Israel: Authorities remove all countries from red list as of Jan. 8; certain international travelers allowed to enter effective Jan. 9 /update 123

Event

Israeli authorities have removed all locations from the country's red list as of Jan. 8, effectively permitting Israeli citizens and residents to travel to any country without special permission from the Exceptions Committee. All countries are now classified as orange; despite the change, the Israeli Ministry of Health continues to advise against travel to orange locations due to high local rates of COVID-19 infection.

Additionally, effective Jan. 9, Israel is reopening its borders to foreign travelers arriving from orange countries who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as some travelers from orange countries who have recovered from the disease. Such travelers must either present a vaccination certificate indicating that they had received a full series of an approved vaccine (i.e., two shots in most cases, and one shot in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) at least 14 days and no more than 180 days before travel, or an EU recovery certificate based on a positive NAAT test result indicating recovery within the last 180 days. Recovered travelers from other countries who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 remain prohibited from entering Israel. Foreign travelers who are not vaccinated against or have not recovered from COVID-19 are also barred from entering Israel, as well as all foreigners traveling from red countries whose entry into Israel has not been approved by the Exceptions Committee.

Permitted foreign travelers also remain subject to other previously implemented travel restrictions, including requirements related to pre-travel testing, the entry statement form, on-arrival testing, and mandatory quarantine, as described below.

The moves come amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Israel largely attributed to the spread of the Omicron variant, which officials claim has made travel bans an ineffective means of curbing the transmission of the disease.

Domestic Measures
A Green Pass is required to access many public facilities and gatherings in Israel. Establishments and gatherings that must comply with Green Pass guidance include conferences, exhibitions, hotels, gyms, event venues, festivals, indoor areas of restaurants and cafes, museums, indoor tourist attractions, and institutions of higher education, among others. 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, as well as 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.

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 the necessary criteria. For more information on COVID Certificates, click here.

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

International Travel Restrictions
Israel uses a three-color scale (i.e., red, orange, and yellow) to assign COVID-19-related international travel restrictions by country. To view countries' color designation, click here.

All inbound international travelers must complete and submit an online entry statement form within 48 hours before their flight to Israel. After completing the form, travelers receive a link to prepay for an on-arrival PCR test that is mandatory for all arrivals; the cost of a prepaid test is NIS 80, whereas paying for the required PCR test upon arrival at the airport is NIS 115. To access the entry statement form, click here.

Israeli citizens traveling to the country via air must present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before the scheduled time of the flight to Israel. Alternatively, holders of a valid Green Pass may present a negative result from a rapid test taken no more than 24 hours before departure to Israel. Those who have stayed outside of Israel for less than 72 hours and individuals who were previously infected with and have since recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from the pre-travel testing requirement. Recovered individuals must present a positive result from a PCR test taken no less than 11 days before and no more than three months before the date of travel. For more details on the entry process applicable to Israeli citizens arriving by air, click here.

All arriving international travelers are subject to mandatory isolation upon entry into Israel. The required duration of isolation varies by the origin of travel, nationality, and vaccination status. In general, unvaccinated Israeli individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 are subject to a 14-day quarantine period upon arrival, regardless of origin of travel; these travelers may exit the quarantine period early after receiving a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken on the seventh day after arrival. Vaccinated or recovered Israeli travelers who have a valid Green Pass and are arriving from a red-list location are similarly subject to a 14-day quarantine period and may exit the isolation period early after receiving a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken on the seventh day after arrival. Foreign travelers who are not vaccinated against or have not recovered from COVID-19 are barred from entering Israel, as well as all foreigners traveling from red countries whose entry into Israel has not been approved by the Exceptions Committee.

Vaccinated or recovered individuals arriving from an orange- or yellow-list location with a valid Green Pass are subject to a reduced isolation period, regardless of nationality. These travelers must self-isolate until receipt of a negative result from the PCR test taken upon arrival in Israel or until 24 hours have elapsed, whichever comes first.

Travelers planning to leave the country via air, including Israeli citizens and residents aged 16 and older, must complete and submit an online exit statement form no more than 24 hours before their scheduled departure. To access the online exit statement form, click here.

Additionally, all travelers leaving Israel who have stayed in the country for more than 72 hours must present a valid Green Pass or a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure from Israel. Travelers who are confirmed to have COVID-19 are not permitted to board their flight and may be subject to penalties if they attempt to enter the airport.

Officials prohibit Israeli citizens and residents from traveling to red-list destinations until further notice. Only individuals who have obtained special permission from the Exceptions Committee can travel to these locations. Israelis can transit through these destinations, provided they remain in the airport transit area for no more than 12 hours.

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.

Resources

Ministry of Health Coronavirus Website
El Al Airlines
World Health Organization