Israel Visa Essentials 2026: Types, Requirements, and Step-by-Step

(ISRAEL) Since January 1, 2025, Israel requires most visa-free visitors to get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before boarding, turning what used to be a simple arrival decision into a pre-trip approval step. For travelers, it changes the timeline: if you forget the ETA-IL, you can be refused boarding even if you hold a passport that used to enter without a visa.

This shift mainly affects citizens of roughly 96 visa-exempt countries, including the United States (🇺🇸), Canada (🇨🇦), the United Kingdom, EU member states, and Australia, who now need ETA-IL approval for short visits of up to 90 days per stay. The policy also matters for families, students on short programs, and business visitors, because border officers still check the purpose of travel and can refuse entry if the story doesn’t match the authorization.

ETA-IL basics — the new default for visa-free travelers

• What it is: ETA-IL is a digital pre-approval that permits multiple entries for tourism, business meetings, short non-academic study, and medical tourism.
• Validity: Remains valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
• Fee: 25 NIS (non-refundable).
• Decision timing: Often quick — from a few hours up to 72 hours.
• Official portal: Applications are run by PIBA (Population and Immigration Authority). Apply only through the official site: PIBA’s ETA-IL and entry applications portal.

Common early mistakes reported by VisaVerge.com include applying too late and selecting the wrong purpose category.

Step-by-step ETA-IL journey (realistic timing)

1. Step 1 — Confirm eligibility and passport timing (10 minutes)

– ETA-IL is for visa-exempt nationalities only.
– Your passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond arrival. Many carriers check this before issuing a boarding pass.

1. Step 2 — Prepare documents (15–25 minutes)

– Have your valid passport, an email address, and a payment method (Visa, Mastercard, or Amex).
– Prepare basic trip details: arrival date, purpose, and expected stay length (keep within 90 days).

1. Step 3 — Submit application and pay (10–20 minutes + waiting time)

– Apply at least 72 hours before departure (treat 72 hours as a minimum).
– Pay the 25 NIS fee — non-refundable even if you withdraw or are denied.

1. Step 4 — Receive decision and store it (same day to 72 hours)

– You’ll get an email confirmation for approved ETA-IL.
– Save a digital copy on your phone and keep a printout as backup — airlines and border officers may request it.

1. Step 5 — Travel day: bring matching proof

– Border officers may ask for onward tickets, hotel details, and proof of funds (bank statements).
– Travel insurance isn’t described as mandatory in the policy summary but is commonly requested in practice.

At the border — what to expect and why answers matter

• Israel stopped stamping passports in 2013 and issues an Electronic Gate Pass on entry. Keep that paper slip — hotels and car rental counters often ask for it and it aids exit procedures.
• At Ben Gurion Airport, ETA-IL travelers may use automated ABC kiosks and e-gates, but entry is never automatic: officers still check the purpose of travel.
• Give a short, clear explanation of your travel purpose, especially if you carry items that look like work gear or plan to visit friends or a partner.

Common trigger points for tougher questioning:

• Mismatch between ETA-IL category and actual plans.
• Example: declaring “tourism” but indicating you’ll start a long-term study program can lead to refusal.
• Weak proof of return plans.
• If you can’t show employment, studies, family duties, or booked onward travel, officers may doubt you will leave on time.

Additional notes:

• Dual Israeli citizens must use an Israeli passport to enter and exit.
• Travelers with passport stamps from Iran, Syria, or Lebanon may face extra questions, but such stamps rarely bar entry on their own.

Important: Entry can be refused even with ETA-IL if the actual travel purpose or supporting documents don’t match the authorization.

When ETA-IL is not appropriate — visas for longer stays and work

ETA-IL covers short stays only. For work, long-term study, or residency you need the correct visa type and often a sponsor.

Common visa categories (as described by PIBA):

• B/2 tourist visa
• For visitors from non-exempt countries, generally up to 90 days.
• Often single entry, valid 3 months, and does not permit work.

• B/1 work visa

• Requires employer sponsorship and a work permit.
• Issued for 1 year and renewable up to 63 months.
• Processing typically 4–14 weeks, with medical and police checks.

• For foreign experts, salary requirement is at least double the average Israeli wage (about 26,306 NIS/month in 2025).

• A/2 student visa

• For study at recognized institutions, generally granted for 1 year and renewable.

• B/4 volunteer visa

• For specific volunteer programs (kibbutz, moshav placements, certain youth movements).

• A/1 and A/5 statuses

• Tied to residency routes, including Law of Return paths; A/5 is described as indefinite.

Warning: If you enter on ETA-IL or B/2 and then work informally, you risk refusal at later entries, cancellation of status, and bans. Israel treats unauthorized work as a labor-market protection issue, and border records make repeat travel harder.

Special routes and exceptions

• Masa program fellows:
• Apply for ETA-IL first, selecting the correct Masa option during the online process.
• Then convert to an A/2 student visa in Israel within 45 days.
• Choosing a “student” track for a stay beyond 90 days during the ETA-IL stage can cause rejection.

• Egyptian citizens via Taba crossing:

• Separate carve-out: visa-free entry for up to 14 days via the Taba crossing near Eilat, limited to areas south of Beersheba.

• West Bank and Gaza:

• Travel to the West Bank can be covered under the general ETA-IL/visa framework.
• Gaza requires special permits.
• Travelers moving between areas should expect extra checks and should carry documents showing accommodation and exit plans.

Practical pre-flight checklist

Before departure, run through this checklist which reflects airline and border control practices:

• Apply early: treat 72 hours as the minimum before departure.
• Match documents to purpose:
• Business visitors: meeting details.
• Family visitors: host contact information and address.
• Watch cash declaration limits:
• Declare 50,000 NIS when arriving by air.
• Declare 12,000 NIS at land crossings.
• Plan length of stay:
• ETA-IL and many tourist permissions are capped at 90 days per visit. If you need more time, prepare for a visa route or an extension request.

Extensions for tourist stays can be requested at Israel’s Interior Ministry offices (Misrad HaPnim), with proof of funds and a reason; approval is discretionary. Appeals are possible through PIBA channels, but the best approach is preventing denial by arriving with a clean, consistent file.