Israel Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter Israel and to re-enter their home countries. Israel does not allow entrance if the holder’s passport expires in under 6 months; returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine. Your passport will prove your most convenient method of identification and, if the photo was taken long ago, a source of humorous conversation.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in a part of your baggage separate from other documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.

Visas, Invitations, And Work Permits

Visas

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not require a visa for entrance into Israel if the stay is under 3 months, but they must possess a valid passport. Tourist visas cost approximately $28 and can be purchased in person at one of the above mentioned embassies or consulates). Double-check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of Israel for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can also consult http://travel.state.gov.

Entering Israel to study requires a special visa. For more information, see the Beyond Tourism guide.

Work Permits

Admittance to a country as a traveler does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. For more information, see the Beyond Tourism guide.

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID. A passport and a driver’s license will usually suffice. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss and keep photocopies in your luggage and at home.

Student And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation, access to a 24hr. emergency help line, and insurance benefits for US cardholders. In Israel, for example, cardholders receive 10% savings on Israel Railways and Pizza Hut and 25% off entrance to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.

Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).

Customs

Upon entering Israel, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by Israel’s customs service. Goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” means that you won’t pay tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. Jot down a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad. It’s a good idea to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.

Tourists who pay for goods and services in foreign currency are exempt, in certain cases, from value added tax (VAT). (See Taxes)