COVID cases in Israel have dropped close to nil and the country is continuing its reopening process.
As of June 1st nearly all restrictions will be lifted in Israel, other than the ban on most foreign nationals due to worries about importing COVID variants, and the requirement to wear a mask when indoors.
Israel closed their borders to most foreign nationals back on 3/18/20 and they have extended the ban since then, but things will finally start opening up this summer.
Starting on June 1st, some 20 organized tour groups, will be part of a trial to visit Israel even without having a first degree relative there. They will also need to be fully vaccinated and they will have to test positive for antibodies in Israel in order to avoid quarantine.
On June 15th all government approved organized tour groups of at least 5 people will be able to travel to Israel. The group organizer will be the one to apply for permission for each group to enter and they can already start applying for permission now.
A group organizer told me that he is being told that everyone in the group will need to have a digital vaccine passport, like New York’s Excelsior Pass, in order to prove their vaccination status and enter the country. Companies like CLEAR are working on verified vaccine passports for other Americans.
He also tells me that he is being told that proof of recovery from COVID won’t be accepted and that a vaccine passport will be the only way to enter the country. You will also need to test positive for antibodies in Israel in order to avoid quarantine.
It appears that will mean groups will only be open for those 12 or older as COVID vaccines are not yet approved for those under 12 years old. COVID vaccine trials for children 6 months through 11 years old are currently underway and if proven safe and effective, should be available by September.
Of course all of the fine print and details are subject to change at any time.
Reuters’ Steven Scheer also reports that Israel plans on opening to individual tourists, that don’t have first degree relatives in Israel, starting in July. It’s unclear what those requirements will be at this time, but I’d expect similar requirements to what group travelers need for entry.
Will you start planning a trip to Israel this summer?
Hello. So can we make plans and books our flights without a arranged tour for Mid July?
The ban has been extended through June 14th
So will individual tourists be able to enter Israel starting July 1st? Or a date in July that hasn’t been chosen yet?
Nothing has been finalized.
Is it really true that Israel will be opening to individual tourists beginning July? I see reports online indicating such a thing. However, the official website of the Israeli gov says absolutely nothing about this. And when I asked Chaim V1chessed they said “No such announcement gas been made”. What is your source of Info?
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-tourism/israel-reopens-borders-to-small-groups-of-foreign-tourists-idUSKCN2D408P
if I wanna go to Israel in mid-July what would it require regarding covid
TBD, but make sure you’re fully vaccinated.
whats TBD
https://lmgtfy.app/?q=whats+tbd+mean
You can email me at TripToILDuringCovid@gmail.com
Don’t need to be vaxxed to make Aliyah
I am a TO and I can do groups as of JUN 15. DAN is correct.
Can you please send your contact info, I would like to apply for permits and organize a group asap.
Thanks!
Can you send your info so we can sign up for the tour?
If so than can u send me details
Can you post contact info as a Tour Organizer?
THERE ARE NO TOUR GROUPS GOING NOW — only seminary group that is getting in as students
Dan you are off on this one , although Israel advertised it — there are no approval fro any groups at all .
Take it up with Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-tourism/israel-reopens-borders-to-small-groups-of-foreign-tourists-idUSKCN2D408P
does anyone know how to get a student visa quickly or only wait for an appointment in July?
call chaim v’chesed
where can we find one of these “On June 15th all government approved organized tour groups of at least 5 people will be able to travel to Israel. The group organizer will be the one to apply for permission for each group to enter and they can already start applying for permission now.”
How can I make my own group?
Willa antibodies test showing antibodies be enough for permit to come for birth as I had cod lasbyear and still have antibodies. But cannot provide positive and negative?
Anyone have an answer for me. Can I submit an antibodies test showing recovered to be able to go for a student visa birth or do I need an actual vaccine?
At the same time, countless media reports over recent weeks had trumpeted that ‘the skies would be opened to tourists on May 23’. This much ballyhooed date has come and gone with no significant changes in the ban on foreigners entering Israel. A tiny number of tour groups has been granted permission to enter the country. The numbers of permitted groups may increase in coming days, however, the overall ban remains in place for now. Furthermore, Chaim V’Chessed has learned that, as part of the effort to keep foreign variants out of the country, it is possible that the ban on foreign entry may even be tightened
No tour groups have been granted. This is propaganda worse than Russia !! They only let in a seminary tour as they processed it as students
Please don’t be so gullible. They are not letting in period. Not with vaccine passports. These are all propaganda and jokes not happening. Please don’t be so naive
I am in the process of making Aliyah to become an Israeli citizen and my husband and children will not be becoming citizens. Will they be allowed to come along with me as my first-degree relatives if they are unvaccinated?
Why aren’t your children not becoming citizens? So they don’t have to serve in the IDF?
not everyone wants their kids going off the derech when they move to israel. its hard enough as it is…
What an insanely stupid comment. Your refusal to serve has nothing to do with women singing, Shabbos observance, or Kashrus.
You don’t want to go into harms way.
This is a helpful blog started by Dan to inform and educate about deals that are useful for everyone.
If you insist on trying to sow discord and make a political statement please go to other sites where ppl do that all day…
Thanks for your understanding. And I am not just speaking to you but to all who do the same..
Sometimes I feel like posting this comment every day here…
Well said
I still have long-standing reservations to visit in mid-August. I really hope they have all this sorted out by then. Looking to thread the needle on this trip it seems.
I purchased tickets in January 2021 for July 2021. Family of four, one 3-year-old, and infant less than a year. The wife had covid and recovered, I have not contracted covid. We both do not intend on taking the vaccine at the moment.
Obvious option: Take the vaccine, and be part of this worldwide test trial for the vaccine.
What are my other options, or am I SOL, and in order to enter, we need to be vaccinated?
If basically the whole country is vaccinated, and the cases are extremely extremely low, then why have this restriction to be vaccinated in order to enter in the first place? The chances of covid being transmitted to a vaccinated individual is extremely low, so why do individuals traveling to israel need to be vaccinated? The point of vaccinating everyone is to protect your citizens, and thats exactly what they did. I don’t understand this logic. Can someone explain? And even if God forbid one person does happen to catch it, it wouldn’t spread like wildfire because most everybody is vaccinated. What is the purpose of these rules? You vaccinated your citizens, great. It’s time to lift all restrictions and return to precovid rules.
Looks like I’m not the only one thinking this….
control….also the biggest thing they also say is “safety,trying to be careful!” please since when have governments cared so much about there individuals citizens health?
Sorry…. please add word ‘not’ to previous comment. Thanks
Perhaps, there is continuing fear that the vaccines will prevent disease from the newer covid variants.
ahhh the variance, yes thats the biggest fear stick they shake! thats how when the vax first came out and Israel used these variance to lock the country down with out any notice and drove up the fear. while saying the cases were rising but if someone wanted hcq or ivermectin they needed to go underground org. to get it.
Children under 16 have not been vaccinated in Israel yet. Children seem to be less vulnerable, but they still can be infected, and even though it seems they are less likely to spread Covid, they still can infect others.
There’s also the fear that new strains will emerge that the current vaccines are not effective against. Put that together with the fact that Israel’s economy has come through the pandemic with strong signs of future growth despite having no foreign tourists for more than a year. Israelis value safety and there’s real reason to be cautious, and not so much reason to not be cautious.
What if youre vaccinated but don’t have antibodies?
Can I expect to ba able to go for Succos with my chidren? They have not been vaccinated, and can’t get a vaccine as they are too young at this time.
What about a child under 1 yrs old before the tests are available in September?
“After you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, simply link to your healthcare account to confirm your vaccine records in a secure, verifiable and privacy-preserving way.” I’m curious how I would be able to verify my vaccination through CLEAR or any other company. I got vaccinated in Palm Beach County, by the healthcare district. They gave me a physical signed vaccine card. As far as I am aware there are no electronic records, at least none that I have access to. I would like to go with my wife and kids at the beginning of August. We have all had Covid and will be all vaccinated by then but I would need to plan this out well beforehand. When are other companies expected to come out with these digital passports? A week, month, year, etc..?
The states all have records of who was vaccinated in their state.
They do but that does not mean I will have access to those records aside from the physical vaccination card that I already have. Florida in general is very against the vaccine passport idea and not likely to participate.
Would like to fly with my wife and children July 5 to aug 15th (kids aged 7-3 yr old). All this info is somewhat confusing. I have had and recovered from COVID. wife and kids have still not had it. We have first degree relatives living in israel. I am a israeli citizen wife and kids are not. What I think I understand is that we can enter with prior approval but would have to be in bidud (quarantine) for 10 days, correct? I would greatly appreciate a response, thank you
My understanding is that you are correct.
Dan: can a kid 2-11 really get in (to visit a first degree relative) without recovery (and without vaccination)? Even with bidud (quarantine)?? And while I’m at it, aren’t US children of Israeli parents having trouble if the kids lack an Israeli passport or citizenship?
Thank you
I’m now rebooked to TLV for October. I want to simply present my vaccine card and be admitted. Is that a pipe dream?
You’ll need the 3rd vaccine by then lol
That will likely work by then.
I sure hope so. I very much doubt the societal benefit (if there is any) of Covid tests on vaccinated passengers is worth the hassle and expense to travellers. I hope governments figure this out.
You can print the NY excelsior pass and you will need it for the TO to apply for the permit.
Any approved by the CDC.
I’m Israeli citizen can my kids go in without making them Israelis my parents live there
well if you call chaim vichesed the GUaranteed RESPONSE WILL BE TO GET CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL PEOPLE IN QUESTION. thats always their ‘advice’. consistent. become a citizen. and they’ll tell you 17 random reasons why it makes sense.. you have nothing to lose… they are subsidized by the state of isreal, whos number one goal is to get a few more citizens, be it apes, russian nonjews, or people that call chaim vichesed for advice.
Yes, as long as they sign a pre-entry document certifying that they agree to join the IDF when they reach 18.
Call Chaim Vochessed, Its possible that they are Israeli in anycase
is the johnson vaccine also accepted ?
With the vaccine passport, will the serological testing upon arrival, no longer be required?
Read the post?
To apply for the New York’s Excelsior Pass you can use a regular PC.
Yes you can take babies but you still need to quarantine for the babies and the relevant is that you will have an issue to go back from Israel before the end of this period except if you are getting permission to leave before.
so, basically no way for non first degree tourists to fly using miles? what about first degree of a student just going to visit relative?
No, you should be able to hire an organized tour without buying airfare from them.
No, first degree can’t be a student as far as I know.
the spouse one ive done
There has (almost) always been a difference between a spouse of a student and other first degree relatives of said student. Logic beeing that the spouse LIVES in Israel , others are visitors
I’ve heard otherwise, that student can indeed work for fdr. For a spouse it for sure works (meaning spouse with sv is in the country and other w/o trying to get in)
what about a baby?
I believe the first degree relative rule allows for babies under 1 year. Not sure what the group rule will be.
If i am american citizen but i have isreali brothers in isreal can me and my wife get in now, as fdr?
We just returned from our 10 day trip in Israel with our 7 and 13 year old daughters. We went as first degree relatives. My kids had antibody tests done which was enough for their application. We are fully vaccinated. When we arrived we had someone come down to us to do another antibody test to get us out if Bidud.
Which members of your travel party qualified as first degree relatives
Can you provide a reference for the test?
How does a digital passport (such as by Excelsior Pass) work? Is it an App, or a printed version would work too for entry in Israel?
Can anyone organize a group of 5 and apply for entry in June?
It’s an app. From what is being said about the June 15th requirements, printed cards will not be accepted.
Contact a group organizer in Israel if you want to enter in June.
So, for someone not using a smart phone, there’s no way to enter?
Can you elaborate on group organizers in Israel? It must be someone from Israel organizing it, and can anyone in Israel organize a group?
You should be able to login on someone else’s smartphone if they’re in your group.
It needs to be a government approved organizer of group travel in Israel.
Does anyone have a list of approved group organizers?
The bigger issue is the NY excelsior pass only works if you got a vaccine in NY
As far as I’m aware, there is no other state/way to prove you got a vaccine beyond the paper card
Right, but several companies are working on a solution for that, including CLEAR.
It will be interesting to see how they actually verify the data.
Can’t come soon enough
Not sure if it helps, though, you do have an option to login on the website and print the exact form that the smart phone would show. I just did it as a backup (if my battery dies…??)
How can it be recovered from covid with proof of antibodies isnt good enough to get a NY vaccine pass
From how it appears now:
-First degree relatives can provide proof of recovery or proof of vaccination.
-Group tourists from June 15th will need a vaccine passport.
No way a couple can go as of yet,correct?
If one of them has a first degree relative they can.
So happy! Can’t wait, the USA is falling apart
Need to get away from the hatred
Did you miss the riots in the streets of Israel last week? 🙁
C’mon Dan… 😉
I don’t the Lubavicher Rebbe would approve of your response…
Isreal should grow up act like an adult what a nerve isreal has we took in all the time isrealy citizens and nothing happened they should open for use with no questions asked or let them suffer
Aaron: Instead of posting criticism of Israel on Dans Deals, I suggest you return to third-grade in elementary school.
There have been too many reports of falsified documents. Israel is being smart.
I assume the suffer you hint at is pertaining to lost tourism dollars. The pitiful amount that some tourists leave there is no loss. Hotels bring revenue but these rented apartments yield little in benefit to anyone.
Smart? More like tyrannical.. I’ll wait for moshiach to come to go
Yeah, right. Just like the European Raboonim and Rebbes in the late 1939 were waiting for the Nazis Y’SM., who were described as a “passing cloud”, to go away.
This is one of the dumbest comments currently on the internet…
Huh?? Maybe you can get someone to type out your message for you
Let them suffer??? That’s incoherent. Please elaborate.
Already booked for August with the United 40 yr sale. But hope that i can change it to July.
You would have the pay the difference in fare if you change.
Yes, hope there will be good deals.
So children under 12 are SOL? What about in July? Or what if they( or parents) have first degree relatives?
The rules may change, but for now, yes.
Families can only bring under 12s if they have a first degree relative and the child has recovered from COVID.
Is there a timeline on when the child has to have recovered from covid?
You need a positive followed by a negative PCR.
So there’s no way to go for families with children under 12, as of yet.
Only if you have a first degree relative and the child has recovered from COVID.
isreal is not gong with the science. the recovered are as good as the vaxed some argue even better. and isreal even says kids are fine if they are recovered and it meets there guidelines. also how come vaxed cant go with out masks indoors? are they following scinece or trying to still keep control?
They know the science, and what they have caught people forging…
I wonder what they’ll do when they discover people forging vax records…
Children of citizens also need to get an Israeli passport or at least start the process in order to enter. You seem to avoid this detail on these type of posts.