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Does Israel stamp foreign passports on entry, and what proof of entry does a visitor receive?

Ben Gurion Airport stopped stamping foreign passports in 2013. Border control instead issues a printed entry card, a small blue slip recording the traveler’s name, passport number, date of arrival and the B/2 visitor permit granted under the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952. Departure produces a matching pink exit card. Land crossings and secondary inspection can still generate a physical stamp in some circumstances, so a traveler who needs a clean passport should raise it with the officer at the counter rather than afterwards.

The card, not the passport, is the legal record of the permit. It states the category of the permit and the date it expires, which is why the permitted length of stay has to be read off the slip: the officer sets it case by case, commonly up to 90 days, and it is not always the maximum. Israeli banks ask to see the card when a non-resident opens an account, the VAT refund desk at the airport requires it, and the Population and Immigration Authority requires the original when a visitor applies to extend a stay or change status. A lost card can be replaced at a PIBA branch, which can also print a certified record of entry and exit dates.

The policy exists because several countries refuse entry to travelers whose passports show Israeli admission stamps. The absence of a stamp does not erase the trip, though. Exit and entry stamps from Jordanian and Egyptian land crossings, airline manifests and visa applications all leave a trail, so travelers should not treat the card system as a guarantee of invisibility. Practical advice is simple: photograph the card on arrival, keep the paper slip with the passport for the whole visit, and hand it back only at departure control. Our guide to Israel visa requirements sets out which nationalities need an ETA-IL before boarding.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 and the Entry into Israel Regulations 5734-1974 (B/2 visitor permit)
  • Competent authority: Population and Immigration Authority (Rashut HaOchlusin VeHaHagira), border control at Ben Gurion Airport
  • What you receive: A printed blue entry card on arrival and a pink card on departure; no passport stamp at Ben Gurion since January 2013
  • Permitted stay: Set by the border officer and written on the card, commonly up to 90 days
  • Extension fee: A B/2 extension application at a PIBA branch costs approximately NIS 175 (2026)

From the full guide: Israel Visa Requirements 2026: Visa-Free Countries, ETA-IL & Tourist Visa

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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