commercially or in passengers’ ‎personal baggage, is subject to permission by the Plant Protection and Inspection Services (PPIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture”. ‎‎Additionally,” Permits are required for importing fresh produce, plants, plant products, seed, ‎ propagation material, and biotic material.”
Any cats, dogs and other animals being imported will require a written statement declaring that they have owned the pet for more than 90 days prior to beginning their flight, a general health certificate from the country of origin and a rabies vaccination certificate. Pets coming from the UK will require a rabies vaccination after no more than 5 days inside the country.

Illegal drugs
Weapons, Explosives and ammunition
Knives and deadly weapons
Plant and plant products – unless permission has been obtained
Soil
Milk and Dairy products
Fresh Meat and meat products
Games of chance and gambling machines
Cordless telephones with a range of up to 900 MHz
Counterfeit money and goods
Pornographic material

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Export Regulations

No information available

Dogs and cats less than 3 months old are restricted from entering the country
Antiquities and items of great cultural significance will require a special permit from the Israel Antiquities Authority in order to leave the country.
Fresh meat, bananas and pineapples; fruit and vegetables from the African continent, especially South Africa are also restricted without appropriate permission.
Religious material being imported for the purpose of preaching is expressly prohibited.

Illegal drugs
Weapons, Explosives and ammunition
Knives and deadly weapons
Plant and plant products – unless permission has been obtained
Soil
Milk and Dairy products
Fresh Meat and meat products
Games of chance and gambling machines
Cordless telephones with a range of up to 900 MHz
Counterfeit money and goods
Pornographic material

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Health & Security

Basic health information for travelers to Israel

Basic security information for travelers to Israel

🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to Israel

Foreign visitors to Israel are advised to obtain the necessary vaccinations against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Hepatitis A prior to beginning their journey.
Cases of Hepatitis B and AIDS have been reported and travellers should exercise all normal procedures when dealing with bloody and infected needles or if engaging in sexual activity.
Travellers encountering wild animals should approach with caution thanks to their bites which might contain Rabies. If bitten, travellers are advised to immediately clean the wound and seek out medical assistance before symptoms develop.
All visitors to the country should obtain plenty of bottled water and sunscreen for protection against the often intense heat during the countries summer periods. Sand and dust storms often occur during the summer months and elderly or physically vulnerable travellers should check the weather forecast prior to beginning their journey and plan their visit accordingly.
Owing to the continued state of conflict in the region, visitors should note that the standard and availability of healthcare maybe extremely disrupted or limited in West Bank/Gaza regions of the country.
Pharmacies and hospitals are available in most major towns and the overall standard of healthcare is considered excellent but potentially expensive with payment required for any emergency services rendered. An emergency airlift may be required in the event of serious illness or injury and medical and travel insurance is strongly recommended.

🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to Israel

Although not officially at war, the political situation remains extremely volatile in the Gaza Strip and West Bank regions and hostilities could resume at any time. Travellers planning on visiting the country should exercise extreme caution throughout the duration of their visit and keep updated regarding the current political situation in the region. All foreign visitors should stick rigidly to prearranged tourist routes and avoid any activities or behaviour which could draw unnecessary attention to their presence and potentially endanger their lives.
Terrorism is an above average threat throughout Israel and recent acts of violence against foreign travellers have resulted in several deaths from explosives planted in bus stations and other public locations. All foreign visitors to the country should keep a close eye on their surroundings and report any suspicious people or behaviour to the local police or security services. Incidents of kidnappings by extremist Islam groups have been reported and any British visitor to the country should note the UK governments current policy is to not negotiate with terrorists.
Although relatively low, incidents of petty theft have been reported throughout the country. Visitors are urged to keep their passport and other valuable items in a safe location at all times throughout their visit and avoid any obvious displays of wealth which could attract unwanted attention.
Owing to the current political and military tensions throughout not only Israel but the entire region, travellers should avoid any large demonstrations or protests which could potentially turn violent. According to the British Foreign Commonwealth Office site, “Israelis living in the illegal settlements in the West Bank occasionally organise demonstrations on West Bank roads: these sometimes turn violent, with the settlers throwing stones at passing Palestinian and international vehicles. Take particular care if hiking near any of these settlements, including those in the hills around Nablus and in the South Hebron hills”. All foreign travellers to Israel or the surrounding territories are strongly advised to stay informed regarding the current political situation both before and during their visit to the country.
In spite of the official ceasefire, infrequent exchanges of fire between Israeli and Palestinian forces are a frequent occurrence in the Gaza Strip. Travellers seeking to enter the area currently need to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities and should take great care to avoid any potential hostilities in the area. The Israeli navy patrols the water surround Gaza and often take lethal and aggressive action against any vessels attempting to enter the country by this method.
Travellers planning on visiting the West Bank should take care to avoid getting caught up in any potential violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces. The situation remains unpredictable throughout the entire region and the potential for sudden protests and act of violence are considerable. Although travel to Bethlehem and East Jerusalem are marginally safer to visit during the daytime, all travellers visiting these sites should stay well informed as to the current political situation and avoid any visits to locations that are in unsafe territory.
There currently remains a great deal of tension on the border between Israel and Lebanon with unexploded mines and other deadly ordinance still evident throughout the area and occasional clashes between the two sides. Travellers should avoid any travel to this region out of basic safety reasons and should stay updated to the current military situation prior to arriving in the country.
Foreign visitors planning on driving through Israel are advised to take care at all times and should obtain a copy of their passport for identification purposes. Road quality may be unreliable in poorer areas and traffic accidents are common. Road bombs and random acts of theft and violence against foreign drivers are possible and travellers should take note of their surroundings at all times.
Travellers planning on exploring the country by foot take care to protect themselves both from any ongoing conflict in the country but from the intense heat during the summer months and from the colder weather conditions during the winter period between November and March.
Much of Israel and the Palestinian territory are in a seismically active zone. In the event of an Earthquake, travellers are urged to stay calm and to contact their nearest embassy at the first available opportunity to confirm their condition. Much of the country is arid desert and travellers visiting during the hot summer months should take precautions against the often intense heat.
Israel is a culturally complex environment and all visitors to the region should show respect for the local customs whilst inside the country. Islamic law is dominant in the Gaza region and travellers should dress and behave modestly if visiting these areas. Alcohol should not be consumed in public in these areas and public displays of intimacy will likely be frowned upon. Any travellers visiting during the holy month of Ramadan should also attempt to limit any public eating, drinking or smoking during the day in public places.
Photos taken of important government, military and religious sites are currently prohibited and may be removed and destroyed by the security services. Local prison conditions may be more brutal than most foreign visitors are used to and travellers should avoid any activities which could bring them to the attention of the police or other government forces. Travellers should always remember to ask permission before taking photos of local inhabitants in order to prevent any possible confusion.
Homosexuality may be acceptable in certain sections of the country but is illegal in Islamic dominated regions. Same sex couples are advised to take care when visiting Israel and should avoid any open displays of affection which could provoke an unwanted response.

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Contact Information

For further assistance please contact the Israeli Customs authorities directly. They will provide the latest information about customs regulations and export-import procedures.

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Telephone

+972 02-666-4000

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Official Website

ozar.mof.gov.il/customs/eng/mainpage.htm

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Address

5 Bank of Israel St.