New Israel’s Electronic Entry Permits

ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) is Israeli government innovation. It is a mandatory travel condition for tourists from countries with which Israel has an agreement on a visa-free regime. It concerns citizens of the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Romania, Australia and other countries. This number is about 150 countries

This document is conventionally called an “electronic visa”, although it is nothing more than a completed questionnaire that allows to comply with the necessary security measures. Both: for the host country and for tourists. What the ETA-IL system changes or improves:

• For tourists. Such an electronic permit helps people that request to be sure that they will be allowed into the country without problems and questions. Making a request, the state will have time to check the status, the presence of violations or deportations in past. So people will not waste time on a long queue upon entry. The questions disappear by themselves if you have already received an online permit.
• For government services. Significantly accelerated the process of tourists pass, queues of people waiting to check documents are reduced, and security measures are strengthened.

ETA-IL of Israel: who and when

Since June 1, it was decided that citizens of the USA and Germany should receive electronic permits. This was a pilot project that lasted 30 days and was free for tourists. Since July 1, citizens of other countries were added and in this case they already have to pay for the permit. The electronic permit is issued for a period of 2 years with the possibility of a one-time stay in country for up to 3 months. Parents can submit a similar application for ETA-IL for their minor children.

Application Guide

Everyone can fill out an online application in no more than 10 minutes.

1. Download the application form.
2. Provide your personal information: nationality,purpose of staying in the country, your email address, travel information, passport details, personal information, such as citizenship of other countries, your air ticket photo or scan, health insurance, etc.
3. Pay for the application form (25 shekels).
4. Further instructions will be sent to your email. Therefore it is important to make sure that your email address is correct.
5. Wait for approval. As usual it takes 48 hours. During this time  application form is reviewed.
6.  Usually, the application form is reviewed during 48 hours. Therefore it is recommended to submit it no later than 72 hours before departure.

To submit an application a person use:

• a passport of eligible for ETA-IL country citizen;
• a bank card to pay the service charge;
• a smartphone or PC with a good Internet connection;
• personal email address;
• for request – a photo of air ticket, health insurance.

The following may also be clarified: your employment status, profession, criminal record presence/absence, health condition, plans for financing the trip.

Complications and delays

In most cases, the application will be approved. However, delays are possible. This is usually due to incorrectly entered data filling out the form, an incorrectly specified email address, or spelling errors. If a person have a criminal record or problems with immigration service, it can also expect a refusal. In this case, a person will need to contact the embassy. 

ETA-IL is an exclusively electronic document, so passport will not contain any marks with an indication of stay in Israel. And this will not affect an ability to enter other countries in any way. The permit is issued for a short-term stay in the country, for example, for the purpose of short-term tourism or treatment.