Israel closed their borders to foreign nationals back in March and they have extended the ban on a monthly basis since then.
There are some exceptions to the rule, including:
- Parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses of siblings, as well as sibling’s infant children can go to Israel for a wedding, bar mitzvah, or bas mitzvah.
- Grandparents can fly to Israel a month before an expected birth and can stay a month after birth.
- Students applying through their qualified institution.
- Select businesspeople with essential meetings in Israel.
The Jerusalem Post reports that starting in December, relatives of Israeli immigrants that made aliya within the past 4 years will be eligible to apply for an entry permit from their local Israeli Embassy or Consulate.
Implicit in that reporting is that the ban on other foreigners is likely to continue, though I haven’t seen an official announcement made for travel after December 1st. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised to see that ban last until there is a vaccine readily available for the public.
Relatives will reportedly include parents, grandparents, siblings, and children of any recent immigrant. Israeli law says that recent immigrants include anyone who made aliya in the past 10 years, but a compromise appears to have been reached for a 4 year period in this case.
I have heard of plans being made for Israelis to meet up with their foreign relatives in Dubai as Dubai welcomes Americans and Israeli without a quarantine requirements and Israelis can visit Dubai without having to quarantine on their return as it is considered a “Green” country.
With this development, relatives of recent immigrants will be able meet right in the holy land.
Do you have relatives who made aliya in the past 4 years? Will you apply to visit them in Israel?
If I’ve been in Switzerland for many months, got stuck here, can I fly to Dubai and stay there two weeks and then fly to israel without quarantine as an Israeli citizen without a home there? No one has answered this for me, and I don’t want to go to a quarantine hotel as a 70 year old woman. What do you recommend as consulate has no answer.
Yes, you can.
Does a bar mitzvah have to be for the exact day or could it be sort of like a bar mitzvah trip somewhere within the vicinity of his birthday?
there is an organization that could be very helpful, i used them and they were extremely efficient. i was able to get an authorization within 30min. of submitting my application
with all supporting documents. they should really really be praised for their work. thank you amudim.org from the bottom of my heart
I have not seen my 80 year old parents in a year, but because they have been in Israel for more than 4 years I cannot use this to see them.
On the one hand, I wish I could go but I wouldn’t risk it. It upsets me that there are so many exceptions. Is is safe to allow people into Israel for non emergencies or not? Coronavirus doesn’t care if you’re seeing someone who made aliyah 5 years ago or 4 years ago, so why does this make sense? Why not say you can visit anyone who’s under 14 or over 70 but only if you’re between 25 and 50? That makes just as much sense. Please stay home unless it’s an emergency.
Grandchildren are not included in the exeption?
if you have antbodies plus test then you do not need covid + ? has anyone done that ?
positive antibody test is worth nothing now in Israel they only allowed it for about 4 days a month ago then they stopped it. the only way to get out of quarantine is positive covid then neg covid then positive antibodies then a neg covid test upon arrival in israel
I’ve heard from a few friends who went in the last couple weeks that Israel does not care about antibodies. If you have results from a lab (not a doctors note) showing a positive Corona test and a negative test, when you get to israel you can test there and if you’re negative, send in all the results to misrad habriut and that ends your 2 week quarantine. Antibodies test results doesn’t make any difference
You will need to take the antibodies test in Israel and wait for the results.
yay my brother made aliyah 3 years ago, now i can visit my mom who is israeli…..
ironic an israeli mom i cant visit but a migrant brother i can go visit…
My son has new residency…. not total aliyah/citizenship yet…… might i be able to visit him? It’s been over a year since I’ve seen him.
Thanks
O
Contact your local Israeli Embassy or Consulate for more information.
Thanks
Can anyone point me to where I can see this exception on an official Israel site?
Parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses of siblings, as well as sibling’s infant children can go to Israel for a wedding, bar mitzvah, or bas mitzvah.
This has been allowed already for a few months
Contact your local Israeli Embassy or Consulate for more information.
What about siblings in law?
Huge question will be whether there will be quarantine requirements for the visiting mishpacha.
I would assume no quarantine from green countries and yes quarantine from red countries, unless they have a COVID+ and COVID- or antibody+ test.
Yes, makes sense. Thanks, as always, Dan.
Yes, yes, and yes. And I’ll use one of the overpriced cellphone carriers which advertises on DD to make my calls