Israel Opens Borders to Covid-19 Vaccinated Travelers

Israel on Monday, November 1, for the first time since March 2020 opened its borders to foreign nationals who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

“It’s been too long. We are here to welcome you with open arms,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a video message on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1455204873381756930?s=20

Entry requirements for foreign nationals

As of November 1, vaccinated foreigners wishing to enter Israel must issue a “Green Badge” from the Ministry of Health, 24 hours before their flight.

The prerequisites for obtaining a Green Badge are listed on the Health Ministry’s website here.

Foreign nationals who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or recovered will be able to enter Israel through Ben Gurion Airport under the following conditions:

• If they had not been to a red country for the 14 days before entering Israel
• If they have been vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) or if their recovery is in accordance with the procedure required in Israel, as detailed below.

Those who do not meet these conditions will be denied entry to Israel unless they apply to the Exceptions Committee and receive a special entry permit.

Who does Israel recognize as vaccinated or recovered?

1. Those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, SinoPharm, the Serum Institute of India:

– Received two doses and at least 14 days have passed from the second dose by the day of entry into Israel (but not more than 180 days before departing Israel) or

– Received a booster dose and at least 14 days have passed by the day of entry into Israel.

2. Those vaccinated with Janssen (J&J) vaccine:

– Received one dose and at least 14 days have passed by the day of entry into Israel (but not more than 180 days before departing Israel)

– Received a booster dose and at least 14 days have passed by the day of entry into Israel.

3. Holders of a digital recovery certificate, which is recognized by Israel, based on a positive result in a NAAT test (molecular test similar to PCR):

– Those for whom at least 11 days have passed since the positive test by the day of their entry into Israel (but not more than 190 days before departing Israel)
– Those who received at least one dose of the WHO-approved vaccines in addition to their recovery (there is no significance to the order of events).

4. Those vaccinated with Sputnik V, as of November 15, who underwent a serological examination in Israel and received a positive result:

– Received two doses and at least 14 days have passed by the day of entry into Israel (but not more than 180 days before departing Israel)

– Received a booster dose and at least 14 days have passed by the day of entry into Israel.

Note: Those vaccinated with Sputnik will stay in isolation until a positive serological test result is obtained in addition to other requirements.

5. Those who received one dose or more of a vaccine approved by the WHO, and have recovered, and hold a digital recovery certificate that can be verified with a positive NAAT test result and no more than six months have passed from recovery.

The process of entering Israel

Non-Israelis who want to enter Israel will go through several steps along the way:

• A PCR test must be performed up to 72 hours before the flight to Israel
• An entry declaration form for Israel must be filled out:
  – Holders of a verifiable digital certificate will scan or upload their vaccination or recovery certificate to the incoming passenger form and receive a green pass before boarding the plane
  – Those who do not have a verifiable digital certificate will declare the vaccines they received in the entry declaration form to Israel, and will also fill out a declaration regarding the vaccines administered abroad, to which they will attach the relevant documents, and will receive a green pass before boarding.
• When boarding the plane, the following documents must be presented:
  – Documentation of a negative PCR result in a test that taken up to 72 hours before the flight to Israel
  – Confirmation of submission of an entry declaration form
  – One of the following documents:
  Vaccination certificate attesting to the performance of vaccinations in accordance with the procedure required in Israel
  Digital recovery certificate
  Exceptional entry permit from the Ministry of the Interior (exceptions outline, groups).
• Random examinations of documents and compliance with the conditions will be carried out by the Population and Immigration Authority at Ben Gurion Airport.
• A PCR test must be performed after landing at Ben Gurion Airport and travelers must enter isolation until a negative result is obtained, or for 24 hours, whichever is earlier.

For those vaccinated with Sputnik V: A serological test must be performed at Ben Gurion Airport and travelers must enter isolation until a positive result is obtained (subject to a negative result in the PCR test to be performed after landing).

If the result of the serological test is positive, travelers may receive a green pass for a month and stay in short isolation (until receipt of a negative result in the PCR test done upon arrival in Israel or for 24 hours – whichever is earlier).

If the result of the serological test is negative, travelers may stay in Israel but must enter full isolation (i.e. for 14 days with the option of shortening the isolation to 7 days) or decide to return to their country of origin.

Foreign nationals who do not meet these conditions will be denied entry to Israel and will be required to return to their country of origin.

Note: Those who present a forged document, or are found to be infected and refuse to go to an isolation facility, or violate the isolation requirement, will be denied entry to Israel for a period of 5 years.

Violators of isolation, who are not confirmed cases, will be denied entry to Israel for a period of 3 years.

Additional information is available here.