Israel mandatory ETA-IL costs 25 shekels for visa-exempt travelers

Israel's ETA-IL electronic travel authorization has been mandatory for visitors from visa-exempt countries since Jan. 1, 2025, replacing the old walk-up-to-the-border model where a U.S., Canadian or EU passport was enough on its own.

From free pilot to 25 shekel requirement

Before the mandate, visa-exempt travelers could fly to Ben Gurion and get an entry stamp on arrival with nothing pre-filed. A pilot opened for U.S. and German passport holders on June 1, 2024, expanded to all visa-exempt nationalities on July 1, 2024 and ran free and optional through the end of that year.

That changed Jan. 1, 2025. Travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the U.S., Canada and most EU states, now need an approved ETA-IL before they board and airlines are instructed to deny boarding without one, the Israel Population and Immigration Authority confirmed. The fee is 25 shekels (about $7), per the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

An approved ETA-IL is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first and allows multiple entries of up to 90 days each. It covers tourism and short-term business only, not work or study.

Who's caught and who isn't

The mandate hits anyone entering Israel visa-free for a short stay, which sweeps in most tourists, family visitors and digital nomads working remotely on a tourist entry. Business travelers attending meetings or conferences without an Israeli work visa also need it.

Exemptions listed by the immigration authority:

• Holders of valid Israeli visas in the A or B categories, including work visas B1, B3 and B4 and residence visas A1 through A5
• Foreign passport holders who also hold Israeli citizenship or an Israeli ID number
• Crew members listed on the Crew APIS
• U.S. military members carrying a Common Access Card
• Diplomats and official or service passport holders on official missions

Nationals of countries that already required a consular visa are unaffected and continue through the embassy process. Anyone planning longer work, volunteering or full-time study still needs a B or A class visa, not the ETA-IL.

What holders and applicants should do

The 25 shekel fee is small, but the pre-departure step isn't skippable and airlines have been turning away passengers without one. Passports must be valid at least three months past the arrival date to qualify. Anyone whose ETA-IL was issued during the 2024 free pilot should confirm it's still within its two-year window before rebooking and travelers with passports expiring soon should renew first, since the authorization dies with the passport. Full requirements sit in the Israel country guide.