Travelers wait in line for passports inspection in Ben Gurion Airport, Israel Aug 11 2007. Photo by Natri Shohat/Flash90
Despite the ongoing drought of tourists since the Gaza War began in October 2023, Israeli authorities added another hurdle for people hoping to visit the Holy Land.
Starting today, visitors will have to apply for an electronic travel permit, called ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization), on the website of Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority (PIA).
The permit will cost NIS 25 (around $7) per person, with each planning a visit required to apply separately. This measure is meant to improve security by screening prospective travelers even before they board a plane for Israel.
Application for such a permit is not particular to Israel but, rather, follows the example of similar processes for travel to the United States (which requires an ESTA), as well as measures planned by the European Union.
Until now, travelers from countries that don’t require a full visa to visit Israel received a tourist visa upon their arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport, which granted them the right to stay for up to 90 days.
According to the PIA, visitors from visa-exempt countries must now apply for ETA-IL before their visit, granting a similar period of stay in Israel for the purpose of tourism, business or “non-work and non-medical purposes.”
The ETA-IL will stay valid for up to ✌ years, “or until your current passport expires – whichever comes first,” the PIA states on its website.
Israeli citizens or holders of an Israeli identity number, most of them being permanent residents but not citizens, will not need to apply for an ETA-IL.
Because the application process can take up to 72 hours, it is recommended to apply several days before the flight.
Despite claiming that the measure is also meant to facilitate a smoother process of entering the country, the PIA writes that the ETA-IL “only allows you to reach the border-crossing into Israel, but does not grant you permission to enter… When you arrive at the border-crossing, you will be checked by a border control officer, who may determine that you are not authorized to enter Israel.”
Amid the near-total absence of tourists over the past year and tacit hopes for a resurgence in 2025, the introduction of another hurdle for travel to Israel has drawn some criticism.
The new measure adds a burden on travel agents and airlines, forcing them to update their information to include the new requirement. Airlines also have the legal obligation to check whether travelers have the ETA-IL before boarding the plane.
“We don’t think it’s wise to introduce any bureaucratic burden in our war situation when coming to Israel is not something that people are considering easily,” Israel Inbound Tour Operators Association Director General Yossi Fatael told The Times of Israel.
“Right now, we need to be as open as we can for those who are interested in visiting Israel,” he said, adding that the security measure is understandable but shouldn’t be introduced at this time.
“We are dealing especially with organized tours and pilgrims, and sometimes there are old people among them who are not familiar with going into the internet and filling out a form and some don’t even have a credit card,” Fatael argued.
“Israel needs the incoming tourism not only from the economic point of view but also these people will be the ones that will speak differently about us when they return home to improve our reputation.”
