Middle East and North Africa

Visas

 

You do not need a visa to enter Israel.  On entry, visitors are granted leave to enter (by means of a stamp in the passport) for a period of up to three months.  In the past the Israeli immigration authorities have agreed to stamp landing cards, where available, and not passports, but since September 2006 they will rarely agree not to stamp your passport.  If your passport is not stamped on entry and you have no other evidence of legal entry into Israel, you are likely to face problems travelling around Israel, particularly at any crossing points into the OPTs.  If you work in Israel without the proper authority, you can be detained and then deported, a process that might take several months.

There have been incidents when the Israeli authorities at the Allenby Bridge crossing and at Ben Gurion airport have limited certain travellers' freedom to travel within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  The Israeli authorities have not provided clear information about which categories of travellers can expect to be subject to these restrictions and about the practical effects of the restrictions.

At the Allenby Bridge crossing, as well as at Ben Gurion airport, Israeli border officials have used a new entry stamp for certain travellers that states "Palestinian Authority Only".  Since travellers entering via the Allenby crossing must pass through Israeli checkpoints and Israeli-controlled territory to reach Jerusalem or Gaza, this restriction effectively limits travellers who receive this stamp at Allenby to destinations in the West Bank only.  Nor is it clear how, practically, a traveller receiving the stamp at Ben Gurion airport can leave the airport without violating the restriction.  This stamp has been used even with travellers who have no Palestinian or other Arab ancestry, and who would not seem to have any claim to a Palestinian Authority ID.

Israeli border officials at Ben Gurion Airport have also begun requiring certain travellers to sign a form that states that he/she is not allowed to enter territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority unless he/she obtains advance authorization from the Israeli "Territory Actions Co-ordinator", and that violating this restriction may result in the traveller being deported from Israel and barred from entry for up to 10 years.

Passport validity

 

If your passport has less than six months’ validity, you may be refused entry by Israeli immigration authorities.  If you suffer immigration problems on entry to Israel, our ability to intervene is limited, as Israel has the right to refuse entry to anyone it wishes.

 

Visiting Gaza

 

If, despite our advice, you decide to visit Gaza, you will need to contact the relevant Israeli authorities well in advance.

 

Customs and Immigration

You should expect lengthy personal questioning and baggage searches by security officials on arrival and departure from Israel.  Electrical items may be taken from departing passengers for security inspection and returned to them in the UK. Damage may occur.

You should ensure that you comply with customs regulations.  If you arrive with valuable personal items (computers, camcorders etc), you may be required to pay a deposit that is refundable on or after departure.  Tax may be levied on items sent to visitors already in Israel.

 

Entering the OPTs

Entry to the OPTs (including by sea to Gaza) is controlled by the Israeli authorities (and you may be detained on your arrival, and subsequently deported, if you are intending to go Gaza without permission).  You will be questioned upon departure.  If you are a Palestinian dual national and/or are entering the country for the purpose of working in the OPTs, you may be refused entry.  Passports and immigration slips (if you were given one) – one of which must have a valid entry stamp – must be produced crossing between Israel and the OPTs.

In addition to this advice, you may also wish to read the Israeli Government’s own advice, which can be found at: Transit Policy to the West Bank via Israel.

If you do plan to travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, you should obtain further information from the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem before you travel.  Due to restrictions on travel, consular assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is limited.

British nationals of Palestinian Origin

If you are a British national of Palestinian origin (on the Palestinian Population Register or holding a Palestinian ID number), you will need a Palestinian passport/travel document in order to leave. If you are a British national with a Palestinian name or place of birth but without a Palestinian ID number, you may face problems. You should be aware that a number of British nationals of Palestinian origin or British nationals married to Palestinian nationals have been refused entry since May 2006.

 

Travelling with children

 
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact: Israeli representation in the UK.

Dual nationals

West Bank and Gaza-resident British/Palestinian dual nationals are permitted to travel abroad only via the Rafah or Allenby Bridge border crossings into Egypt or Jordan.  The Rafah crossing point is currently closed.

Children with Israeli parents (father and/or mother) are considered to be Israeli nationals. The Israeli Ministry of Interior insists that these children enter and leave Israel on an Israeli passport.