Background

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel allowed entry into the country for business persons who travel to Israel to conduct essential business meetings that cannot be accomplished unless traveling into Israel (important business meetings, contract negotiations, etc.). At a later stage,  Israel restricted such visits for vaccinated travelers only.

Who Will Be Allowed Entry From November 1?

According to the plan approved by the Israeli Prime Minister, foreign nationals will be allowed to travel to Israel from November 1:

• Foreign nationals vaccinated with 2 Pfizer vaccines, 7 days or more after receiving the second vaccine on the day they entered Israel.
• Foreign nationals who were vaccinated with 2 vaccines of Moderna, AstraZeneca, Synovac and Sinopharm, 14 days or more from receiving the second vaccine on the day they entered Israel.
• Foreigners who were vaccinated with one Janssen vaccine, 14 days or more from the vaccine on the day they entered Israel.
• Foreign nationals who were vaccinated with Pfizer's booster dose, 7 days or more from the vaccine on the day they entered Israel.

And,

• The vaccine was provided less than 180 days before expected entry.

Which Vaccines Are Not Acceptable?

Israel-approved vaccines will be only those recognized by the World Health Organization. As such, Russia’s Sputnik V is not included.

Pre-arrival PCR Test and Mandatory 24hr Isolation

According to the plan, inbound travelers will be required to take a PCR test within 72 hours of boarding the plane and upon arrival. They will also be required to stay in isolation until the results of the test come back negative. There will be NO need to take a serological test to show that they have been vaccinated.

Entry Of Kids Not Eligible of Being Being Vaccinated

Children under the age of 12, who are currently not eligible to be vaccinated, will not be able to enter Israel unless they are recovered from the virus within the last six months.

What’s Next?

It is yet not clear which documents travelers will be requested to present to prove their immunization status, especially from the US nor how the procedure is going to work.

EU nationals: last month Israel reached a deal to join the European Union’s digital COVID certificate program, ensuring mutual recognition of green passes with around 40 other countries. These certificates are expected to be acceptable in Israel.

KTA expects that in the following days the new regulations will be published. Information about the process of entry and vaccine-required documentation remains unclear.

KTA will follow up on the topic in a Client Alert, and will advise accordingly.