By Amit Acco, Partner | Update 11 January 2022
Effective on 09 January 2022, following the removal of the COVID-19 Entry bar, as well as revoking all red designated countries from the list, we would like to share tips and hints as well as newly released information by the Ministry of Interior:
Verify Eligibility to Enter Israel:
- Any foreign national planning travel to Israel (for both work, business and tourism) must make sure in advance that he or she is eligible for a green pass according to current Israeli Ministry of Health regulations. Upon making the determination, one should take into consideration his or her vaccination or recovery status and dates of getting the last vaccine shot. Please click here for the official government Green Pass instructions. Please note that these regulations are changing frequently, and thus we recommend checking them frequently before travel.
- Checking and adhering to the health regulation will avoid last-minute ineligibility to travel or even a denial of entry upon arrival to Israel. This information is relevant to all travelers (of all ages), including those who hold a valid multiple entry visa stamped in their passport.
- Make sure to have a valid health insurance that specifically covers for COVID-19 in Israel. Take it with you to the flight, as you may need to present it upon entry to Israel
72 Hours Before the Flight
- You are required to take a PCR test in the 72 hours before the flight to Israel. Alternately, you may take a rapid test in the 24 hours before the flight to Israel instead of a PCR test. This test must be administered by professional samplers (no home test kits).
- Only those who received a negative result on the PCR or antigen test will be allowed to board the flight. You are required to present an official document in English attesting to the negative test result, along with the traveler’s passport number. No other tests of any kind will be accepted.A list of exemptions from 72 hours pre-flight checks can be found in the following webpage: Click here
Recovered:
- Carriers of an EU certificate of recovery that can be digitally verified in the Ministry of Health’s system, based on a test result of a NAAT test (a molecular test similar to PCR):EU Equivalent recovery certificate holders who arrive in Israel 11 days or more after their positive NAAT test (but no more than 190 days on the date of their departure from Israel).
- Those without an EU certificate of recovery that can be digitally verified in the Ministry of Health’s system: (For example: those who recovered in the US) must submit an online application form to the exemption committee: Please Click here
48 Hours before Flight
- Entry Statement: You need to fill out and submit the form within 48 hours before the flight, the earlier the better. Without a complete form, you will not be allowed to board the flight or and border control will not let you through.
- Successful application for Green Pass: the individual will receive a green pass by email from the Israeli Ministry of Health. The green pass will need to be presented upon boarding a flight to Israel and upon entry at the airport border control.
- Unsuccessful application for Green Pass (non-eligibility for Green Pass): the individual or his employer will need to submit a special application for an entry permit before the travel. The entry permit will need to be presented upon boarding a flight to Israel and upon entry at the airport border control. additionally, the individual will have to comply with health regulations that may include full quarantine measures upon entry. Example of unsuccessful application (see the red highlighted part):
- The Israeli Ministry of Interior has also clarified to KTA, that upon entry of foreign nationals into Israel, a thorough check is expected to make sure the vaccine declaration made is genuine. We, therefore, recommend having the Green Pass as well as vaccine proofs available upon landing. According to the Ministry, in case an individual entry statement form will be found to be inaccurate, the individual will be denied entry.
Upon Entry to Israel & Isolation
- A second PCR test will be administered at Ben Gurion Airport upon arrival. Travelers must proceed to quarantine until a negative result is received or until 24 hours have elapsed, whichever comes first.
Tips From Prior to the Ban:
According to officials at Ben Gurion Airport, Since Israel reopened to foreign tourists on November 1 until late November (the start of the total ban of entry), some 300 tourists have been denied entry into the country at Ben Gurion airport – 150 because they failed to comply with the Ministry of Health’s green pass regulations and 150 because the immigration authorities suspected they wanted to remain and work in the country, rather than just visit.
Additional Formal Information:
Updates: We recommend reading the specific information regarding personal medical entry regulations, as these changes are rapidly and written on the official government website. Please click here.
Isolation: Entry to Israel currently requires isolation, short or long, and options to be released. Please click here.
Call Center – Ministry of Health
When a question is not answered by regulation (such as a combination between various vaccines or boosters), we recommend contacting the Ministry Of Health for additional information:
How to Receive This Service
You can contact the call center in any one of the following ways:
Telephone: *5400 or +972(0)8-6241010
Fax: 02-5655069
Email: Call.Habriut@moh.health.gov.il (only documents less than 5MB can be attached to the request). Via an online request form on the Ministry of Health website
Call Center Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 8:00-18:00 and Fridays and holidays eves from 8:00-13:00
On Chol Hamoed (Sukkot and Passover) from 8:00-14:00
Disclaimer: The COVID-19 information is gathered from various public media sources at the courtesy of KTA to its clients and website visitors. Due to the rapid, sometimes daily changes in policy, we urge any traveler to get updated at the official government website by clicking here before planning or taking any international travel to or from Israel.
Israeli government COVID-19 guidelines are constantly changing. Please check before booking flights or travelling to Israel. It is also necessary to be updated separately regarding guidelines regarding unvaccinated children under the age of 12. The guidelines are updated according to the guidelines of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health.
For more information: apostille israel | b2 israel visa
