TL;DR: According to the Ministry of Tourism, on arrival in Israel the border control kiosk prints an entry card with your arrival date and visa information, and it replaces the passport stamp. The Ministry of Tourism recommends keeping it on hand throughout your stay as proof of your visa status. In addition, since 1 January 2025 tourists from visa-exempt countries need an ETA-IL before arriving.
A Card Instead of a Stamp
According to the Ministry of Tourism's website, on arrival in Israel the border control kiosk prints an Electronic Gate Pass containing key details from your passport. The card records your arrival date and visa information, and it replaces the traditional passport stamp.
Border control is carried out by the border officers of the Population and Immigration Authority.
Length of Stay
According to the Israeli consulate in Berlin, the period of stay is set by the immigration authority at the border crossing on the day of entry, usually 3 months. The consulate points to the entry on the entry card you receive on arrival, and stresses that the final decision on entry is always made at the border crossing.
Why Keep the Card
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the entry card:
- Lets you leave the arrivals area, continue to baggage claim and exit the terminal.
- Serves as an official form of identification while you are in Israel.
- Is the proof of your visa status, and the Ministry of Tourism recommends keeping it on hand at all times.
For tourism services such as hotels, zero VAT applies to a tourist staying in Israel on a B/2, B/3 or B/4 visa. According to the Tax Authority, the service provider must hold the tourist's name, permanent residence and passport number.
ETA-IL: The Authorisation You Need Before You Travel
Separately from the entry card, according to the Population and Immigration Authority, since 1 January 2025 tourists with a passport from a visa-exempt country must complete an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) before arriving in Israel.
• Where: only on the official portal israel-entry.piba.gov.il
• Cost: 25 NIS (according to the Population and Immigration Authority, $7), with no refund after you apply
• Validity: up to two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport, or a change of name, gender or citizenship, requires a new application
• Stay: up to 90 days per visit
• Passport: valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival in Israel
• Reply: usually within 24 to 72 hours, sometimes within minutes
• When to apply: any time before travel. The Population and Immigration Authority recommends applying at least 72 hours before booking flights, hotels and similar expenses
An ETA-IL does not guarantee entry. At the border crossing a border control officer checks the traveller and may determine that they are not authorised to enter Israel.
Who does not need an ETA-IL: Israeli citizens and holders of an Israeli identity number, holders of a valid Israeli visa, and travellers with a foreign passport who also hold Israeli citizenship (they present the airline with a certificate proving their Israeli citizenship, even if it has expired). The Population and Immigration Authority's list also includes a few other groups, such as crew members and diplomats.
Unofficial websites: the Population and Immigration Authority reported tourists who filled in the form on private websites and paid a far higher fee. In one case a couple paid $601, and some tourists never received the authorisation at all. The Authority stresses that applications are made only on the official website.
Travelling to Arab Countries
The Ministry of Tourism recommends that anyone travelling to Arab countries ask for no Israeli stamp in their passport, to avoid potential issues.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism, Population and Immigration Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israeli consulate in Berlin), Israel Tax Authority.
Flying to or from Tel Aviv?