Planning a Trip to Eretz Yisrael? Read This Israel Entry FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

By Staff Reporter
Posted on 01/13/22 | News Source: Chaim V'Chessed

As of Sunday, January 9, Israel’s borders are open to many vaccinated or recovered tourists. However, many of the entry rules and regulations are confusing and complicated. The Chaim V’Chessed Bureaucratic Staff has prepared this helpful FAQ to ease your journey.

Israeli Citizens/ Permanent Residents

Israeli citizens or permanent residents (toshavei keva) may enter Israel, regardless of vaccination/recovery status.

Foreigners: Tourists and Visa Holders

Currently, travelers who are recognized as recovered/vaccinated by Israel may enter Israel, under certain conditions:

Vaccinated

• Travelers who are vaccinated twice may enter Israel, provided that six months have not passed since the second vaccine.
• Any vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization is acceptable for entry to Israel.
• Travelers who have received a booster shot may enter Israel, even if more than 6 months have passed. 
• The single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine is sufficient, if received in the past 180 days.
• Fourteen days must have passed since the latest vaccination; one may enter Israel on the fifteenth day. The day of vaccination counts as day one.

Recovery

• Individuals registered as recovered from within Israel in the past six months may enter Israel.
• Recovered individuals from the EU, UK, Switzerland, and other countries that are part of the EUDCC who have digital proof of recovery in the last six months, are eligible to enter Israel. 
• Recovery from the US, Canada and other non-EU countries is NOT accepted by Israel for entry. 
• Vaccinated persons, who also recovered from Covid in the US or Canada, cannot enter Israel if 6 months have passed since their second vaccine. 
• Having received monoclonal antibodies does not affect entry status to Israel.

Recovery and Vaccinated

• Travelers with accepted recovery from more than six months prior to travel (as above), plus at least one vaccination from any time, are eligible for entry. Fourteen days must have passed since the vaccination. 

Children

• Children from age 1 and up may only enter Israel if they are fully vaccinated or recovered (with digitally verifiable recovery). This effectively means that children under age 5 from the US, Canada, UK and other non-EU countries cannot enter Israel, as vaccination is not offered for those ages.
• Babies up to twelve months of age may enter Israel; there is no need to fill out an entry form for them. They will need to quarantine as unvaccinated travelers upon arrival.
• Children of student visa holders up to 12 years old who are not vaccinated/recovered may obtain entry permits to Israel, if both parents are vaccinated/recovered. See here for details. 

Special Exceptions

Foreigners who do not meet the requirements outlined above are barred from entering Israel.  Special entry permits are granted only in very limited circumstances. These currently include:

• Life and death emergencies
• Funerals
• Chosson/kalla and their first degree relatives

Prior to Travel to Israel

• Travelers must submit this online Entry Form within 48 hours of departure to Israel. Vaccination/recovery details must be entered, and documentation must be uploaded.If completed successfully, an entry declaration and a Green Pass will be sent via email.
• Bring the entry declaration and the Green Pass to the airport.
• Travelers of every age must present a negative Covid test. This can be a PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure.
• Travelers who present a positive PCR taken in the past 90 days are exempt from the pre-flight Covid test, and may travel from the 11 days after the positive result.
• Documents may be printed or digital.
• Upon completion of the entry form, you will receive a link to pre-pay and register for a PCR test in the airport on arrival. This test is mandatory for all travelers, regardless of vaccination/recovery status.

Quarantine

• Quarantine for vaccinated travelers is 24 hours or until receipt of a negative PCR, the earlier of the two.
• Unvaccinated/non-recovered passengers (Israelis or foreigners with special entry permits) must quarantine for 14 days. This may be shortened to 7 days with a negative PCR test on the first and seventh days.
• Quarantine hotels have been abolished; travelers may quarantine in their own homes.

Leaving Israel

• Travelers leaving Israel who are not considered vaccinated/recovered by Israeli standards must present a negative PCR result, taken within 72 hours of departure.
• Travelers who are vaccinated/recovered by Israeli standards are exempt from this requirement. However, they may need negative Covid tests as required by their destination countries.
• For instance, the US requires a negative PCR or antigen test for all incoming passengers. This must be taken within one calendar day of departure. For example, if traveling on Motzai Shabbos, one may test on Friday. However, if traveling early Sunday morning, the test must be performed after Shabbos ends.
• Recently recovered patients are exempt from the US requirement. They must present a positive PCR test taken within the last ninety days in addition to a recovery letter from a doctor.
• For a partial list of Corona testing sites in Israel, see here.

Please see here for complete details on entry to Israel.