MAJOR Israel Tourism Update!

As reported here two weeks ago, Israel reopened to many tourists on January 9th.

By Nosson Shulman: Licensed Tour Guide of VIP Israel Tours & Authentic Virtual Tours (click here to check out his free trailer videos)

As reported here 2 weeks ago, Israel reopened to certain vaccinated and recovered foreign tourists (for more details, scroll down to see the original article). At that time, we reported that tourists with a third booster shot could only enter Israel if the shot had been administered within 180 days of the trip. It appears (at least for now) that a person who has received a third booster shot (from a recognized vaccine) can enter Israel, even if the third shot was administered more than 180 days before the trip.

In addition, due to the ever changing (and often confusing) rules, the Ministry of Tourism has launched an English website designed to aid tourists and travelers in entering Israel, with (supposedly) updated information on entry requirements, local corona guidelines, and documents needed in real time. To visit the site, click here.

To view the original article, scroll down. To book a tour, click here.

Disclaimer:

The author of this article is not an attorney, and this article should not be construed as legal advice or an authoritative source. This article is for informational purposes only and should never be relied upon. The author takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of this article. It is highly recommended (and the sole responsibility) for anyone wanting to enter Israel to do their due diligence and independently verify that they are indeed qualified to enter the country, and to ensure that they have the appropriate documents to successfully do so.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT: Israel to Allow Vaccinated and Some Recovered Foreign Tourists to Enter the Country Starting January 9!

This follows almost two years of total closure of the Jewish state to all but a select few!

In mid-March 2020, Israel closed its borders to almost all foreigners and its booming tourism industry came to a screeching halt overnight with no known end date in sight. It has remained that way ever since (with the exception of several weeks in November) but there now finally appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel!

Starting Sunday January 9, foreign (vaccinated and certain recovered) tourists will finally be able to enter the country, providing they meet certain conditions. The criteria (issued by the Israeli government) are that foreign tourists must not be from a red country (as of this writing no country is any longer considered red by Israel).

Only those who have been vaccinated or are considered recovered are allowed to come into the country without a permit. Who is considered vaccinated or recovered:

• Anyone who has recovered from the virus within the last 180 days and has a digital recovery certificate which must have a QR Code (so far, only recovery certificates from the EU or UK will be honored. Recovered individuals without a vaccine from other countries may not enter at this time).
• Vaccinated, with either the second or third shot within 180 days (with at least 14 days having elapsed since that shot). Recognized vaccines include: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovak, Sinopharm, and Covishield. A Vaccine certificate must be presented.
• Vaccinated, with a single Johnson & Johnson shot within the last 180 days (with at least 14 days having elapsed since that shot). A Vaccine certificate must be presented.
• Vaccinated with either the second or third shot of Sputnik V within 180 days (with at least 14 days having elapsed since that shot). For this vaccine, a serological test in Israel is necessary.

Tourists coming to Israel will be required to present a negative PCR within 72 hours of the flight (another one will be administered for a fee at Ben Gurion airport upon arrival. One can schedule a test beforehand at https://testngo.femi.com/en/sign-in ). All foreign tourists will be required to either quarantine for 24 hours or receive a negative PCR test result (whichever comes first).  Tourists will be exempt from this requirement if they have a positive PCR test to show which was taken between 11 days to 3 months before their flight).

Tourists possessing the requirements to enter the country must fill out a pre-flight form within 48 hours of takeoff: https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flight-form-content/

For borderline cases and questions, travelers are encouraged to contact the Health Ministry hotline at +972-8-624-1010 (English menu is available).

As tourists will now be allowed to enter the country, it is hoped that Israel will continue once again to be a major tourist destination for people all over the world looking for their unique, one-of-a kind experience! To book a tour, click here.

Disclaimer:

The author of this article is not an attorney, and this article should not be construed as legal advice or an authoritative source. This article is for informational purposes only and should never be relied upon. The author takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of this article. It is highly recommended (and the sole responsibility) for anyone wanting to enter Israel to do their due diligence and independently verify that they are indeed qualified to enter the country, and to ensure that they have the appropriate documents to successfully do so.

Nosson Shulman is a journalist and Licensed Tour Guide in Israel specializing in Biblical tours. To allow tourists to experience Israel during the Corona era, he created the new hit Israel tour video series which brings Israel to the home of viewers by simulating actual tours. To check out his free sneak preview tour videos, click here. To view sample tour itineraries or to inquire about private tour opportunities with a personalized itinerary on your next trip to Israel, click here.