Quick Answer: The Allenby Bridge — officially the King Hussein Bridge (Gesher Allenby) — is the main land crossing between Jordan and the central region of Israel and the West Bank. Foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries (US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia) can cross without a pre-arranged visa. PIBA (the Population and Immigration Authority, Rashut HaHagira v'HaKnisiya L'Yisrael) processes entry on the Israeli side and issues a paper entry slip rather than a passport stamp. The crossing operates Sunday to Thursday 08:00–20:00 and Friday 08:00–15:00; it is closed on Saturday. Fees, documentation, and security questioning are covered section by section below.

Most travellers entering Israel imagine a plane landing at Ben Gurion Airport. For a substantial number of foreign nationals, the actual entry point is a land bridge over the Jordan River, 60 kilometres east of Jerusalem, where Israel and Jordan share the only land border crossing that connects directly to the West Bank. The Allenby Bridge crossing draws pilgrims travelling from Amman to the Christian sites of the West Bank, diaspora family members visiting relatives in East Jerusalem, foreign nationals on multi-country Middle East tours, and investors with business across both sides of the river.

The legal framework governing this crossing is the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 (Chok Knisat Yisrael) and its accompanying regulations, administered by PIBA. Crossing at Allenby Bridge grants the same B/2 tourist entry permission as arriving at Ben Gurion Airport — but the practical experience is quite different. The crossing is more time-consuming, requires a shuttle bus system you cannot bypass, and subjects foreign nationals to a security environment that is more intensive than most airport arrivals.

1. The Three Israel-Jordan Border Crossings

Israel has three open land border crossings with Jordan. Each one connects to a different part of the country, and choosing the wrong one can cost you hours of driving on the other side.

  • Allenby Bridge / King Hussein Bridge (near Jericho) — the central crossing, connecting Amman to the West Bank and Jerusalem corridor. This is the only crossing Palestinians with Jordanian or Palestinian Authority travel documents are typically permitted to use. It handles the highest volume of crossings and is the longest-established international entry point on the land border.
  • Wadi Araba / Yitzhak Rabin Bridge (near Eilat and Aqaba) — the southern crossing, useful for travellers arriving from Aqaba or the Wadi Rum area who are heading to Eilat or the Negev. It operates during daytime hours with shorter queues than Allenby for straightforward tourist entries.
  • Sheikh Hussein / Jordan River Crossing (near Beit She'an in the north) — connects to the Jordan Valley and is the fastest option for travellers heading from Amman to Haifa, the Galilee, or the Sea of Galilee area. It tends to have lower traffic volumes than Allenby.

This guide focuses on the Allenby Bridge crossing specifically. If your destination is the Negev or Eilat, the Wadi Araba crossing will almost always be faster. If you are heading to northern Israel from Amman, the Sheikh Hussein crossing saves hours of driving. The Allenby Bridge crossing makes practical sense when your destination is Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, or the central Israeli coast via the West Bank highway.

2. Who Can Cross at Allenby Bridge

Entry eligibility at the Allenby Bridge crossing follows the same country-based visa-exemption framework that applies at Ben Gurion Airport. PIBA maintains a list of countries whose nationals may enter Israel for tourism without a pre-arranged visa, receiving a B/2 tourist entry permission valid for up to 90 days on arrival.

Nationals of the following groups are generally visa-exempt for tourism at the Allenby Bridge crossing:

  • United States and Canada
  • All EU member states, including post-Brexit UK
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Japan, South Korea, Singapore
  • Most Latin American countries (confirm your specific country before travelling)

Nationals of countries not on the visa-exempt list must obtain a B/2 tourist visa from the Israeli embassy or consulate in their home country — or in Jordan — before arriving at the crossing. Attempting to cross without the required visa invariably results in denial of entry and return to Jordan on the same shuttle that brought you.

Palestinian document holders — individuals travelling on a Palestinian Authority passport, a Jordanian travel document issued to Palestinian refugees, or a Palestinian ID card — face a different and more complex entry regime that is outside the scope of this guide. They enter the West Bank through Allenby Bridge under a separate coordinated process between PIBA and the Palestinian Civil Administration, not through the standard foreign national immigration channel.

Israeli citizens and permanent residents may also use the Allenby Bridge crossing, but their entry is processed at dedicated Israeli national counters, not through the foreign national immigration queue.

In Practice — ETA-IL and Land Border Crossings: Israel introduced the ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorisation — Israel) requirement for nationals of certain visa-exempt countries in 2024. As of mid-2026, the ETA-IL requirement applies to air arrivals and to land crossings at the Wadi Araba and Sheikh Hussein crossings. The Allenby Bridge crossing currently processes foreign nationals from ETA-IL-eligible countries under the standard on-arrival B/2 permission without requiring pre-registration, because the crossing's legacy infrastructure handles the volume differently. However, this position is subject to change. Check PIBA's official guidance at gov.il before you travel, and register for an ETA-IL in advance if your nationality requires one for Israeli entry through other channels — it takes less than 72 hours to receive and eliminates uncertainty at the crossing.

3. Documents Required for Foreign Nationals

The Israeli border officer at the Allenby Bridge crossing will examine a standard set of documents. Having everything prepared and accessible before you join the queue shortens processing time and reduces the likelihood of being pulled aside for extended questioning.

Mandatory documents:

  • Valid passport — must have at least 6 months of remaining validity from the date of crossing. Passports expiring within 6 months are consistently refused.
  • Proof of onward or return travel — a confirmed flight out of Israel or a ticket showing onward travel from a neighbouring country. A hotel booking or tour itinerary is not a substitute if you have no evidence of how you plan to leave.
  • Jordanian exit documentation — your Jordanian entry visa or visa-on-arrival card, stamped by Jordanian border control on the Jordanian side before you board the crossing shuttle.

Strongly recommended documents to carry:

  • Hotel reservations or accommodation confirmation for at least the first few nights in Israel or the West Bank
  • Sufficient funds evidence — a credit card or cash. The general rule PIBA uses informally is around US$100 per planned day of stay, though this is a guide, not a statutory requirement
  • Travel insurance documentation — not a legal requirement for B/2 entry but frequently requested if the officer has questions about your plans
  • Invitation letter or contact details if visiting family or friends — the address and phone number of your host in Israel or the West Bank

Dual nationals who hold both an Israeli and a foreign passport should present their Israeli passport at the crossing. Presenting only a foreign passport at this particular crossing when the officer can identify Israeli nationality creates complications; Israeli law requires Israeli nationals to enter using an Israeli passport under Section 6 of the Passport Law 5712-1952.

4. The Crossing Procedure: Step by Step

The Allenby Bridge crossing operates as a multi-stage shuttle system. Unlike an international airport where you walk from one terminal to the next, you must take official shuttle buses between the Jordanian terminal, across the bridge, and into the Israeli terminal. Private vehicles are not permitted to cross on the bridge.

The typical sequence for a foreign national entering Israel from Jordan:

  1. Travel to the Jordanian terminal — from Amman, shared taxis (*service taxis* or minibuses) run regularly from the central bus station and from most large hotels to the King Hussein Bridge terminal. Journey time is approximately 45–60 minutes from central Amman. Agree on the fare before you get in; a shared seat typically costs 5–8 JD per person.
  2. Jordanian exit processing — present your passport and Jordanian visa documentation at the Jordanian border control counter. The officer will check your documents, stamp your Jordanian exit record, and collect the Jordanian departure fee (approximately 10 JD cash, waived if you entered Jordan fewer than 3 days ago and paid the Jordan Pass fee on entry). Keep your Jordanian stamped documents.
  3. Board the bridge shuttle — a mandatory Israeli bus service operates from the Jordanian terminal across the bridge. You cannot walk or take a private vehicle. Tickets are sold at the terminal; cost is approximately 9 NIS or equivalent in JD. Buses leave when full or at short intervals; wait times are usually 10–30 minutes.
  4. Israeli terminal — baggage screening — all luggage passes through X-ray machines immediately on arrival in the Israeli terminal. Be prepared to open bags and remove electronics as directed.
  5. Security questioning — before reaching the immigration counter, most foreign nationals are interviewed by a security officer. How long this takes depends on your nationality, passport history, and the individual officer. Budget anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. Section 8 below covers what to expect.
  6. PIBA immigration counter — present your passport and documents to the immigration officer. The officer enters your details into the PIBA system, confirms visa eligibility, and issues your paper entry slip (*petek knisat*). No stamp is placed in your passport. Retain this slip — you will need it at the exit crossing and may be asked to show it at Israeli checkpoints near the West Bank.
  7. Collect luggage and proceed — retrieve your bags from the Israeli terminal baggage claim and arrange onward transport. There is no public bus service directly from the Israeli terminal to Jerusalem or other cities. See Section 7 for transport options.
In Practice — Processing Time Expectations at the Allenby Bridge Crossing: A Canadian family of four (two adults, two minors) crossed from Jordan to Israel via Allenby Bridge in late June 2026 during peak summer season. They arrived at the Jordanian terminal at 08:30, cleared Jordanian exit control in 20 minutes, waited 25 minutes for the bridge shuttle, arrived at the Israeli terminal at 10:00, and cleared PIBA immigration — including a standard 15-minute security interview per adult — by 11:45. Total crossing time: 3 hours and 15 minutes. On a quiet Tuesday morning in March, the same crossing takes most families under 90 minutes. The critical variable is queue length at the Israeli security and immigration counters, which fluctuates without warning. Families with children should budget at least 3 hours in the summer months and should not book onward connecting transport that requires being in Jerusalem before 13:00 on a crossing day.

5. Entry Slips, Paper Visas, and Your Passport

Israel stopped placing entry stamps in foreign passports in 2013. At every entry point — including the Allenby Bridge crossing — PIBA issues a small paper card called the petek knisat Yisrael (Israeli entry permit card) in place of a passport stamp. The card records your name, passport number, nationality, date of entry, and the permitted duration of stay (typically 90 days for B/2 tourists from visa-exempt countries).

You must keep this card throughout your stay in Israel and the West Bank. You will be asked to surrender it when you exit Israel. Losing it creates complications at the departure crossing — you will need to present to the PIBA counter and explain the situation before you can leave. The officer will verify your entry against the electronic record, and loss of the slip does not legally prevent departure, but it extends the exit processing time.

For travellers concerned about an Israeli entry record appearing in their passport for subsequent travel to certain Arab or Muslim-majority countries: the paper slip system already addresses this concern at the border-stamp level. Your passport will contain no Israeli stamp from the Allenby Bridge crossing. However, Jordanian exit and entry stamps will appear in your passport showing that you left and re-entered Jordan on a short trip — this itinerary pattern is itself recognisable to border officers in some countries. The paper slip system reduces, but does not eliminate, the record of travel to Israel for travellers concerned about this issue.

If you enter Israel via Allenby Bridge and later leave from Ben Gurion Airport, the PIBA departure record is updated electronically at the airport. You surrender the paper slip at the airport departure hall.

In Practice — Paper Slip Lost Before Exit: A British journalist who had entered Israel via the Allenby Bridge crossing misplaced her entry slip before her scheduled departure through Ben Gurion Airport five weeks later. At the Ben Gurion departure hall, she presented her passport and explained the situation to the PIBA officer. The officer located her entry record in the PIBA electronic system — confirming her entry date, passport number, and permitted stay — and issued a replacement departure document without any fee. She boarded her flight with no further delay. The practical lesson: losing your petek knisat is inconvenient but not a crisis. Notify the PIBA counter at your exit point as early in the departure process as possible so the officer has time to pull your record before the queue builds up.

6. Entering Israel Proper vs. Routing Through the West Bank

The Allenby Bridge crossing sits in the Jordan Valley, on the eastern edge of the West Bank. Every traveller who crosses there first enters West Bank territory before reaching Israeli-controlled territory proper. That geographic fact has practical consequences that are easy to miss if you are planning the trip from a map.

The B/2 tourist entry permission issued at the Allenby Bridge crossing covers both Israel proper and Areas A, B, and C of the West Bank. You do not need a separate document to visit Ramallah (Area A, under full Palestinian Authority civil and security control), Bethlehem (Area A), or Jericho (Area A). However, moving between Area A (Palestinian Authority control) and Area C (Israeli civil and security control) involves passing through Palestinian Authority and Israeli military checkpoints that are not immigration checkpoints. Your Israeli entry permission does not change at these checkpoints; they are territorial security control points, not new immigration events.

Travellers heading directly from the Allenby Bridge terminal to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or other Israeli cities should note that the road from the terminal goes through Jericho (Area A) and then up through the Judean Desert via Route 1, passing through an Israeli military checkpoint. At that checkpoint, passengers in shared taxis and buses are sometimes asked to show identification. Having your PIBA entry slip readily accessible is advisable.

The Allenby Bridge crossing is the only option for Palestinian document holders who need to reach the West Bank from Jordan. For foreign nationals whose destination is solely the West Bank, the crossing is often the most direct route from Amman. For foreign nationals whose destination is Tel Aviv or Haifa, flying into Ben Gurion or using the Sheikh Hussein crossing from Beit She'an is usually faster overall.

7. Fees, Operating Hours, and Transport

The crossing has several fees that catch travellers off guard. Knowing the amounts in advance — and having the right cash — saves real time at the terminal.

Operating Hours

The Israeli side of the Allenby Bridge crossing operates:

  • Sunday to Thursday: 08:00 to 20:00
  • Friday: 08:00 to 15:00
  • Saturday: closed (Shabbat)

The Jordanian side maintains its own schedule, which generally aligns but may differ. Aim to be at the Jordanian terminal no later than 16:00 on weekdays and 12:00 on Fridays to have reasonable certainty of completing the crossing before the Israeli terminal closes. PIBA has the right to decline new entry processing if the queue cannot be cleared before closing time, and an officer will not delay closing to accommodate late arrivals. Hours are occasionally adjusted around Jewish holidays (particularly around Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Pesach) and Jordanian national holidays. Verify current hours on the Israel National Parks Authority or the PIBA website before you travel.

Fees

  • Bridge shuttle (Israeli-operated bus, Jordan to Israel): approximately 9 NIS, payable in NIS or JD at the Jordanian terminal
  • Israeli departure fee: approximately NIS 107 per adult, paid when exiting Israel via the Allenby Bridge (not on entry). Children under 5 are typically exempt; verify current rates at the crossing
  • Jordanian departure fee: approximately 10 JD per adult, paid at the Jordanian terminal on the way out of Jordan (waived with a Jordan Pass purchased before arrival)

Entry to Israel itself carries no fee for B/2 tourists. There is no per-entry charge at the PIBA counter. Currency exchange facilities are available at both terminals, though rates are unfavourable. Carrying some NIS and JD cash before you reach the terminal is sensible.

Transport from the Israeli Terminal to Jerusalem

No public bus connects the Israeli terminal directly to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Onward transport options are:

  • Shared taxi (sherut): shared minibuses that fill up and depart for Jerusalem or Jericho wait outside the Israeli terminal. The fare to Jerusalem is approximately NIS 60–80 per person. Journey time to central Jerusalem is 45–60 minutes under normal traffic conditions.
  • Private taxi: costs NIS 250–400 to Jerusalem depending on negotiation. Pre-arranging a pickup through your hotel often yields a better rate than flagging down a driver at the terminal.
  • Rental car: not available at the terminal itself. If you plan to rent a car, you must arrange transfer into Israel first and then pick up the vehicle in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
In Practice — Friday Afternoon Timing Mistake: An Australian couple planning to cross from Jordan on a Friday and reach Jerusalem by 17:00 for Shabbat dinner arrived at the Jordanian terminal at 13:00. The Jordanian exit processing and shuttle took 45 minutes, placing them at the Israeli terminal at 13:45. By that point, the PIBA security and immigration queue had extended past the point where all arrivals could be processed before the 15:00 Friday closing time. PIBA officers informed travellers in the queue after approximately 14:30 that they would not be processed and should either return the next day (Sunday) or proceed to the Wadi Araba crossing in the south, which has a different Friday schedule. The couple took a taxi south to Wadi Araba and completed their entry through that crossing by 16:30 at additional cost. The lesson: the Friday afternoon rush at Allenby Bridge is well-documented. If you must cross on Friday, be at the Jordanian terminal no later than 09:00.

8. Security Questioning at the Allenby Bridge Crossing

The Israeli security process at the Allenby Bridge crossing is more intensive than at most international airports because the crossing handles a uniquely mixed population: Israeli nationals, foreign tourists, Palestinian document holders, business travellers, and humanitarian workers, all entering through the same physical infrastructure.

Security is conducted by a combination of PIBA officers and personnel from the Israel Security Agency (*Shabak*). The questions asked and the duration of questioning reflect the officer's assessment of risk based on passport history, travel itinerary, and the traveller's responses. This assessment is discretionary, and the criteria applied are not fully published. There is no formal right to be told why questioning is extended, and there is no formal appeal process at the crossing itself.

Typical questions asked of foreign nationals at the Allenby Bridge crossing include:

  • Where are you coming from in Jordan, and how long were you there?
  • What is the purpose of your visit to Israel?
  • Where will you be staying, and for how long?
  • Do you have family, friends, or contacts in Israel or the West Bank?
  • Have you visited Israel or this crossing before?
  • Have you been to any of the following countries in the past few years? (typically naming Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen)
  • What is your occupation? Who is your employer?
  • Do you have a phone? Can we look at it? (you have the right to decline; declining may result in longer secondary questioning)

Foreign nationals who have visited neighbouring countries with strained relations with Israel — particularly Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, or Iran — should expect more extensive questioning, regardless of the purpose of those visits. Journalists, humanitarian workers, researchers, and activists travelling to or from the West Bank also frequently receive additional scrutiny. Travelling with luggage containing Arabic literature, political materials, or large quantities of cash can extend the security process.

Answer questions directly. Do not volunteer information that was not asked for. Keep your documentation — hotel bookings, return flights, contact details — accessible on your phone or in hard copy so you are not fumbling when the officer asks. If questioning extends beyond 60 minutes and you believe you are being detained rather than screened, you have the right to ask for the PIBA duty supervisor.

Denial of entry is possible and does happen. PIBA has wide discretion under Section 13 of the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 to refuse entry to any foreign national without providing a detailed reason. Travellers denied at the Allenby Bridge crossing are returned to Jordan on the bridge shuttle. If you have any reason to believe your entry might be contested — including a prior refusal, deportation, or an Israeli criminal record — consult an Israeli immigration attorney before you travel. See our guide on criminal records and Israeli immigration for what PIBA's security checks typically flag.

In Practice — Journalist Crossing With Journalist Credentials: A French television journalist entered Israel via the Allenby Bridge crossing in April 2026 while on assignment covering health services in the West Bank. She presented her press card and French passport at the Israeli security stage. The security officer noted her recent stamps from Lebanon and directed her to a secondary screening room. She waited 75 minutes while security personnel reviewed her phone (with her consent), her press credentials, and her assignment letter from her Paris editorial office. The PIBA immigration officer then processed her entry with a standard B/2 tourist entry permission — she was not issued a press entry category, since that requires separate pre-application through the Government Press Office (GPO). She was permitted entry with no conditions. Foreign journalists who will be working — rather than travelling as tourists — should apply for press credentials and a B/1 media work permit through the GPO before entering at any Israeli border crossing, as working on a B/2 tourist entry permission violates its terms.

For broader immigration questions — including what happens if your tourist entry is extended, revoked, or challenged — see our guides on permanent residency in Israel and the ETA-IL electronic travel authorisation. If you are thinking about staying longer or moving to Israel, our guide on retiring in Israel as a foreigner covers the longer-term immigration pathways.