Please note that all students who meet the vaccination/recovery criteria are able to enter Israel as a regular tourist and once in Israel, you can obtain your student visa from the Misrad Hapanim (ministry of interior) in coordination with your school, yeshiva, seminary, or university.
This page is for all students 18 years old and above that are applying for a new student visa or renewing an expired student visa – and choose to obtain their student visa thru a local Israeli consulate prior to your entry into Israel.
Step 1:
Make sure you have ALL of the required documentation detailed below
All Students (regardless of age nationality or status) must have a clear copy of their Birth Certificate.
All Students (regardless of age nationality or status) must have a physical copy of their valid Foreign Passport or Israeli Passport.
All visa applicants must meet the requirements of one of the 3 categories listed below:
1- Vaccines Requirements:
The recognized vaccines in Israel are:
Pfizer
Moderna
Johnson & Johnson
AstraZeneca
Sinovac
SinoPharm
The Serum Institute of India.
The Sputnik V vaccine is also recognized in Israel, but there are additional requirements detailed below.
Who does Israel recognize as vaccinated?
- If you received a vaccination booster dose more than 180 prior to traveling to Israel: The Israeli Ministry of Health has decided that anyone who has a booster shot can enter Israel until May 31, 2022, even if 180 days have passed since the booster. (The 180 day rule still applies after a second dose). You can still only fly 14 days after the shot.
- Those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, SinoPharm, the Serum Institute of India:
– Received two doses (or a booster dose) at least 14 days (2 weeks) prior, but not more than 180 days (6 months) after their date of entry into Israel - Those vaccinated with Janssen (J&J) vaccine:
– Received one dose (or a booster dose) at least 14 days (2 weeks) prior, but not more than 180 days (6 months) after their date of entry into Israel - For those vaccinated by Sputnik V, as of 15.11.2021, must undergo a serological examination in Israel and received a positive result:
– Received two doses (or a booster dose) at least 14 days (2 weeks) prior, but not more than 180 days (6 months) after their date of entry into Israel
Note: Those vaccinated with Sputnik will stay in isolation until a positive serological test result is obtained.
Click here for a list of Serological testing locations in Israel
2- Recovery Requirements
Holders of a digital recovery certificate, which is recognized by Israel, based on a positive result in a NAAT test (molecular test similar to PCR): (currently not available for those recovered in the USA or Canada)
- Those for whom at least 11 days have passed since the positive test prior to the day of their entry into Israel
- Those who received at least one dose of the WHO-approved vaccines in addition to their recovery (there is no significance to the order of events).
Click Here for the list of countries that issue certificates that can be digitally verified by the Ministry of Health
3- Those With A Combination Of Recovery And Vaccination:
Travelers in this category must meet all the requirements detailed below:
- Those who received one dose or more of a vaccine (no matter how long or short ago) approved by the WHO (full list detailed in the above vaccination requirements section)
- Travelers must have recovered and be holding a digital recovery certificate that can be verified with a positive NAAT test result (as detailed in the above recovery requirements section).
- The date of the positive NAAT test results can be no more than 180 days (six months) prior to their date of entry into the State of Israel.
This must be on school letterhead, signed by the school director, and include the student’s legal name, passport number, and country of passport issuance.
Document must explicitly state in writing the following 4 things on the benefits summary page:
1) Names of insured (must match passports)
2) Dates of coverage (must match itinerary)
3) Coverage includes Israel
4) Coverage includes COVID-19
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):
Based In America:
Travelers choice Inc
Phone: 212-868-8698 x 214
devorahc@travelerschoice.com
Aviron Travel Inc
Phone: 718-436-9100
motty@avirontravel.com
Based in Israel:
Epstein Insurance:
Phone: 718-874-8213
Email: office@epsteininsuranceisrael.com
First page of your last 3 Bank Statements (this can be the students, parents or other responsible parties)
This must be completed for all who are applying for visas.
If one party of a married couple needs a visa, only fill out one form for the one who needs the Visa, the same applies for a child / Children. Only those who need Visas need to fill out the form.
Click Here to view the form
This must be completed for all who are also getting visas.
If one party of a married couple needs a visa, only fill out one form for the one who needs the Visa, the same applies for a child / Children. Only those who need Visas need to fill out the form.
Click Here to view the form
All travelers (regardless of age nationality or status) must take either
- a. A PCR test within (less then) 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to Israel,
- or
- b. Lab result from rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of the scheduled flight departure time. Passengers must show the result during check-in.
Passengers without the required Covid test regardless of age or citizenship will be declined from boarding the flight.
In the rare case that you recently had covid and are still testing positive on your pre flight covid test or if your PCR test upon arrival in Israel comes back positive – If you recently had covid (between 8 and 90 days prior to your travel date into Israel) and are still testing positive on your pre-flight covid test – you can bring along with you both your positive Covid test test result (PCR or Antigen) from your recent covid (between 8 and 90 days prior to the flight date) and a formal letter from your doctor stating you have recovered from covid. Those 2 documents will allow an override of your positive pre-flight covid test and/or your positive PCR test upon arrival in Israel at Ben Gurion airport.
Step 2:
Schedule an appointment with you nearest Israeli Consulate abroad to where you are located.
Click here to find the consulate most convenient for you.
Step 3:
Come to your appointment fully prepared with all of the required documentation.
Step 4:
Have a safe, healthy, and productive learning experience in Israel