Israel: Authorities maintain robust COVID-19-related domestic controls and international travel restrictions as of late October /update 116

Event

Israeli authorities are continuing to enforce a robust system of COVID-19-related domestic controls and international travel restrictions as of late October.

Domestic Restrictions
A Green Pass is required to access many public facilities and gatherings in Israel. Individuals must present a valid Green Pass issued Oct. 3 or later; passes issued prior to Oct. 3 are no longer valid. To view current Green Pass eligibility and validity details, click here.

The Green Pass is available on the Traffic Light website, the Traffic Light mobile application, at self-service stations across the country, via the Israeli Ministry of Health Hotline, and via an interactive voice response system. To request a Green Pass via the Traffic Light website, click here.

Establishments and gatherings that must comply with Green Pass guidance include conferences, exhibitions, hotels, gyms, certain swimming pools, event venues, festivals, restaurants and cafes, museums, libraries, tourist attractions, and institutions of higher education, among others. Malls and large stores, however, are not subject to Green Pass restrictions. Access to places subject to Green Pass guidance is generally only provided to individuals presenting a valid pass with identification or a negative result from a recently taken COVID-19 test. Children under the age of three are exempt from Green Pass guidance. For more information on Green Pass requirements and guidance, click here.

The Israeli Ministry of Health also issues COVID Certificates, which serve as a medical or international record of COVID-19 vaccination or recovery. Individuals with foreign passports are eligible to receive a COVID Certificate if they meet other necessary criteria. For more information on COVID Certificates, click here.

Israel uses a four-tiered "Traffic Light Model" to apply COVID-19-related restrictions in local councils based on local infection rates. For more information on the Traffic Light Model, including COVID-19-related restrictions and guidance by local council, click here.

International Travel Restrictions for Travelers Arriving in Israel
Israel uses a three-color scale (i.e., red, orange, and yellow) to assign COVID-19-related international travel restrictions by country, including travelers arriving in Israel from abroad and those traveling from Israel to another country. To view international travel rules by country or color designation, click here.

All individuals traveling to Israel who have been outside of the country for 72 hours or longer must produce a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Individuals who have recovered from the disease and have received either an Israeli recovery certificate or a positive result from a PCR test taken in Israel at least 11 days and no more than three months before traveling to Israel are exempt from the pre-departure testing requirement. Foreign nationals must present an entry permit to border control upon arrival to enter Israel; to access the entry permit application, click here.

Travelers are also required to complete an entry statement form no more than 24 hours before their departure to Israel. Arrivals may be required to present an entry clearance document to border control officials that is received after submitting the entry statement form; this entry clearance document may be presented in either digital or paper format. To access the online entry statement form, click here.

All incoming international travelers must take another COVID-19 test upon arrival at their own expense. On-arrival tests cost NIS 80 if prepaid and NIS 100 if purchased at the airport.

International Travel Restrictions for Travelers Departing from Israel
Officials have prohibited Israeli citizens and residents from traveling to "red countries" until further notice due to concerns over increased COVID-19 activity. Only individuals who have obtained special permission from authorities can travel to these locations; officials only grant permission in exceptional cases, such as for humanitarian purposes.

Israelis can transit through these destinations, provided they remain in the airport transit area for no more than 12 hours. Israeli citizens and residents aged 16 and older who are leaving the country must also complete and submit an online exit statement form no more than 24 hours before departure to board their flight; to access the online exit statement form, click here.

Israeli citizens and residents must present a clearance document permitting departure from Israel that is received after submitting the exit statement form. The abovementioned restrictions for departing Israel do not apply to foreign nationals.

However, all travelers leaving Israel must present a COVID Certificate or a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure from Israel. Departure from Israel is prohibited for travelers who receive a positive result from the pre-departure PCR test; such individuals are subject to quarantine. Travelers departing Israel are also subject to the COVID-19-related rules and regulations of their destination.

Quarantine Requirements
Israel enforces mandatory quarantine requirements adjusted by location of origin and vaccination/recovery status. In general, travelers who have not been vaccinated or have never been infected with COVID-19 in Israel must enter isolation. Additionally, all travelers arriving from red countries must also enter isolation.

Arriving travelers from all locations, regardless of vaccination or recovery status, must enter isolation at least until receiving a negative result from the COVID-19 test taken upon arrival or isolate for 24 hours, whichever duration is shorter. Specifically, this isolation scheme is in place for individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered in Israel, have a valid COVID certificate issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health, and have only visited yellow or orange countries in the last 14 days. To view other information applicable to fully vaccinated and recovered travelers, click here. To view more information about isolation requirements, click here.

For other travelers (i.e., unvaccinated or non-infected travelers, regardless of age or travel origin; all travelers who stayed in a country on the red list in the last two weeks before arrival), isolation is generally required for a period of 14 days upon arrival. However, these individuals may shorten the isolation period by receiving two negative PCR test results - the first from the mandatory test taken upon arrival and the second taken on the seventh day of isolation. Individuals who test negative twice are permitted to exit isolation after receiving a second negative test result.

Individuals can isolate at home or another accommodation of their choosing provided compliance with home isolation requirements. Foreign nationals who have visited a red country within the 14 days before arrival in Israel and travelers who are unable to comply with home isolation requirements must isolate in a motel. Taking public transport to the isolation address and during isolation is generally prohibited; however, taxi transport is permitted if the passenger is wearing a mask in the back seat with the vehicle's windows open. Failure to comply with isolation requirements may result in a NIS 5,000 fine and entering isolation in a motel.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all business appointments and travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for waiting lines and delays at available shopping centers.

Resources

Ministry of Health Coronavirus Website
El Al Airlines
World Health Organization