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Travel Request for a Funeral

  • Travel Request for a Funeral

Coronavirus TRAVEL Travel Request for a Funeral

UPDATED June 22, 2021
 For a general overview of all travelers, including Israeli citizens and foreign nationals Click Here
For a detailed overview of specific situations and appropriate links Click Here

GREAT NEWS FOR STUDENTS NEEDING VISAS: With much gratitude to the dedicated staff at the Israel Consulate in NYC – we can apply for a student visa on your behalf, without you needing an appointment, or going to the consulate.
Click here to see exact instructions. 

American Citizens with a recently expired US passport that need to travel back to the United States Click Here to view more

Changes: There are ongoing policy changes happening rapidly and without advance warning, we will keep updating this page as frequently as we can. 

Contact Information:

Email:  [email protected]

If this is urgent and you need immediate assistance,
Phone: 646-517-0222 ext 999
This phone is being monitored 24/7 for life and death emergencies.

People may still apply to travel to Israel for the funeral of a 1st-degree relative only.
These trips cannot be longer than 24 hours. Children in Law, Siblings in Law, and Grandchildren and NOT eligible for funeral travel.​

In order to enter Israel, even with a valid permit, a person MUST have a negative result for a COVID-19 PCR test,.
performed not more than 72 hours prior to his or her departure to the State of Israel. Rapid Tests are not sufficient.

Important Note: Amudim does not charge fees for any service we provide for the community..
Should anyone claim that he/she was asked to pay for assistance, please email [email protected] right away, and let us know.

Please see all instructions below, and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
If this is urgent and you need immediate assistance, please call David Kushner,
Amudim’s Director of Government Relations, at 646-517-0222 ext 999, 24 hours a day.

If possible, Please merge all the below items as 1 multi-page pdf file – No larger than 10 mb.

1) Passenger’s Passport: A clear image of valid passports for all travelers

2) Passenger’s Driver’s License: A clear image of the valid driver’s license for all travelers who have one

3) Admission Request and Declaration Forms: you will need one form filled out for each passenger. Click here to get the form.

4) Chevra Kadisha (Israeli Burial Society) Letter: A letter from the Israeli Chevra Kadisha on their letterhead confirming that they are handling the funeral. You should be able to get this from the American funeral home you are dealing with, or you can provide David with the name of the American funeral home and he will get it from them directly.

5) A copy of the death certificate: The death certificate MUST show that the burial is taking place in Israel if the person passed away outside of Israel. This should be provided by the funeral home or undertaker. You can tell them that the “working copy” is okay to be sent, as that is available much sooner; or you can provide David with the name of the American funeral home you are dealing with and he will get it from them directly.

6 A copy of the deceased’s passport: (current or expired)

7) Birth Certificate for Children: For children of the deceased looking to travel, a copy of each child’s birth certificate. (The birth certificate must list the deceased as the mother/father of the child requesting permission to travel)

8) For any children of the deceased whose name on their current passport is different then the name on their Birth Certificate (ie a married daughter who took her husbands last name) We will need an official document explaining the name change – such as a Marriage License or a Court Order.

9) Marriage Certificate for the surviving spouse: For the spouse of the deceased looking to travel, a clear copy of the marriage certificate between the deceased and the traveling spouse

10)  Birth Certificate for Sibling(s): For the sibling(s) of a deceased looking to travel, a copy of each sibling’s birth certificate, as well as a copy of the birth certificate of the deceased. (The birth certificate must list the same names of the mother and father as is on the descendant’s birth certificate)

11) Health insurance COVID-19 Specific: Proof of health insurance policy, explicitly stating in writing coverage for COVID 19 during your stay in Israel. The coverage dates must match your itinerary dates.

You may call either of the following insurance companies or anyone else you choose (We do not have any ties to these companies, only that they have a good reputation and good track record for this specific insurance):

This insurance is not needed for those who will be in Israel for less than 24 hours. 

    1. Travelers choice Inc
      Phone: (212) 868-8698 x 214
      Email: [email protected]
    2. Epstein Insurance:
      Phone: 718-874-8213
      Email: [email protected]

Once you have all of the above documents in order, please try to merge them into a multi-page PDF if you can, and email it to [email protected] Please put in the subject line of the email “Emergency Travel Request for a Funeral.” Feel free to call David Kushner at any time if you have any questions regarding this process at 646-517-0222 ext 999.

Once we have reviewed the email and determined that it is complete, we will submit it to the consulate for approval on your behalf.

1) If you email send an email to [email protected] please make sure to include your phone number.

2) As rules and policies keep changing rapidly, there are no guarantees – but we will try our best. The faster you gather the needed documentation – the more likely the permit will be approved and issued in time.

3) A travel permit is not needed for any passengers that are citizens of Israel and that have a valid Israeli Passport

4) Once everything is confirmed and the travel permit is issued, we will share contact info with you for our colleagues on the ground in Israel who can assist you with any questions, concerns, or logistics from when you arrive in Israel until your departure from Israel.

5) Please note that you are obligated to remain in Israel for the duration of each individual travelers quarantine period.
However, if you are traveling for a funeral, you may enter and exit Israel within less than 24 hours. This exception applies to funerals only.

6) We must speak to the traveler directly before making any requests if more than one person is traveling; there needs to be only one family member we are communicating with on behalf of all travelers.

If you have any additional questions, please email [email protected]. If this is urgent and you need immediate assistance, please call David Kushner, Amudim’s Director of Government Relations, at 646-517-0222 ext 999, 24 hours a day.

Important Follow up steps for you:

  1. Make sure the spelling of your name and passport # on the permit match exactly the name and passport # on your passport
  2. The ishur /  permit is valid for whatever time period is stated in the permit. If the permit was not used within that time frame, please reapply for a permit with all the necessary documentation and attach the unused permit, reapplying via the same email address you used for your original application.
  3. In order to check-in at the airport, each traveler must show a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of the flight departure time.
  4. All travelers must complete the following “traveler entry” declaration separately for each traveler.
    • Click Here to enter the “traveler entry” deceleration page
    • After completing the Travel Entry Declaration page, you will receive and email (within 2-3 min after completion). Please print that email and bring it with you to the airport.

Latest Update as of 6/15/2021

UPDATED QUARANTINE GUIDANCE:

All persons entering the State of Israel at this time, regardless of citizenship, are obligated to adhere to all of the rules of quarantine, as determined by the Ministry of Health upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.
 
Depending on each traveler’s individual circumstances and history, a determination will be made upon arrival (there is no mechanism to make a request until you have already landed in Israel) as to which of the following 4 levels of quarantine each traveler will be obligated to adhere to.
 
Foreigners leaving Israel before the end of the isolation period or found to be in violation of quarantine regulations without special approval from the Israeli authorities, violate the laws of the State of Israel and face a penalty of future denial of entry and up to A 5 YEAR ENTRY BAN INTO iSRAEL
 
Israeli Citizens found to be in violation of quarantine guidelines risk a significant fine from the government (up to 10,000 shekels per person / per violation) and potentially being denied the ability to leave the country until those fines are paid in full.
 
The 4 levels of quarantine are as follows:
 
A) 0 DAYS – NO QUARANTINE REQUIRED – Those who were fully vaccinated in Israel and have an Israeli ministry of health vaccination record, those who previously had covid while in israel and have a ministry of health issued recovery letter (michtav machlim / teudat machlim), or have an israeli government issued green pass – will not be required to quarantine at all
 
B) 1-3 DAYS – Those that have proof of vaccination outside of Israel, Proof of Previous covid diagnosis and recovery from Covid outside of Israel via a formal letter from a doctor or medical Facility, or have a recent positive antibody test from outside of Israel.  Anybody fitting the above category, will be permitted to take a serological antibody test at a Ministry of Health approved Testing site.  If you test positive for antibodies, you can then submit those results to the Ministry of health with a request for quarantine exemption.
The list of government testing sites in Hebrew can be found here

To view the list in English, click here

A list of government approved private testing sites, that we have found to be reliable, can be found here
 
C) 10 Days – Upon arrival in the Airport in Israel – you can take a pcr covid test and another pcr covid test at any Ministry of Health approved testing site on your 9th day in Israel.  If both of those pcr covid tests are negative, you can submit both results to the ministry of health with a request for exemption/early release from quarantine.
 
D) 14 DAYS – you can choose not to do any testing and remain in isolation for a full 14 days.  You will receive an email from the ministry of health detailing the date and time of your release from quarantine, based upon 14 days from the date and time of your arrival in Israel.
 
If you have any further questions regarding quarantine guidelines and exemption process you may reach the ministry of health from any phone in Israel by dialing *5400 or visiting their website at https://www.gov.il/en/departments/guides/corona-quarantine
 

THE REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROCESS CHANGE FREQUENTLY, THIS IS THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION WE HAVE.

If you have any additional questions, please email [email protected]. If this is urgent and you need immediate assistance, please call David Kushner, Amudim’s Director of Government Relations, at 646-517-0222 ext 999, 24 hours a day1

Eligibility & Requirements - Main Page
Quarantine Guidance
Submitting your Request
Useful Links
Health Insurance Guidance
Vaccination / Recovery Guidance
Important Notes
Apostille Guidance
Relief for American Citizens with an Expired Passports