Israel: Authorities to ban citizens from traveling to additional 10 countries effective Dec. 22 /update 121

Event

Israeli authorities will ban the country's citizens from traveling to 10 additional countries effective Dec. 22 amid mounting concerns over the spread of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant. The 10 countries are Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, and the US. The measure comes after Israel placed Denmark, France, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UAE, and the UK on the red list.

Domestic Measures
A Green Pass is required to access many public facilities and gatherings in Israel. Individuals are required to possess a Green Pass to participate in indoor gatherings of more than 50 people.

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-19 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
Israeli officials have banned all foreign nationals from entering the country until at least Dec. 22.

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 travelers; 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 travel to Israel. Alternatively, holders of a valid Green Pass may present a negative result from a rapid antigen test taken no more than 24 hours before departure to Israel. Those who have stayed less than 72 hours outside of Israel 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 duration and required isolation location vary by the origin of travel and vaccination status. In general, unvaccinated 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 PCR test taken on the seventh day after arrival. Vaccinated or recovered individuals arriving from abroad with a valid Green Pass are also subject to a 14-day quarantine period. Similarly, such individuals arriving from yellow- and orange-list locations may exit the quarantine period early after receipt of a negative result from a PCR test taken on the third day after arrival; vaccinated or recovered travelers arriving from red-list locations may exit the quarantine period after receiving a negative result from a PCR test taken on the seventh day after arrival.

Travelers planning to leave the country, 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 who have stayed in Israel 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 receive a positive result from the pre-departure PCR test are barred from boarding their flight and must enter isolation.

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