Israel has visa exemption agreements with many countries. Before going to the mission, check whether you need to obtain a visa to visit Israel (list of countries with which Israel has visa exemption agreements: https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/publications/reports/examption_visa-israeli-heb). It is important to emphasize that the exemption applies only to visas for visits and to passports (not to laissez passer).
Please note that the grant of a visa by the State of Israel to a person bearing a foreign passport (national or official), does not necessarily imply recognition of the authority or entity that issued such passport.
Please apply in person. Applications sent via mail will not be accepted.
Types of visas and the application process for obtaining them:
Immigration Visa
The Law of Return, 5710 - 1950 determines the right of every Jew to immigrate to the State of Israel. The law is an expression of the connection between the Jewish people and their homeland. Jews returning to Israel are considered people who were away - or whose ancestors were away - from Israel, and are now returning to their country. With regard to the law, "A Jew is a person born to a Jewish mother, or who is a convert to Judaism, and is not a member of another religion."
According to an arrangement between the government of Israel and the Jewish Agency, the latter handles immigration (aliya) to Israel: checking candidates, providing advice and guidance, seeing to absorption arrangements, referrals to immigrant centers, places of study, employment, etc. An aliya emissary of the Jewish Agency who recommends a person's immigration, transfers the application together with his written recommendation to an official representative of the State of Israel.
According to the law, the authority to issue the immigration visa lies solely with the diplomatic / consular representative. Therefore, this representative examines the application and the recommendation of the aliya representative. The diplomatic / consular representative may request additional details, both from the applicant and from the immigration representative. In cases of doubt, the diplomatic / consular representative may transfer the application to the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a decision.
Those interested in commencing the process of immigrating to Israel should contact the aliya representative of the Jewish Agency who is responsible for the area in which they reside. To obtain information on how to contact an aliya representative, please see the chapter on General Information.
A/1 Temporary Resident Visa
- for people eligible for immigration under the Law of Return
An A/1 Temporary Resident visa is given to a person who is eligible for immigration (aliya) and has completed the examination process with the aliya representative of the Jewish Agency, and whose application has been examined and approved by the diplomatic / consular representative at an Israeli mission.
A/2 Temporary Resident Visa
This visa is granted to those who want to study in Israel in elementary and high schools, academic institutions, yeshivot and youth institutions of the Jewish Agency. The visa is valid for up to one year and for multiple entrances and exits. Recipients of this visa are not permitted to work in Israel.
Please note: A minor will not be given a visa without the written consent of both parents or his legal guardian.
The visa is granted to students who provide the following:
- Completed and signed application for a visa to enter Israel (Download the application for Visa to enter Israel).
- Passport (must be valid beyond one year from the date of intended visit).
- Two passport pictures.
- Original letter of acceptance for study at a recognized educational institution in Israel.
- Statement from bank showing that you have the funds to support the stay in Israel while you are a student (Bank statement from the past three months).
- Roundtrip airline tickets OR payment of next school year in the states (in the case of an exchange student).
- Payment of the fee (Table of Fees).
- Bank statement of the last 3 months.
A/3 Clergy Visa
This visa is granted to clergymen for the purpose of fulfilling their clerical duties among their religious communities in Israel, pursuant to the invitation of a recognized religious institution in Israel. A clergyman who goes to Israel for a visit and requires an entry visa will receive the regular B/2 visa.
Only the Ministry of the Interior has the authority to grant an A/3 visa. The application should be submitted in Israel by the religious institution that is inviting the clergyman. The mission will only issue the visa with the prior approval of the Ministry of the Interior. The validity of the visa will be in accordance with Ministry of Interior guidelines, with the option of renewal only in Israel.
If the visa is approved by the Ministry of the Interior, the visa will be issued by the mission upon provision of the following:
A/4 Visa
- for the spouses and children of recipients of A/2 or A/3 visas
This visa is granted to the spouses and minor children of recipients of A/2 or A/3 visas. The visa will be issued under the following conditions:
- The applicant is the spouse and/or minor child of a person who received an A/2 or A/3 visa.
- An application for an A/4 visa has been filled out and signed, and attached to the visa application of the person they are accompanying (Download the application for Visa to enter Israel)
- A valid passport.
- Two passport pictures
- Payment of the fee (Table of Fees)
B/1 Work Visa
This visa is for a person whose stay in Israel is approved for a limited period of time for the purpose of work. This visa is given to experts and artists, among others, and is granted solely with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior.
The fee is paid by the applicant when the application is submitted to one of the population administration offices of the Ministry of the Interior. Upon receipt of approval from the Ministry of the Interior, the mission will issue the B/1 Work visa after interviewing the applicant and obtaining from him the following documents:
- A verified certificate of good conduct
- Certification of medical examinations performed in clinics or hospitals recognized by the mission (the certification must cover, inter alia, normal results in tests for tuberculosis, hepatitis and AIDS) and the results of blood tests.
- A declaration of the taking of fingerprints (the State of Israel has begun to take fingerprints from foreign workers who enter the country to work) and a photograph.
- A completed application for a visa (Download the application for Visa to enter Israel).
- Two passport pictures
The validity of the B/1 Work visa will be in accordance with Ministry of Interior guidelines. The worker must enter Israel within the period of time specified in the visa and stay in the country as specified in the visa. A person who receives such a visa may apply to one of the population administration offices of the Ministry of the Interior to extend the visa.
B/2 Visitor's Visa
A B/2 visa is granted to someone who wishes to stay in Israel for only a short time (for a visit, tourism, a business meeting or study in a Hebrew ulpan). A person who enters Israel on a B/2 visa is not allowed to work in the State of Israel.
A B/2 visa is valid for up to three months from the date of issue. The duration of the stay in Israel will be determined by the Border Police. A visitor who wishes to extend his visit may submit an application at one of the regional population administration offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
The visa will be issued by the mission upon provision of the following:
- A completed and signed application for a visa to enter Israel (Download the application for Visa to enter Israel).
- Itinerary including plane ticket, and hotel reservation information or address of where you will be staying
- Passport (must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of the stay in Israel) or travel document (must be valid for at least one year beyond the period of the stay in Israel)
- Two passport pictures.
- Health Insurance (a letter stating that you are fully covered for your international travel).
- Letter from Employer, stating that you are currently employed and will continue to work once you return from your trip,
- Valid re-entry visa to the United States OR original permanent resident (Green card).
- Payment of the fee (Table of Fees)
Please note:
- The consul may request additional documents.
- Since the fee is collected for handling the application, it will not be refunded to the applicant if the visa is not issued for any reason.
Official Diplomat/Government Visa
An official visa is granted
to persons who hold an official government passport and/or will be entering
Israel on an official government mission.
- In case an expedited process is requested, please submit an additional letter:
- Please address the letter to the consul.
- The letter's subject line should be: "A request to expedite"
- In the letter, please explain the reason for requesting to expedite the visa and the specific date you would like the visa to be ready.
- In case the visa is needed in less than 48 hours from the time you apply, please submit a copy of your flight itinerary.
Israel - US Investor Visas
The procedure will be implemented as of May 1, 2019, and will be mutually applied to US investors in Israel and Israeli investors in the United States.
In conjunction with the US legislation of 2012 in which the granting of investor visas to Israeli citizens investing in the US was resolved, the Government of Israel has decided, in accordance with Israeli government Resolution 1528 from 30 March 2014 and Resolution 2243 from January 2017 to permit US citizens, including vital workers on their behalf and their families, to reside and work in Israel on a temporary basis for the purpose of managing and developing a business venture.
After detailed interministerial preparation that encompassed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Population and Immigration Authority, the Ministry of Economy-the Foreign Trade Administration, the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice, the procedure for implementing government resolutions enabling US citizens to apply for an investor visa in Israel was completed. The application will be considered by an interministerial committee, which will submit its recommendations for the approval of the Minister of the Interior.
The application may be submitted to the consul in any of Israel's official diplomatic missions in the United States that hosts a commercial attaché attached to the Ministry of Economy and Industry: Washington, New York, Houston, and San Francisco.
At the same time, Israeli investors may submit an application for a US investor visa at any US embassy. (Details may be found on the US Embassy website in Israel).
The announcement represents a significant milestone for businesses and companies alike. The investor visas in both countries will ease restrictions and encourage economic activity between the two countries.
As agreed with the United States, the procedure will be implemented as of Wednesday, May 1 2019, and will be mutually applied to US investors in Israel and Israeli investors in the United States.
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Visas for Participants in Birthright and Masa
For participants in Israeli national projects like Taglit-Birthright Israel or MASA, or in other projects initiated and organized by the Jewish Agency, a visa will be issued according to the project's purpose and duration.
- B/2 visitor visa, for three months, will be issued for participants in project lasting less than three months.
- A/2 student visa, multiple entries, for the duration of the project and up to one year, will be issued for participants for projects lasting more than three months.
The above mentioned participants are exempted from paying a visa fee.
Terms regarding information on this website
Please note:Information contained in this website is general and does not supersede the provisions of the laws of the State of Israel.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reserves the right to modify the procedures from time to time.
- In any case of a discrepancy, the provisions of Israeli law and/or local law and/or procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs take precedence over the information appearing in this website.
The Minister of the Interior of the State of Israel is in charge of implementing the laws of the State which specify the conditions for entering Israel (the Law of Return, 5710 - 1950, and the Entry into Israel Law, 5712 - 1952). The power to implement these laws abroad was delegated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Official Announcements Gazette 255 of October 16, 1952) and to Israel's representatives abroad (Official Announcements Gazette 2465 of October 7, 1978).