General Information

General Information

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    All travelers planning to travel to Israel in the near future​ are asked to follow the general website regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which is continually updated by the Israel Ministry of Health. 

    The ​link to the site can be found here. (https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus/)

      

    Israeli citizens/residents returning to Israel from
    "red" designated countries, must enter a home (residential only) quarantine for 14 days that shall begin upon arrival in Israel. If you are an Israeli citizen without an option for a home quarantine, special accommodations will be provided for you upon arrival (this option is not applicable to foreign nationals with permits). 

     

    Foreign nationals traveling to Israel - Please refer to this page​ for your options. If you do not meet any of the criteria mentioned, then travel will not be permitted at this time

    The declaration must be submitted to the Embassy of Israel or to the nearest Israeli Consulate.

     

    Tourist visas will only be issued under special circumstances.

     

    After arrival to Israel – if symptoms of COVID-19 appear, you must contact MADA (Magen David Adom) at the telephone number 101 for further medical examination.

     

    Additional information can be found on the Ministry of Health website:

    https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus/

     

    YOU SHOULD MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS SITE DAILY

    Contact us:

    By E-mail: consulardep@sf.mfa.gov.il


    Phone number:

    415-844-7500/10/11


     Please refer to this page for last minute changes on the day you intend to come!

    זימון תורים

    MAKE AN APPOINTMENT​

    • מיועד לשירותים שונים עבור אזרחים ישראלים בלבד ולשירות נוטריוני עבור ישראלים וזרים. בקשות ויזה לזרים יש להגיש באמצעות הדואר

    https://consularappointment.mfa.gov.il/schedulingsite/?unitId=1009&language=he-IL

     

    • To reserve an appointment at the consulate (For Israeli citizens and / or notary services for foreign nationals and Israeli citizens . Visa applications must be mailed in):

    https://consularappointment.mfa.gov.il/schedulingsite/?unitId=1009&language=en-US

     

    General Consular Hours:

    Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 1 PM  (By Appointment only)

    NOTARY SERVICES ARE LIMITED TO:

    Tuesday thru Thursday: 10 AM - 12 PM (By appointment only)


    PHONE HOURS: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Please note we can't always answer all calls in real time . Please send us an e-mail as a preferred method of contact).

    FOR CONSULAR FORMS PLEASE CLICK HERE
    *
    FOR LIST OF HOLIDAY CLOSURES CLICK HERE
    *
    FOR A LIST OF TRANSLATION SERVICES CLICK HERE
    *
    FOR A LIST OF LOCAL HOSPITALS IN THE AREA CLICK HERE
    *
    FOR A MOBILE PHONE APPLICATION WITH HANDY TOURIST INFORMATION,
    TRY מידע למטייל (TOURIST INFORMATION)





     


    The Israeli Consulate in San Francisco does not accept foreign nationals applying for a B/2 (Business / Visitor) or A/2 (student) Visas in person. Applications of this type will be accepted only by mail. Please send all required printed material, including your physical passport and pictures, as its instructed on the website, using a courier which provides a tracking number for your package. The issued visa will be provided to you based on the timetable shown on the website. The count will start from the day of receipt of your package based on its tracking number. If you have chosen to receive your passport back by FedEx return shipment, you will receive a notice to the E-mail address provided.

     

    We strongly encourage Israeli citizens to mail in their passports for renewal. Attendance is not required for adults over the age of 18. Applications sent over by mail may be handled faster due to a shortened processing route! 

      Please refrain from calling the consulate  and try to contact us by e-mail. All e-mail inquiries will be answered within 3 business days:
      
    PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT TURNAROUND INFORMATION:
     
    * Passport issuance will take upwards of 2 weeks. If you can't allow 2 weeks prior to your flight, please use a foreign passport (If available) to enter Israel and issue your Israeli passport there. 
    ** Visa issuance takes upwards of 2 weeks
    *** Expedited Service for passports and visas will only be provided in emergency medical / humanitarian situations. 
    **** Notary services documents will be returned within 5 business days.

    Please refrain from coming in / sending in your applications if you cannot allow enough time in advance for the required turnaround!
      
     
    If you plan to visit or mail the consulate, please click here to review relevant procedures. Visitors and packages that are not in compliance may be denied entry.
     

    Jurisdiction

    The Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest region serves the states of Alaska, California (North Districts 1-21), Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
    South California residents (Zip code​ 93XXX and Below) should address the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles. PLEASE NOTE: Mail service outside of the consulate's jurisdiction may incur additional fees!
     

    Address of the Mission

    Material that is mailed to the Consular Department at the Mission must be only sent to and collected from the following address:
     
    Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest
    Consular Department
    456 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100
    San Francisco, CA 94104
     

     

    Please regard the following security procedures:

    ·         Please present a government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license to the building security at the lobby.

    *     Inform building security with the purpose of your visit.

    *        Security may reject a visitor if the purpose of the visit is not in accordance to the consular services protocol or in case of insufficient information or materials.

    ·         Electronic equipment other than mobile phones is NOT ALLOWED into the consulate floor including laptops, tablets, E-readers (Kindle, etc.), and audio & video recorders. Visitors with personal electronic items larger than a mobile phone may be denied entry to the consulate floor by the building's lobby security.

    ·         Very large handbags, backpacks, or suitcases are not permitted.

    ·         The building and the consulate does not have storage solutions for your rejected items. Please be sure to plan your visit ahead accordingly.

    ·         Weapons, including those designed for self-defense, are strictly forbidden (pepper spray, TASER, Swiss army knife, gun, etc.)

    ·         Food, beverage bottles or containers are not allowed in the consular services area.  

    ·         Once you arrive at the 21st floor, please take a seat. There is no need to press the call button. A consular representative will be with you shortly.

    ·         For general questions, please send an e-mail or call the consular department. We do answer inquires about consular services at the building lobby.

     

    ·         The Consulate and the building security directives apply to ALL visitors. 


     

    Consular Department:

     
    When sending an email, please provide full name, Israeli ID number (all 9 digits) or passport number, and callback number. If inquiring about a package sent to the consulate, also provide a tracking number for the package, so that we could locate it faster! Our E-mail address is: consulardep@sf.mfa.gov.il 

     Emergency numbers:

    Consulate emergency line: 415-8447500, extension 1 then 9

    In Israel: +972-2-5303155
     
    PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT EMERGENCY LINE IN CASE OF PASSPORT LOSS OR THEFT. THIS IS UNFORTUATENLY A COMMON OCCURANCE AND IS NOT CONSIDERED AN EMEREGENCY. IN SUCH CASES, MAKE AN APPOITMENT AND ARRIVE AT THE CONSULATE. . Please read instructions of how to obtain a new passport after loss/theft (REFER TO SECTION 4).

     
    *The office will be closed on legal Israeli and U.S. Federal holidays.

    For 2020 List of Holidays - Click here!  Consular Services will NOT be available during holidays.

       

    Permit for Transfer of Bodies for Burial in Israel
    The Israeli consulate can assist those who wish to bring a deceased relative to Israel for burial. For further information please contact the consular department.
    A permit is not required for transfer of ashes.
     

    For all inquiries regarding Aliyah issues

    Contact the Global Service Center: 866-835-0430.
     

    For specific inquiries regarding Aliyah

    Contact Ellen Deker - Regional Director to the Pacific Northwest, Jewish Agency for Israel:

      

    Some of the services offered by the consulate can be requested via mail, without the need to arrive at the Consulate. When doing so, here are a few things to keep in mind:

    1. The sender is responsible for material mailed to the Mission.

    2.  We recommend sending requests via registered or express mail services, such as FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.

    If you have sent a document to the consulate, please do NOT contact us to confirm that it has arrived. Please check your UPS, FedEx, or USPS tracking number instead.
    3.  Applications must be fully completed and signed. Be advised, certain services processed via mail require the requestor to sign and/or be identified in front of a notary and certified with an official Apostille seal.
    4.  Make sure the following information about the requestor is attached to every request: Full name, Israeli ID and/or passport number, and updated contact information (Telephone and street address within the US) for return mail. Be advised that the Consulate does not send mail to P.O Boxes.
    5. Payment may be in the form of a money order, cash or credit card. Please note that the Consulate cannot accept personal checks or other forms of payment. To view the table of fees for consular serviced click here​

    6. Return mail payment: requests sent to be processed via mail are returned to the requestor via FedEx at the expense of the requestor. Please click here for table fees.
    7. It is important to stress that there are cases in which you are required to visit the Mission in person. For more detailed information, see the section on Consular Services.

     

    Laws of Consular Work

    The Main Laws of the State of Israel on which Consular Work Abroad is Based, are as Follows:

    • The Law of Return, 5710, 1950, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Entry into Israel Law, 5712, 1952, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Law of Citizenship, 5712, 1952, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Passports Law, 5712, 1952, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Names Law, 5716, 1956, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Population Registration Law, 5725, 1965, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Notaries Law, 5736, 1976, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Defense Service Law (Consolidated Version), 5747, 1986, and the authority to implement it abroad, with all the amendments thereto over the years.
    • The Crime Register and Rehabilitation of Offenders Law, 5741, 1981, with all the amendments thereto over the years.