Everyone knows that rumors on the Internet “multiply” at the speed of light. One of them, which today is pure disinformation, and which excites the minds of ordinary people, concerns changes in the rules of entry into the European Union for Israelis. According to some resources, who wanted to gain ratings, the law began to operate on January 1, 2024, according to others – will work in 2025. We hasten to reassure our loyal readers and clients of our law firm in Israel: the innovations are only a project with a vague future, inspired by a completely different legislative initiative.
The impetus for the dissemination of this information was the rumor that Israel is going to oblige all those who have the right to enter its territory on a visa-free visa, to obtain special electronic permits. This was supposed to affect, first of all, citizens of the Russian Federation. It was assumed that the cost of the permit would be 25 shekels per person (or about 600 rubles).
It was emphasized that the plans to introduce this innovation is nurtured by the “Administration of Population and Migration of Israel”, which conceived to introduce a well-known system of electronic entry permits – Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). It obliges any tourist or business traveler to request permission to enter Israel in advance. Travelers were reassured that the new type of “digital” permits is not formally a visa, and all agreements on visa-free travel between Israel and a number of other countries remain in force. But we are still here.
All those who are interested in this topic, we advise you to follow the news on the official resources of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as on the official page of ETIAS. Also, you can always contact an experienced lawyer in Israel and get comprehensive information on your issue, including the rules of entry into other countries.
To be or not to be new EU entry rules for Israeli citizens?
If ever the new European entry rules for Israelis begin to take effect, it will be a very significant change in EU migration policy that will affect many travelers. Under the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) program, Israeli citizens will indeed be required to obtain a digital permit to cross the European Union border.
ETIAS is a system that assesses risk and security before travelers from countries that have visa-free travel with the EU cross the border. The system is designed to strengthen border security and counter the global increase in terrorist activity.
The ETIAS permit will be required for entry by air, sea or land and will allow stays of up to 90 days in Europe for the purposes of tourism, business travel, medical treatment or transit. It is important to note that ETIAS does not apply to transit within an international transit zone, such as airport connections without exiting through border control.
How might the new system work in practice if the law is passed?
If the new entry rules for Israelis to European countries are implemented, an online questionnaire will be required, including passport details, full name, date of birth, current address, nationality, other citizenship, gender and gender identity, contact information, education, professional experience and country of visit. It may be necessary to provide information on criminal history, dates and purposes of past travel in Europe, attitude towards drugs, presence of diagnoses and medical history.
The ETIAS system promises a fast application process that will result in the authorization being emailed to the applicant as a PDF document. There is no need to print the document, as all data will be available in the electronic border control system.
The visa itself takes a few minutes to obtain and its validity is 3 years. As mentioned earlier, the general logic of stay has not changed, it is still 90 by 180 (similar to the Schengen visa) – every 180 days you can stay up to 90 days in the countries of the Schengen zone or move through it in transit. Importantly, you will not need to apply for a separate ETIAS visa to visit each EU country.
Which countries are covered by the system?
ETIAS will be valid in Schengen states, European Free Trade Association countries (Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland), as well as in European microstates with open borders (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City). A similar procedure is planned to be introduced for visits to the UK and future members of the Schengen Agreement.
It is important to note that the need for ETIAS authorization applies to both holders of teudat maavars (les passe passé) and darcon holders. If a visa is required to visit a particular country with a teudat maawar, ETIAS does not replace the visa.
The introduction of the new ETIAS system is an important step toward enhancing security and control of migration flows into the European Union. This change will require citizens of Israel and other countries that have visa-free travel with the EU to make additional efforts to prepare for travel, but will also provide a higher level of security within Europe.
Visa application procedure
New entry regulations for Israelis to European countries require the candidate to visit the official ETIAS website or apply for an e-visa through a mobile app.
The procedure consists of three steps:
1. Login to the ETIAS website or mobile application
2. Filling in the electronic application form;
3. payment of the compulsory fee
The following personal information is entered into the online questionnaire:
1. Passport data
2. Full name, gender, date of birth
3. current citizenship and existence of a second citizenship
4. Home address and e-mail address, telephone number
5. Data on education and last place of work
In the form, it is also important to indicate the EU country to which entry is planned. In addition, information about criminal records, imprisonment, drug dependency or infectious diseases may be requested. In some cases, it may be asked which European countries the citizen has previously visited.
IMPORTANT: It is recommended to apply for an EU visa at least 96 hours before departure. It is mandatory to have a biometric passport with a validity period of at least 3 months.
Entry Rules for Israelis in European Countries is only an abridged interview with Israeli attorney Eugene Reznikov and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions on this topic – we recommend you to get a full consultation with a lawyer: Contact Us
A list of licensed Israeli attorneys can be found on the official website of the Israel Bar Association at:: israelbar.org.il
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