Israel's ETA-IL Explained: The Entry Authorization Every Traveler Now Needs

There is a new step in planning any trip to Israel, and it catches first-time travelers out. Since the start of 2025, most visitors need an approved travel authorization called the ETA-IL before they fly. The good news is that it is quick, cheap, and simple, once you know how it works. Here is the honest, accurate picture.

What is the ETA-IL?

The ETA-IL is an electronic travel authorization. It is not a full visa. It is a pre-travel screening approval, similar to the American ESTA or the Canadian eTA, that most travelers from visa-exempt countries now need before boarding a flight to Israel. It became mandatory on the first of January 2025 and remains fully in effect.

Do I actually need one?

If you hold a passport from one of roughly 96 visa-exempt countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and all European Union nations, then yes, you need an approved ETA-IL before you fly. Airlines check it at the gate and will not let you board without it. If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you apply for a regular visa through the Israeli embassy instead.

For Ethiopian and Eritrean passport holders specifically: the process is different and needs more care. AJET provides hands-on help with this.

What does it cost, and where do I apply?

This is where you must be careful. The official fee is just 25 Israeli shekels, which is under 8 US dollars. Apply only on the official government website, whose address ends in gov.il. Many copycat websites charge far more, sometimes 30 to 80 dollars, for the very same authorization. The official site is israel-entry.piba.gov.il, and it is the only one you should use.

✦  Official cost: 25 shekels, under 8 US dollars

✦  Official site: israel-entry.piba.gov.il, address ending in gov.il

✦  Payment is by credit card, and you receive an email receipt. No receipt means you were not on the official site.

How long does it take, and how long is it valid?

The application itself takes about ten minutes. Many approvals come back quickly, sometimes within hours, but some take up to 72 hours. So the golden rule is simple. Apply at least three days before you travel, and ideally as soon as your trip is confirmed, so it is never a last-minute worry.

Once approved, your ETA-IL is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows multiple visits, each of up to 90 days. So for most pilgrims, one approval comfortably covers this trip and any return.

A few honest cautions

✦  An approved ETA-IL lets you reach the border. Final entry is always at the discretion of the border officer, as in any country.

✦  Make sure your passport has enough validity, well beyond your travel dates, before you apply.

✦  Do not book non-refundable flights until your authorization is approved, just to be safe.

The simplest part of all

Here is the reassuring truth. AJET helps every single traveler through this step. We tell you exactly when to apply, point you to the official site, and make sure no one is caught out at the airport. For Ethiopian and Eritrean passport holders, we give extra, hands-on help. A new rule does not have to be a new worry when you have someone who does this every day.

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