Israel is one of the few countries where our compatriots can safely go without any preparation - the culture is strikingly different, it is not necessary to make a complex of vaccinations before the trip, and many of the local residents speak Russian. Hardly the first, about what tourists think for the first time who are going to visit this country, - what visa is needed in Israel?
In this article we will tell you how to get a visa to Israel and who needs to do it.
Do I need a visa to Israel?
Russians need a visa to Israel for trips longer than 90 days. For short-term trips, a preliminary visa is not required. This category includes tourist, transit trips, family visits, travel for treatment, and short business trips (without profit and without this goal). A tourist visa will be issued to you at the airport upon arrival, with no fees or fees for its registration for Russian citizens.
On a tourist visa you can stay in the country for no longer than 90 days.
As you can see, it is not difficult to issue a visa to Israel, but there are a number of reasons why you may be refused registration:
- At the time of arrival / arrival in Israel, you must stay at least 6 months before the end of the validity period of your passport.
- Problems with entry can arise if your passport already has visas for radical Muslim countries (for example, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan or Iran). Most often, you will simply have a conversation, finding out whether you have friends or relatives in these countries, after which the entry will be allowed. But if you show nervousness or behave suspiciously, the probability of refusing to obtain a visa still exists.
- Some social characteristics, for example, the presence of one or several previous convictions or earlier refusals to obtain an Israeli visa, may be the reason for refusing a visa. To avoid unpleasant incidents during the trip, please specify in advance the status of your consulate and obtain an entry permit.
If you are not a tourist, do not visit friends or relatives and do not plan to undergo treatment in Israel, determine which visa is most appropriate for your purposes.
It can be immigration, student, working, guest visa, as well as a visa for temporary residents, clergymen, spouses and children.
Now that you know what kind of visa you need to Israel, you can start to consider a set of documents needed to obtain it.
The cost of a visa to Israel is included in the ticket price, so that no additional fees are charged at international airports and seaports. If you plan to use land checkpoints, the border fee will be about $ 29.
Documents for a visa to Israel
At the entrance to confirm the purpose of the trip (for tourist visa) you may need the following documents:
- the passport (the obligatory document);
- flights with exact departure date;
- medical policy (insurance);
- tourist voucher or hotel reservation;
- an invitation from relatives or friends, which will indicate not only the personal data of both parties, but also the duration of the visit, as well as the address by which you will live;
- documents from the clinic or other medical institution (for those who come with the purpose of treatment).
If you need to obtain a preliminary entry permit, you must submit the following package of documents to the Israeli Embassy:
- international passport;
- 2 photos (35х45 mm);
- a check on the payment of the consular fee;
- a copy of the document confirming the purchase of traveler's checks for an amount not less than $ 1000 per person;
- for employees - a certificate of income for the last 3 months (average earnings), a certificate of the last holiday (indicating
its exact terms), a certificate indicating the date of entry to work; - for pensioners - a pension certificate (original and a copy);
- a copy of the identity document of the inviter (the inviting party) and an invitation letter in English or Hebrew;
- birth certificate (copy and original);
- to a minor - written permission to travel (departure from the country) from both parents;
In addition to these documents, others may be required, so it is better to contact the embassy for advice in advance.