Visas
All visitors to Israel must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months ahead. Visa-free or regular tourist-visa visitors are usually allowed to stay in Israel for up to 90 days.
Visa requirements
Visa requirements for Israel are detailed on the website of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism [2] which is the basis of the following information. Updates are constantly collected from Israeli official publications in Hebrew. All information refers to regular passports in usual circumstances.
Exceptional cases
Palestinian Territories - Permanent residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip must enter Israel with a valid internal ID card, issued by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, and an entry permit, issued by Israel upon a PA request. If you do not have a permanent entry permit to Israel, please contact the relevant nearby office of the Palestinian Authority or a PA local delegate. It is also advisable to contact the conference organizers so they could follow the process and extend help in case of problems. Notes - (1) A Palestinian passport cannot be used in lieu of the ID card. You must bear the internal card written in Arabic and Hebrew, which shows the internal ID number. (2) Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are treated as Israeli citizens for this matter, namely, no permits are needed. (3) Palestinians who live outside the Palestinian Territories and do not have a permanent address in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, are treated as citizens of the country that issued their passport or laissez-passer.
Kosovo – Israel did not extend recognition following the declaration of independence, however Kosovan passports are listed in the Israeli MFA's website among accepted travel documents. Whereas Serbia has recently been added to the list of visa-exempted countries, holders of Kosovan passports are probably not included in this exemption. Please contact the closest Israeli consulate for further details. Updates will be published when available.
Visa-free access
Citizens of the following countries have visa-free access to Israel:
Africa
Asia
North America & the Caribbean
Bahamas
Barbados
Canada
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
St. Kitts & Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Central & South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Guatemala
Honduras
Suriname
Uruguay
Europe
- All member states of the European Union[1]
Albania
Andorra
Croatia
Gibraltar
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Macedonia (F.Y.R.)
Monaco
Montenegro
Norway
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Switzerland
Ukraine – Since 9 February 2011[2]
Oceania
Visa required
Citizens of the following countries are required to get a visa in one of Israel's consulates around the world. Visa issuing costs US$ 21 / € 15 / ₪ 80
Africa
Algeria[3]
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Chad
Comoros
Rep. of Congo
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Côte d'Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Libya[3]
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia[3]
Sudan[3]
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Afghanistan[3]
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh[3]
Bhutan
Burma (Myanmar)
Brunei
Cambodia
China (People's Rep. of)
Rep. of China (Taiwan)
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Iran[3]
Iraq[3]
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Korea, North[3]
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon[3]
Malaysia[4]
Maldives
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan[3]
Syria[3]
Tajikistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia[3]
Seychelles
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
United Arab Emirates
Yemen[3]
Caribbeans
South America
Europe
Oceania
Visas for Middle Eastern Countries (other than Egypt and Jordan)
The greatest difficulties are presented by visitors from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan.
There are some other countries that technically do not allow their citizens to visit Israel, but don't mind much if they do, as long as they keep low profile while in Israel (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Gulf states). International conferences are held in Israel quite often, occasionally with attendees from the aforementioned countries.
In all cases the organizing teams did their best to extend help, and this time won't be an exception.
A request for a visa may be filed through someone in Israel, in a third nearby country (for example - in Thailand or Hong Kong), or by mail through another country (through the US for example). Once the visa is obtained, entrance and exit from Israel is allowed. It should take about three weeks to process the visa application and costs about $21. As mentioned passports are not stamped in order to avoid causing problems to the guest when he gets back home.
We believe that given enough time in advance, we can assist in arranging visas for most if not all major participants who wish to attend the conference, and suggest that registration begin six months in advance.
Reference
- ↑ German citizens born on or before 31 December 1927 need to apply for a visa in advance.
- ↑ Official announcement of the change to the law: [1].
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Visa arrangements should start long time in advance. Organizers will provide assistance if required.
- ↑ Restrictions on visiting Israel incorporated in the local Malaysian law are irrelevant to the process of visa application. If visa is granted by the Israeli authorities, visiting Israel is possible, though might be considered a violation of the Malaysian local law.