Archive note: this item on the rules for flights to and from Israel was published in March 2021, during the Covid period. The rules described are no longer in force. For current requirements see which countries require a travel authorization.
From today (Sunday) the Covid quarantine hotels have been scrapped and Ben Gurion Airport has partially “reopened”. For now, flights will operate to and from New York, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Kyiv, Hong Kong and Toronto. Here are the eased rules for flights to and from Israel that were approved.
The eased rules for flights to and from Israel
Returning to Israel
The exceptions committee for returning to the country has been abolished. Any Israeli citizen or permanent resident can therefore buy a ticket and enter without committee approval. The vaccinated and recovered are exempt from quarantine; anyone else needs home isolation.
Although the committee is gone, you still have to fill in a health declaration and entry form 24 hours before the flight and present a negative Covid test. Everyone entering Israel, including the recovered and vaccinated, must take a Covid test on landing at Ben Gurion.
Leaving Israel
The vaccinated and recovered may leave without the exceptions committee. Simply buy a ticket and fly. Anyone who has not recovered or been vaccinated, children included, needs committee approval. Non-citizens can leave without it. A Covid test before departure is recommended even for the vaccinated and recovered, since most destination countries require a negative result to cross their borders and sometimes to board.
Not every destination accepts Israelis
It is very important to keep up to date with the entry conditions for Israelis at your destination. Today most countries do not admit Israelis, even vaccinated and recovered ones, so check carefully before buying a ticket. At present you can enter Ukraine with a negative test, and New York. Other countries accept Israelis but have no flights from Israel yet, such as the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Turkey, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Georgia and the Seychelles.
Travelling now? Check how many months of passport validity you need.
