Israel ETA-IL, the official paid travel authorisation, and how to spot the middlemen who mark it up.

ETA-IL is Israel’s electronic travel authorisation for short visitors from visa-exempt countries. It became mandatory on 1 January 2025. It does not turn a visa-required passport into a visa-exempt one.

If the PIBA eligibility check says your passport needs a B/2 visitor visa, do not pay for ETA-IL. Follow the visa instruction from an Israeli mission instead. If the result says ETA-IL, apply only at the government portal.

Start here

1. Check eligibility before paying

Who can use ETA-IL, the official fee and what approval covers. → Read the ETA-IL overview

2. Prepare the application

Six public preparation checks. No invented form regexes or error messages. → Open the application guide

Fast facts

• Official URL: israel-entry.piba.gov.il.
• Agency: Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA).
• Eligibility: citizens of visa-exempt countries visiting for short tourism or business.
• Cost: ILS 25, non-refundable. Official notices say there is no express option.
• Decision: often immediate, but allow up to 72 hours.
• Validity: multiple trips for up to two years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first; up to 90 days per visit.