After the signing in 2021 of a bilateral agreement on the abolition of visas between the Republic of Belarus and Israel, border crossing for citizens of both countries became possible with only one national passport. Neither permissive documents, nor a visa to Israel for Belarusians in 2021 will also be needed if the period of stay does not exceed 90 days. Those Belarusians who travel for the purpose of employment, study or immigration for permanent residence will have to obtain an Israeli visa.
Types of permits to enter Israel
Those wishing to enter Israel can apply for one of the following types of visa:
- for accommodation - group A, resident visas;
- for temporary stay - group B, entry.
In the first case, they receive the following visas:
- А-1 - temporary resident;
- A-2 - student;
- A-3 - clergy;
- A-4 - spouses and children of the person who is eligible for a group A visa of another type;
- A-5 - for other cases.
The second group of visas is divided into:
- B-1 - for foreign workers;
- B-2 - guest or tourist;
- B-3 - for other cases;
- B-4 - for volunteers.
For children under 18 years of age, a special visa to Israel is not needed, it is enough to have a birth certificate and a notarized consent to take the child out (if the minor travels with one of the parents or with third persons).
Visa-free visits to Israel for Belarusians
According to the agreement concluded between the countries, Israel is a free access zone for Belarusians: Belarusians are exempt from the need to obtain a visa to enter the territory of Israel if:
- the stay will not exceed 90 days from the moment of the first entry within six months.
- the purpose of the visit will be recreation, tourism, medical treatment, visiting relatives or friends, a business trip.
The agreement also unambiguously answers the question of whether citizens of Belarus need a visa to Israel if they are going to carry out any activity that generates income, or stay in the country for more than 3 months. Yes, in these cases, citizens of the Republic of Belarus (RB) are required to obtain visas in advance.
Despite the fact that in fact, to enter Israel, Belarusians only need a passport, it is still advisable to have other documents with you:
- return ticket;
- confirmation of solvency (cash, bank card statement or others);
- housing reservation document;
- insurance.
If you want to visit friends, relatives, a medical institution, you will need certificates confirming your intentions - an invitation or a letter.
Thus, despite the visa-free travel, a trip to Israel will require some preparations.
Registration of an Israeli visa for work
Citizens of the Republic of Belarus traveling to Israel to earn money must apply for a B-1 visa. An Israeli employer sponsors a foreign worker and prepares a work permit for him, which is provided to the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs along with other documents. Below we will analyze in detail how to get a work visa to Israel for Belarusians.
Where to go
To apply for a visa to Israel, Belarusians can contact the Israeli embassy in Minsk:
- the address of the embassy - ave. Partisansky, 6A;
- working hours 10: 00-13: 00;
- work schedule - weekdays, by appointment only;
- phones: (017) 3302510, (017) 3302515;
- email: [email protected];
- link to the website of the Israeli Embassy in Belarus.
You should not be afraid of queues: due to the introduced visa-free regime, there are practically no people at the embassy.
Preparation of documents
For tourists who travel to Israel without a visa, it is important to take into account that medical care without a policy will be paid. It turns out that insurance for Belarusians to Israel is not required, but it is highly desirable also because it will significantly increase the chances of passing border control without problems.
The amount of insurance coverage of $ 30,000 will be sufficient: this is enough to help in the event of a sudden illness, injury, the need to transport the patient back to his homeland, or posthumous repatriation.
For those interested in what documents are needed to travel to Israel from Belarus for work, the embassy provides a specific list:
- A completed application form;
- photo 5 cm by 5 cm;
- apostilled certificate of no criminal record;
- medical certificate indicating the results of a general examination, samples for tuberculosis, hepatitis, AIDS, blood tests (also with apostille);
- international passport.
Permission from the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs is required to issue a B-1 work visa.
Validity periods of visas and the time of their issuance
Documents submitted to the Israeli Embassy in Belarus are usually reviewed within 2-3 working days. An exception is made in special cases requiring a request to the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs, the period for consideration of papers then may last up to 7 working days.
The cost of consular services for a work visa at the end of 2021 is 50 USD, as indicated on the embassy's website. The applicant pays the fee at the time of filing an application with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Participants of Israeli national projects (Taglit-Birthright Israel, MASA or others initiated and organized by the Jewish Agency) are issued a visa in accordance with the purpose of the project and its duration. A visa is not required to participate in projects lasting less than three months (TAGLIT). Participants in such programs are exempt from paying the consular fee.
Each type of permit has a specific period of validity. Thus, a B-2 visitor visa is issued for 3 months (single entry), a student A-2 - for a year (multiple entry), a temporary A-1 resident - for 3 years (multiple entry). Work B-1 and religious A-3 visas are single-entry, and their validity period is set by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on an individual basis.
Israel border crossing tips
Since even with an entry permit, a foreigner may not be allowed into the state directly when crossing the border by the decision of border officials, it is important to take into account the rules for crossing the border with Israel:
- You should check in advance how many months are left until the expiry date of the national passport. If there are less than 6 of them, it is better to prepare a foreign passport with a sufficient validity period.
- Do not forget to take your insurance policy and all the documents that were listed above in the article.
- Answer the questions of the border guards seriously and truthfully. When asked for an email number, it is best to provide it. They often ask about the purpose of the trip, itinerary, marital status, Jewish roots, luggage.
The presence of a stamp about visiting Iran, Syria, Lebanon or other Muslim countries can sometimes serve as a reason for refusal.
When faced with the need to go through a full body search, remain calm and polite - this is done primarily for your safety.
Briefly about the main
In 2021, entry to Israel for citizens of Belarus remains visa-free. This is possible due to the corresponding bilateral agreement between the countries. Tourism, visiting relatives, treatment in Israeli clinics - all this is available for Belarusians only if they have a foreign or national passport. The main thing is that the duration of the trip is less than 90 days.
For education or employment in Israel, if you need to stay in the country for more than 3 months, a B-1 visa is issued.
