Travel Request for a Funeral

EMERGENCY TRAVEL TO ISRAEL

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amudim has assisted hundreds of community members with arranging safe emergency travel to Israel, primarily for funerals and medical-related matters, as well as for students. We have updated our website to provide updated information and guidelines for all types of travel to Israel.

Please click below, where we have included as much relevant and current information as possible, including the necessary forms, requirements, and the contact person to speak to directly for emergencies.

Student Visa

Funeral Travel

Medical Travel

Simcha Travel

Travel Request for a Funeral

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.

Documentation Needed:

If possible, Please merge all the below items as 1 multi-page pdf file.

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

2) Proof of travel: Booked plane ticket or confirmed travel itinerary – including the return flight

3) Applicant’s Declaration form: you will need one form filled out separately for each passenger. Click here to get the form.

If you are going for less than 24 hours, click here for the appropriate form:
If you are going for 2 weeks or more, click here for the appropriate form:

4) Admission request form: A separate form must be completed for each passenger. Click here to get the form.

5) 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.

6) 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.

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

8) 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)

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 showing coverage for COVID 19 – you can call the following insurance, or anyone you choose (We do not know this company personally, only that they have a good reputation for this specific insurance):

Epstein Insurance:
Phone: 718-874-8213
Email: [email protected]

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

Submitting the Request:

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.

Important Notes:

1) 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.

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

3) 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.

4) Please note that you are supposed to only enter Israel for a minimum of 2 weeks; however, if you are staying less than 24 hours – they can make exceptions for a funeral only. Therefore, your stay in Israel either needs to be less than 24 hours or more than 2 weeks – If it is a Friday burial, they may permit you to stay over Shabbos and return back to the USA on the Saturday night flight.

5) Please note that Ishurim will only be issued for documented 1st-degree relatives of the deceased (spouse, child, parent, sibling) or a spouse of a 1st-degree relative, only if both spouses are traveling. If there are special circumstances, please call 646-517-0222 ext 999, and discuss it with David right away.

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.

7)Once the Ishur is issued – for all flights:

For coming into Israel, including Israelis Click Here

For leaving the country, including Israelis: Click Here

The form can only be filled in within 24 hours of departure. After submitting the form, they have to wait for an approval which they will show proof of on a smartphone, or print out. They won’t be allowed to fly without this form completed correctly.

Only takes 90 sec to fill out and you get an email reply within 5 min with the approval and attached pdf.

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.