Israel Travel Guide
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247 passport nationalities researched for entry into Israel.
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Guide
Twenty five shekels, less than 7 US dollars, is what Israel asks for its Electronic Travel Authorization, the ETA-IL. Since January 2025, visitors from visa exempt countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the EU countries, have needed one before boarding a flight or reaching a land border. It is valid for up to two years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, and it allows stays of up to 90 days per visit. Guides recommend applying at least 72 hours before your trip, and the idea is that security and administrative screening is completed in advance, so the desk at Ben Gurion airport moves faster.
Israel's land crossings for visitors are few and are best planned rather than improvised. The ones in regular use are the Allenby Bridge, also called the King Hussein crossing, the Jordan River crossing in the north, the Yitzhak Rabin crossing near Eilat, and Taba into Egypt. Operating hours can change with the security situation, so check the day before, and read this site's Jordan and Egypt guides for the other side of each one.
Border crossings
- Allenby Bridge, the King Hussein crossing
The busiest crossing to and from Jordan. From Sunday 26 July 2026, on Sundays and Thursdays only, the inbound passenger hall for people entering Israel was extended to run from 08:00 to 18:30. Jordan's tourism board says visas for Jordan cannot be obtained at this crossing, so arrange yours beforehand.
- The Jordan River crossing, near Beit She'an
Sits in the north, and guides describe it as generally less crowded than Allenby, a useful option if you are exploring northern Jordan before entering Israel.
- Yitzhak Rabin, between Eilat and Aqaba
The southern crossing, and the most common route for travelers visiting Petra. It connects the two Red Sea resorts, and on the Jordanian side it is the Wadi Araba crossing, where Jordan does not issue visas at the border.
- Taba, the Menachem Begin crossing to Egypt
The gateway to Sinai, open around the clock according to guides. The same guides point out that some governments' Sinai travel warnings are at their highest level, and advise going directly from the border to a major hub. Egypt's Sinai stamp is described in this site's Egypt guide.
Transit routes
- Apply for the ETA-IL before you fly
Guides recommend applying at least 72 hours before the trip begins, so treat it as something to finish before you reach the airport, not at it.
- Petra by land, via Eilat
Guides describe the Yitzhak Rabin and Wadi Araba pair as the most common route for travelers visiting Petra.
Entry point notes
- The ETA-IL applies to every entry point
It is not an airport-only rule. Land crossings need it too, for the same visa exempt nationalities.
- Its validity is tied to your passport
An ETA-IL lasts two years, or until the passport expires if that is earlier, so a passport with a year left will give you a shorter authorization.
- It authorizes travel, not entry
The border officer still decides on arrival, so carry the documents that support the purpose and length of your trip.