What documents do I need to travel to Israel?
Visa-exempt visitors to Israel need an ETA-IL plus a passport valid at least 90 days past arrival. Israel issues a separate paper entry card instead of a passport stamp.
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Entering Israel - what you need
Israel's document list is short, but border checks are thorough and officers ask questions about your plans. Have your answers and your papers ready, including your trip1 hotel booking.
- A passport valid for at least 90 days after your arrival date.
- An approved ETA-IL if you are from a visa-exempt country, or a visitor visa if you are not.
- A copy of the ETA-IL approval, saved offline or printed.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Proof of where you are staying - your trip1 booking confirmation is exactly what officers mean by this.
- A letter of parental consent if an under-18 is travelling without both parents.
Entry rules and border procedures can change at short notice. Check your own government's official travel advisory and the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority site close to your departure date.
ETA-IL - what it is and how to get it
ETA-IL is Israel's electronic travel authorisation for visitors who do not need a visa. It has been mandatory since 1 January 2025 for citizens of the UK, US, EU countries, Canada, Australia and the other visa-exempt nationalities.
You apply on the official Population and Immigration Authority site. The fee is 25 Israeli shekels, and an approved authorisation lasts two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Each visit under an ETA-IL can be up to 90 days. Apply a few days before you fly rather than at the airport, and use the official site instead of a paid intermediary.
Important: an ETA-IL is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. The officer at the border makes the final decision, so carry your return ticket and accommodation details where you can reach them quickly.
If your nationality does need a visa
Travellers who are not on the visa-exempt list apply for a B/2 visitor visa at an Israeli embassy or consulate before travelling. ETA-IL does not apply to them, and there is no visa on arrival to fall back on.
Working, studying or volunteering needs different permission entirely. A tourist permit does not cover any of it, and working on one leads to removal.
The entry card instead of a passport stamp
Israel does not normally stamp passports. At Ben Gurion Airport you are handed a small printed entry card at passport control, and other crossings may issue either a card or a stamp.
Keep that card tucked inside your passport for the whole trip. It is your proof of lawful entry and the date your permitted stay started, and you may be asked for it when you leave.
Take a photo of the card as a backup. If you lose the original, contact the Population and Immigration Authority rather than waiting until you are at the airport.
Hotel check-in in Israel
Hotels ask every adult guest for a passport at check-in and record the details. Many also ask tourists for the entry card, because your visitor status affects how the room is taxed.
Your trip1 booking confirmation is what the front desk needs to find your reservation, and it is the proof of accommodation officers ask about at the border. A copy on your phone is fine.
Some hotels ask for a card at check-in to hold a deposit against extras. That is the property's own policy and separate from how you paid for the room on trip1.
Entering Israel - FAQ
UK citizens need an approved ETA-IL, a passport valid for at least 90 days after the date they arrive, and a return or onward ticket. Officers also ask where you are staying, and your trip1 booking confirmation answers that. Israel does not normally stamp passports, so keep the paper entry card you are given with your passport for the whole trip.
The ETA-IL costs 25 Israeli shekels. An approved authorisation is valid for two years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, and each visit can last up to 90 days. Apply only on the official Population and Immigration Authority site, because paid intermediaries charge more for the same authorisation.
Yes. Since 1 January 2025, US citizens, like UK, EU, Canadian, Australian and other visa-exempt travellers, need an approved ETA-IL before flying to Israel. Nationalities that are not visa-exempt apply for a B/2 visitor visa at an Israeli embassy or consulate instead, and there is no visa on arrival to fall back on.
Israel says a response usually comes within 24 to 72 hours, and sometimes within minutes. Apply at least 72 hours before you travel rather than at the airport, and travel on the same passport you used for the application. Save the approval offline or print it so you can show it at check-in and at the border.
Usually not. At Ben Gurion Airport you are given a small paper entry card instead of a stamp, and other crossings may give either a card or a stamp. Keep the card inside your passport for the whole trip, because it proves you entered lawfully and you may be asked for it when you leave. Photograph it as a backup.
Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days after the date you arrive in Israel. Travel on the same passport you used for your ETA-IL application, because the authorisation is linked to it. If you renew your passport, you need a new ETA-IL before your next trip.