Israel Visa

Israel offers a rich variety of religious and historical sites as well as modern night clubs and beach resorts. This makes the Holy land one of the most visited countries in the world. In 2007 alone, more than 2.5 million tourists visited David’s land. If you want to be one of the millions expected to fly to Israel anytime soon, one thing that you should be taking care of as early as now is your visa.

Who needs a visa?

Everyone who wishes to enter Israel needs a passport that is valid at least six months from the date of arrival. Everyone who travels to Israel as a tourist must have a round-trip ticket with him or her. The question is, how about visas? Is everyone required to obtain a visa to travel to Israel? The answer is “no.”

Here is the list of countries whose citizens do not have to obtain a visa before traveling to Israel provided they are traveling only as a tourist and has no intention of staying there longer than three months:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada (For more information regarding canada, read The Guide to canada), Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea South, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St Kitts & Nevis Surinam, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu.

Types Available and Requirements

There is only one way to request for an Israeli visa — personally. You can’t send your request by mail or over the phone. First, prepare all the necessary documents, according to the type of visa that you need. There are three types of visas that the consular section issues.

Tourist visa. If you plan to go sightseeing, check out museums and religious sites, or visit your friends or relatives, what you need is a tourist visa. This is the type that suits those who wish to stay in Israel for a short period of time. Here are the requirements:

• a completed and signed application form
• two 2” x 2” current passport-size pictures (facing forward)
• round-trip airline ticket
• passport (valid at least six months from intended visit date)
• letter from employer
• address of your host or reservation details of the hotel you will be staying in
• health insurance

Those under the age of 18 traveling alone or with only one parent must carry a notarized letter from both parents stating that they permit him or her to travel. You have to submit the original copy and a photocopy of the documents above. You also need to pay a sum of US$ 27 (administrative processing fee and mailing charges).

Student Visa

If you’re going to Israel to study, you need a valid student visa. Note that the Consular Section only issues student visas valid for one year. Should you need to extend your visa or go back to Israel to study for a second time, you will have to do it once you are there. Here are the required documents you need to prepare:

• a completed and signed application form
• two 2” x 2” current passport-size pictures (facing forward)
• round-trip airline ticket
• passport (valid at least six months from intended visit date)
• original letter of admission from yeshiva, university or educational institution
• address of your host or reservation details of the hotel you will be staying in
• health insurance

The original copy and a photocopy of these documents must be submitted. Again, minors need a notarized permission letter from both parents. You also need to pay US$25.

Official Visa

This visa is granted to national government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. If you are one of them, here are the documents you need to produce to obtain an official visa.

• a completed and signed application form
• two 2” x 2” current passport-size pictures (facing forward)
• valid diplomatic or official passport

The processing time for any type of visa is two weeks. Fees are to be made in money order or cash only. Personal checks are not accepted.

Additional Information

For a nominal fee, you may extend your stay at any office of the Ministry of Interior in the locations listed below:

Afula, Akko (Acre), Ashqelon, Be’er Sheva, Elat, Hadera, Haifa, Herzelia, Holon, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Netanya, Petah Tiqva, Ramat Gan, Ramla, Rehovot, Safed, Tel Aviv, Tiberias.

If you wish to work, you must first find a job and ask your employer to apply for a work visa for you. Traveling in these harsh times need some desperate measure, time to learn how to travel cheaply.