Israel To Require ₪25 Electronic Permit For Visitors To Enter

By FrumNews.com

Tel Aviv —Starting August 1, 2024, Israel will require visitors, tourists and travelers from visa-exempt countries, such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia, to obtain electronic travel authorization (ETA) before entering the country. 

This announcement comes as a surprise, as Israel’s Ministry of Tourism shows that due to the milchama in Gaza, tourism is down to just 204.7 visitors who came to Israel from January to March 2024, compared to 916k in the same timeframe in 2023 and 1.06 million in 2019. 

This new system mirrors those already in place in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Visitors from visa-exempt countries can apply for travel authorization. Eligible individuals can travel to Israel and stay for up to 90 days or less.

Essentially, the country is making it more expensive and complicated to visit Israel, when they (or any country dealing with low tourist numbers) should make incentives and court tourists to Israel. This leaves many to wonder why do it and why now?

Some speculated that it’s due to safety issues, due to the ongoing war in Gaza, but no other ETA program gives safety as a reason for its implementation. 

The ETA authorization which will cost 25 shekels, is valid for multiple trips to Israel over a period of up to two years from the date your application is approved, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This means that as long as you received an ETA authorization to travel, you do not have to reapply during the validity period.

Starting June 1st, 2024, the ETA-IL system will open for application submissions as a pilot program only for holders of American and German passports. Submitting an application during the pilot phase will be voluntary and free of fees. The system will open to visitors from all visa-exempt countries on July 1st, 2024.

Those who apply for the ETA authorization during the trial period for free won’t have to apply for the next two years.

Those who need to enter Israel urgently should apply for an ETA authorization, well in advance of required travel, as processing times are normally up to 72 hours.

Visitors from countries for which a visa is required for travel to Israel must still obtain a visa as before. The new rule also does not apply to Israeli citizens or holders of an Israeli identity number.