On December 27, 2021, the Government of Israel announced the ban on foreign nationals entering the country until further notice. The Exceptions Committee must approve any exemptions. More information is available here.
The red list has been reduced to Canada, Ethiopia, France, Hungary, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The 69 other countries were downgraded from red to orange.
What to Expect
- Entry permits issued before November 28, 2021, are canceled. A new request must be filed.
- The processing time for applications submitted to the Population Administration offices is seven days.
- People who have recovered from COVID-19 and have performed a PCR test with a positive result for COVID-19 no less than 11 days and up to 3 months before the flight, will be eligible to get a permit to board the plane upon presentation of the test certificate with the positive result and without the need for an exceptions committee.
- All foreign citizens entering Israel are required to quarantine and test in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
- Travelers from orange countries, vaccinated or recovering individuals, are required to isolate for 3 days subject to negative tests on days 1 and 3.
- Unvaccinated travelers are required to quarantine for 14 days that can be shortened to 7 days with tests.
- A foreign citizen who leaves the country before the conclusion of quarantine without a special permit, violates the isolation requirements, or refuses to go to an isolation facility, violates the Israeli law and will be denied entry to Israel for a period of 5 years.
- Israeli citizens and residents who want to leave Israel to travel to a red list country must file a request to the Exceptions Committee.
Exceptions
- In some exceptional cases, international travelers not from a red list country may be approved to enter Israel. Applicants must meet the vaccination/recovery requirements from the Ministry of Health.
- Foreign residents from red countries who meet the vaccination requirements and hold a temporary residence visa, whose center of life is in Israel and have a connection with an Israeli citizen (spouse, child), or who have a first- or second-degree relation to someone with a lifecycle event (birth, religious ceremony, wedding), or to complete the immigration process may be approved to enter Israel.
Erickson Insights
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.