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Immigration & Aliyah

How long must a foreign passport be valid to enter Israel?

Israel requires a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival, and airlines enforce the rule at check-in. The requirement flows from the border officer's authority under the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 to refuse a visitor who cannot produce a valid travel document. A passport that expires while the visitor is already inside Israel does not extend their permitted stay, and it is not an immigration offense in itself. The visitor renews at their own embassy or consulate in Israel and then asks the Population and Immigration Authority to reissue the entry permit against the new document.

Israel stopped stamping most foreign passports in 2022 and now issues a separate paper entry card recording the B/2 permit and its expiry date. That card is tied to the passport number presented at the border, so a replacement passport breaks the link and needs a fresh permit issued at a Population and Immigration Authority bureau. ETA-IL applicants face the same six-month rule at the application stage, and an authorization granted against an old passport does not transfer automatically to a new one. Border officers keep their discretion under the Entry into Israel Law even where every document is in order.

Planning ahead avoids most of the trouble. Travelers should check the expiry date before booking rather than at the airport, because a carrier that boards a passenger who is then refused entry bears the cost of flying them back. Anyone whose passport will expire mid-trip should renew before departure, since consular renewal inside Israel can take weeks and some consulates issue only an emergency travel document valid for a single journey home. Those intending to stay longer should read the rules on visa extensions in Israel before the permit runs out rather than after.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 and the Entry into Israel Regulations 5734-1974
  • Competent authority: Population and Immigration Authority (Rashut HaOchlusin VeHaHagira), border control at Ben Gurion Airport
  • Validity rule: at least six months beyond the planned date of entry, applied to ETA-IL applications as well as at the border
  • Fees: a B/2 visitor extension costs approximately NIS 175 (2026); reissuing an entry permit against a replacement passport carries no separate fee
  • Timeline: ETA-IL decisions are usually returned within 72 hours; a Population and Immigration Authority bureau appointment commonly takes 2–4 weeks to obtain
  • Overstay: the permitted stay runs from the date of entry recorded on the entry card and is unaffected by a passport expiring mid-visit

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

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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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