Entry Rules for Israel
Visa-free travel, sun, sea, falafel, and direct flights without long layovers in Istanbul: in this article, we tell you how to fly to Israel from Russia now.
How to get to Israel
You can get to Israel directly , St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, and other major cities. Airlines that fly include: Aeroflot, S7, UTair, Ural Airlines, but the list is far from exhaustive.
A direct ticket to Tel Aviv will cost approximately 60–70 thousand rubles. If the flight to Israel has layovers (for example, in Istanbul or Minvody), you can buy tickets on Kupi.com twice as cheap. Inexpensive Moscow — Tel Aviv flights are always available on the Kupi.com website.
Is a visa required
If you are traveling for less than 90 days for tourism or medical purposes. Russians who come to Israel and do not plan to stay in the country for more than 90 days do not need a visa.
If you are traveling for a longer period. Is a visa to Israel required if you plan to work or study in this country? Yes. The following visa types are provided for this:
A1 — visa for future repatriates who plan to obtain citizenship.
A2 — student visa. Valid for one year.
A3 — intended for clergy.
A4 — issued to spouses and children of A2 and A3 visa holders.
B1 — work visa for those coming to Israel to work. Issued only with the permission of the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Information on the documents required for non-tourist visas can be found on the website of the Embassy of Israel in the Russian Federation.
If you need a non-tourist visa (you are going to study or are applying for a residence permit), you will have to contact the consulate: regular visa centers do not issue Israeli visas. To get to the consulate, register on the website and arrive at the appointed time with all the necessary documents.
Embassy of Israel in Moscow
119017, Bolshaya Ordynka Street, 56.
Phone: 8 (495) 660-27-00
Consulate General of Israel in St. Petersburg
191024, Khersonskaya Street, 12-14.
Phone: 8 (812) 406-05-00
Documents for entry
For tourist entry, a visa is not required. However, you will need the following documents:
• a foreign passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in the country;
• hotel accommodation confirmation or an invitation from relatives, written in free form in Hebrew or English;
• medical insurance (at least 30 thousand euros);
• round-trip tickets.
Russian bank cards are not accepted in Israel. However, you can book a hotel or apartment that does not require prepayment. Then you can pay for accommodation in cash on the spot, and you will have a booking voucher to present to border control officers. This is an important point: according to the current entry rules for Russians in Israel, you will need to show documents confirming that you have a place to stay.
How to pay in Israel
In Israel, payments are made in the local currency — the Shekel (ILS). 1 Shekel is approximately 19 or 20 rubles, depending on the exchange rate. But overall, Israel is quite comfortable in this regard: in many hotels and restaurants, you can pay with dollars and euros. However, if you pay in cash, change might be given in Shekels.
Where to exchange money. You can exchange dollars, euros, or rubles for shekels at any exchange office. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, they are found at every step. It is most convenient to exchange money either at exchange points, or at post offices or banks. It is not advisable to do this at exchange offices located at the airport: they have the least favorable exchange rate.
Medical insurance
According to rules introduced on March 8, 2022, tourists must obtain medical insurance that covers treatment for coronavirus. The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of stay in the country. Theoretically, it is not mandatory, but border guards may deny entry if you do not have a policy. Since the entry rules for Israel are very strict, it is better to secure insurance in advance.
Insurance requirements:
• includes ambulance call, hospital and home treatment;
• covers patient transportation for medical reasons;
• covers at least 30 thousand dollars.
If you fall ill, you will need to pay for medical expenses, and upon your return, the insurance company will pay compensation. If you want the insurance company to pay expenses directly on the spot, purchase a policy from an Israeli company. This can be done online if you have a foreign card. The most popular insurance company is "Harel". The insurance policy will be valid from the moment you board the plane.
Important: given that medical treatment in Israel is quite expensive, it is better to buy an insurance policy for 50 or 100 thousand euros. Such a policy will cover complex surgical interventions, medications, casts, crutches, and other rehabilitation aids. If you are planning an active holiday with a risk of injury, be sure to consider increasing the insurance amount.
SIM cards and communication in Israel
Mobile communication. The three most popular operators are Cellcom, Pelephone, and Partner. Various tariffs are available. You can buy a SIM card in supermarkets, at gas stations, and in specialized stores. The card can be registered anonymously, without a passport, which is allowed.
Internet and Wi-Fi. In Israel, there are many free Wi-Fi hotspots: beaches, cafes, train stations, shopping centers. So you can save money if you have a small data package.
How long can you stay in Israel
If you enter without a visa, you can spend 90 days out of 180 in the country. This means you are allowed to spend about three months in Israel every six months. If you plan to stay longer, you will need to obtain one of the visa types we listed above. For example, if you are going to study in Israel and have an invitation from an educational institution, you will be granted an A2 student visa, which is valid for one year.
Where you can travel in Israel to make your trip rich and interesting, we wrote in a Kupi.com article. Inside — passwords and locations for all the party spots in Haifa and Tel Aviv and impressions of Israeli rolls with pickled pumpkin.
Rules for traveling to Israel with children
Since Russians traveling for tourism purposes do not need a visa, a special set of documents for a child is not required. Everything is standard: for entry to Israel with a child, take the accompanying parent's passport, the child's foreign passport, and the original birth certificate.
As a rule, permission from the second spouse for travel abroad is not required. The only obstacle is the official disagreement of the other parent to their children leaving the Russian Federation, registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
COVID restrictions
According to Israel's entry rules, you no longer need to present certificates stating that you have recovered from COVID-19 or have been vaccinated. A PCR test before entry is also not required. The mandatory condition is as follows: when purchasing medical insurance, ensure it covers treatment for a possible coronavirus infection.
If you have confirmed COVID-19 and have not recovered, boarding a flight to Israel is prohibited.
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