Visa-free border crossing is one of the reasons why many are comfortable visiting the Israeli state. At the moment, such privileges apply to guests from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and some other CIS countries. But this does not mean at all that it will not be difficult to pass the control. To avoid troubles and surprises, it is better to study the rules for entering Israel in 2021 in advance.
General Provisions
The procedure for entering Israel for citizens of Russia, Ukraine and other states that support a visa-free regime is approximately the same. It is allowed to stay in the country without a visa permit for no more than 90 days during each half of the year. There is no visa fee at the border. Particular attention will have to be paid to documents and things that you are transporting.
The period of validity of the foreign passport must be 6 months from the date of entry. If the traveler is not a citizen of a country with which the Israeli state supports visa-free travel, then it will be impossible to pass immigration control in Israel without an entry stamp.
It is important to remember that, regardless of whether the border is crossed on the basis of a visa or without it, the final decision on the possibility of entry is made by the Israeli border control service.
If a longer stay in the country is planned, citizens of visa-free states will have to apply in advance for a visa permit corresponding to the purpose of the visit. Exceeding the permitted periods of stay in Israel entails deportation and a ban on subsequent entry for a period of 10 years.
To reduce the time spent at the airport control, it is important to have a full package of documents with you, even if you are crossing the border without a visa.
Package of documents
The following list of required documents is recommended by the Israeli Embassy:
- Overseas identity card. It is important to remember that the validity period of a passport for a trip to Israel should not be less than six months from the day of crossing the border.
- Round-trip plane tickets with exact arrival and departure dates.
- Medical insurance. It must be valid in the target state for the entire period of stay in it.
A hotel reservation or a tourist voucher, if a tour was purchased, as well as a confirmation of solvency (this can be bank statements, cash or a sponsorship letter) by the consulate are not included in the mandatory list, but it is better to have such documents with you.
Many are interested in whether an old-style passport is suitable for Israel or whether you need to get a biometric one. The Israeli authorities do not have specific requirements regarding the type of foreigner's identity card. The main thing is that the passport has enough validity period for travel, it has blank pages and no damage.
Visa Permit
You need to apply for a visa at the Israeli consulate if the period of stay in the country exceeds the allotted 90 days during each half of the year, or if you plan to engage in profitable activities.
A visa to Israel is also needed if you plan to get a job, study, or medical treatment. Applications are accepted exclusively by appointment, which is maintained on the website of the Israeli consulate in the country of citizenship.
You need to have a full package of documents and confirmation of electronic registration for an appointment with you. A sample visa application can also be found on the website of the Israeli mission.
When collecting a package of documents, it is important to remember how long a passport must be valid for a trip to Israel (indicated above), as well as prepare a return ticket, insurance, financial guarantees and confirmation of the purpose of the visit.
All information related to obtaining a visa to Israel is collected in the article: "How to get a visa to Israel".
Documents to justify different purposes of the visit
To carry out work in the country, you will have to apply for a B1 work visa. For this, the employer, who must have a license to hire foreigners, must submit a petition to the Israeli authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a request to grant permission to obtain a work visa. If the request is approved, the visa stamp will be issued within 5 days.
Do Russians need a passport to Israel in 2021 to open a visa - of course, yes. To contact the consulate you will need:
- Statement. The form can be found in the “Forms and Forms” section of the Israeli Consulate's website.
- Photo (2 pictures 5 by 5 cm in size on a white background and with a face image of at least 70% of the picture area).
- International passport.
- Certificate confirming the absence of a criminal record, certified by an apostille.
- Receipt of payment of the duty.
- Medical certificate on the absence of dangerous diseases (apostilled).
- Labor contract.
- Apostilled birth certificate.
- Declaration that fingerprints were taken.
- International passport valid for two years.
- A diploma confirming the availability of relevant education, if employment is planned.
Russian citizens wishing to get an education in Israel must also apply for a visa, this time of the A2 sample (does not give the right to work). The documents will have to be accompanied by a confirmation from the university about admission to the ranks of students and financial guarantees. A visit to Israel by Russian citizens who have not reached the age of majority is possible only with permission from their parents (one or both, if the trip is carried out with a third party).
With regard to travel for the purpose of treatment, a visa is not required if it lasts less than 90 days. Otherwise, you will have to issue an entry permit. To do this, you will need confirmation from the clinic, medical history, confirmation of financial security.
How long can Russian citizens stay in Israel if they plan to visit relatives? In this case, the rules of stay remain the same - you can stay in the country without a visa for only 90 days. A longer period will require a visit to the consulate. You need to have an invitation from Israeli relatives, copies of their passports, proof of solvency.
How to go through passport control
Passing through passport control in Israel is not an easy procedure. But you shouldn't be too nervous either. The main thing when communicating with border guards is that you have all the documents on hand and they correspond to the stated purpose of the visit. For example, you said that you are interested in tourism, and the date of return departure is indicated in a few months. Or you go on a visit, but you cannot remember the names of the people who are waiting for you in Israel.
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Passport control in Tel Aviv will be difficult for women who go to visit men. Usually, such a visit raises many questions from the Israeli border guards.
It is important for tourist groups to stick together. It is important that the appearance of foreign guests is consistent with Israelis' notions of decency. Better to dress more modestly.
Please also observe the following rules for going through Israeli passport control:
- answer questions briefly, without unnecessary clarifications;
- do not be nervous and look the officer directly in the eyes;
- do not allow ambiguity in your answers.
What to say at the border
If you start to get confused in words, the border guard will think that you are hiding something, which means that it makes sense to detain you longer. The basic rule of how to behave at customs in Israel concerns your inner attitude. If your intentions are pure, then there is nothing to be afraid of.
It is always better to tell the truth.Before traveling, be sure to learn the name of the hotel you are staying at or the address of relatives with whom you plan to stay. Never mention that you plan to care for sick children or elderly parents.
Do not forget that there is a clear requirement for how long you can live in Israel without a visa, and therefore the officer may have a suspicion that you will not meet in three months.
If you are traveling at the invitation of a relative who married an Israeli, you should remember that your compatriot is undergoing the naturalization procedure, which means that he is in the country on a work visa, which does not give the right to invite foreigners to Israel. Accordingly, at the border, it must be said that you came at the invitation not of your relative, but of his / her spouse.
How to get an interview
Be prepared for the fact that there may be two interviews: the first - immediately before leaving for registration (here the security service communicates with absolutely everyone), the second - additional, if the officers have questions. So what to remember:
- many border guards speak Russian. But if you come across an English-speaking one, in any case do not answer the question if you could not understand it. It is better to ask for a Russian-speaking officer;
- use the phrases “visit grandmother” instead of “help grandmother”, “visit my sister” instead of “look after the children”;
- if there are stamps of Arab countries in the passport, they will definitely ask how often you go there, what you do while traveling. Be sure to clarify that you do not have acquaintances in these countries, but go there as a tourist.
When you fly back, you may be asked who you managed to get to know in the country, who you talked to, what photos you took, whether someone asked you to send something to the country of departure.
Israeli stamp in passport
When passing through the passport and customs examination, the arrival stamp is not put in the passport. Instead, a foreign citizen is issued a special coupon with a barcode, which he must present upon departure back. It is a kind of migration map of Israel that contains the following information:
- Full name of the foreign guest;
- arrival date;
- arrival flight number;
- Photo.
It is issued in order to facilitate the tourist's subsequent entries to countries with which Israel is in conflict, but only if the border is crossed by air. And what about the land borders? Whether a passport is stamped upon entering Israel will depend on how you enter the country. The fact is that checkpoints located on land will definitely put a stamp on the document.
It should be remembered that the official marks in the passport about visiting other states (in particular, Arab or Muslim) do not in any way affect the approval of entry or its prohibition. But in practice, in the presence of the stamps of Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and some other countries, it may serve as an excuse for the Israeli migration service to arrange for you many hours of interrogation regarding your travel both when entering and leaving the country.
Customs rules
The following are not subject to declaration and customs duties:
- personal belongings;
- gifts, the value of which does not exceed US $ 200;
- cigarettes in the amount of 250 pieces or tobacco (250 g);
- 250 g of perfumery products;
- 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages;
- tents, baby carriages, bicycles without motors.
Another rule of thumb for getting through Israeli customs concerns laptops, cameras, tablets and other electronic devices. If their total value exceeds $ 200, they will have to be declared.
It is forbidden to import drugs, animals, meat products, weapons into the country. Pets will only be admitted if they have a health passport and rabies vaccination.
The customs at the Israel airport will not accept paintings, art objects, antiques without declaring.
What to do if entry is denied
It's okay if you are invited for an additional interview in order to ask in more detail about the trip. Start worrying if your conversation takes more than two hours. In this case, it can be assumed that you will not be allowed to enter and may be deported.
How to be in such a situation? To get started, try contacting the consulate to provide a lawyer. Be persistent. This is your right, which no one can take away.
Until the arrival of the defense lawyer, you do not have to answer the questions of the border service. But there is no need to show excessive aggression: you are not yet accused of anything, you just could not prove the sincerity of your intentions.
Outcomes
Residents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus can travel to Israel for a period of 90 days every six months without a visa. To do this, you will have to prepare a full package of documents, go through an interview and security check at the airport.
