Israel Visa

Israel — Visa Overview

About Israel

Israel is one of the world's most historically significant · culturally extraordinary · and spiritually profound travel destinations — a small country at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea that stands at the geographical and historical crossroads of three of the world's great monotheistic religions — Judaism · Christianity · and Islam — and contains some of the most important religious · archaeological · and historical sites on earth. A country of astonishing contrasts — ancient and modern · desert and sea · sacred and secular — Israel rewards every traveller with a depth · intensity · and richness of experience that is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the world.

Jerusalem — one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and the spiritual capital of three world religions — is arguably the most sacred · historically layered · and emotionally powerful city on earth. The Old City of Jerusalem — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — contains within its ancient walls the Western Wall · the holiest accessible site in Judaism and a place of profound prayer and reflection where millions of pilgrims leave written prayers in the cracks of the ancient stones — the Church of the Holy Sepulchre · built over the site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and a destination of pilgrimage for Christians from every denomination and every corner of the world — and the Temple Mount with the magnificent golden Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque · Islam's third holiest site. The Via Dolorosa — the route Jesus walked carrying the cross through the narrow stone-paved lanes of the Muslim Quarter — the Armenian Quarter · and the extraordinary bazaars and markets of the Old City complete a city of overwhelming religious and historical depth. Tel Aviv — Israel's dynamic · cosmopolitan · and sun-drenched coastal city and the undisputed economic and cultural capital of modern Israel — offers a completely different experience — world-class restaurants · a legendary beach promenade along the Mediterranean · a buzzing arts · culture · and technology scene that has made it one of the world's leading innovation centres · and extraordinary Bauhaus architecture in the White City — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Sea of Galilee — where Jesus is said to have walked on water and preached the Sermon on the Mount — the extraordinary ruins of Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast · Nazareth — the childhood home of Jesus — Bethlehem · Masada — the dramatic mountaintop fortress where Jewish defenders made their last stand against the Romans in 73 AD — and the extraordinary Dead Sea — the lowest point on the surface of the earth at 430 metres below sea level · where the extraordinarily high salt content allows every visitor to float effortlessly on its surface — complete a travel experience of truly exceptional historical and spiritual depth. The Negev Desert · the Galilee highlands · the lush valleys of the north · and the ancient port city of Akko — another UNESCO World Heritage Site — add extraordinary natural and historical diversity. Israel is a destination of unique depth · beauty · and spiritual power — a country where the weight of history is felt at every step and where the warmth and energy of its people leaves a lasting and indelible impression on every visitor.

What is the Israel ETA-IL?

Effective 1 January 2025 · the State of Israel — through the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) — requires all travellers from visa-exempt countries to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before their departure for Israel. The ETA-IL is a fully digital pre-travel authorisation — applied for entirely online through the official Israel entry portal — israel-entry.piba.gov.il — and delivered electronically to the applicant's registered email address upon approval.

Important — UAE Nationals and Abraham Accords:
Following the Abraham Accords normalisation agreement between Israel and the UAE · UAE nationals holding a valid Emirati passport may enter Israel visa-free for up to 90 days. Effective 1 January 2025 · UAE nationals must obtain the ETA-IL pre-travel authorisation before departure — applied online through the official portal — israel-entry.piba.gov.il — at a fee of ILS 25 (~USD 7). The ETA-IL is valid for 2 years or until passport expiry — whichever is earlier.

Important — KSA Nationals:
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have full diplomatic relations as of July 2026. Entry to Israel for Saudi nationals is subject to individual circumstances and conditions — Rayna Tours will advise on the applicable route at the time of enquiry based on the most current official information.

Important — Indian Nationals — eVisa-B2:
Indian passport holders residing in India can now apply for an eVisa-B2 directly via the official website: israel-entry.piba.gov.il — confirmed from the official Embassy of Israel in India · launched 2025. The eVisa-B2 is a digital tourist visa for Indian nationals — applied entirely online — no embassy visit required. Previously · Indian nationals were required to apply for a standard sticker visa through the Israeli Embassy or Consulate in person. Embassies

Three Entry Routes — Israel

Route 1 — ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization — Visa-Exempt Nationalities):
Effective 1 January 2025 — all nationals of visa-exempt countries must obtain the ETA-IL before departure for Israel.

• Applied online through israel-entry.piba.gov.il
• Fee: ILS 25 (~USD 7 · ~AED 26)
• Valid for 2 years or until passport expiry — whichever is earlier
• Stay of up to 90 days Embassies
• Processing: within 72 hours — confirmed from official Embassy of Israel Mumbai Embassies
• UAE nationals: eligible for ETA-IL — confirmed from official embassies.gov.il/dubai

Route 2 — eVisa-B2 (Indian Nationals & Sri Lanka):

• Indian passport holders residing in India can apply for an eVisa-B2 directly via the official website: israel-entry.piba.gov.il Embassies
• Applied entirely online — no embassy visit required
• Tourist/business visits — up to 90 days

Route 3 — Sticker Visa (Embassy — For All Other Nationalities):
Nationalities not eligible for the ETA-IL or eVisa-B2 must apply for a standard sticker visa through the nearest Israeli Embassy or Consulate in person.

Do You Need an Israel Visa? — UAE, India & KSA

UAE Nationals — ETA-IL Required:
UAE nationals may enter Israel visa-free — but must obtain the ETA-IL before departure — applied online through israel-entry.piba.gov.il — fee ILS 25 (~AED 26).

UAE Residents of Other Nationalities:
Determined by passport held. Rayna Tours will confirm the correct entry route based on the specific passport nationality at the time of enquiry.

KSA Nationals:
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have full diplomatic relations as of July 2026. Rayna Tours will advise on the applicable route based on the most current official information at the time of enquiry.

Indian Nationals — eVisa-B2:
Indian passport holders residing in India can apply for an eVisa-B2 directly via the official website: israel-entry.piba.gov.il — no embassy visit required. Embassies

Entry Summary — Rayna's Three Markets

Permitted Activities

• Tourism · sightseeing · religious pilgrimage · leisure travel · and cultural visits
• Visiting family or friends
• Business meetings · conferences · and trade activities — short term

Not Permitted:

• Paid employment — a separate Israeli work permit required
• Any activity inconsistent with the declared purpose of visit

Important Entry Requirements

• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Israel
• ETA-IL or eVisa-B2 approval must be obtained before departure — confirmed from official israel-entry.piba.gov.il
• Return or onward travel ticket — may be requested at Israeli border control
• Proof of accommodation — may be requested at Israeli border control
• Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay
• Proof of insurance covering the entire period of stay in Israel — recommended Embassies

Processing Time

• ETA-IL: within 72 hours of submitting — confirmed from official Embassy of Israel Mumbai Embassies
• eVisa-B2 (Indian nationals): apply online — processing times as advised by the official portal
• Sticker Visa (embassy): 5 to 10 working days — subject to Embassy workload

General Disclaimer
All visa and entry decisions rest solely with the Israel Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) and Israeli immigration officials at the port of entry. Rayna Tours acts as a professional visa assistance provider only. Possession of an approved ETA-IL or eVisa does not guarantee entry — final entry is at the sole discretion of Israeli immigration officials.