In 2022, the ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorisation System, will be introduced for citizens of Israel and around 60 other countries worldwide to allow them to visit countries in Europe’s Schengen Area.
Visitors from Israel will need to apply for their ETIAS prior to their trip to gain entry to Europe.
The fact that the entire ETIAS application process can be completed online means that applicants do not need to visit an embassy or consulate in order to obtain an ETIAS. In fact, Israelis can submit an ETIAS application for Israeli citizens from the comfort of their own home, and can even do so outside Israel if they are living or travelling in a third country.
Travellers who have successfully received their ETIAS for Israeli citizens and have entered the Schengen Area may stay in the open borders region for up to 90 days within a single 180-day time period.
During this time, ETIAS holders are permitted to exit and re-enter the Schengen Area as often as they wish, although doing so will not “reset” the 90-day period that starts on the first day they enter Schengen territory.
Will Israeli citizens need a visa for Europe?
No, Israeli citizens will not require a visa for entry to any of the countries in the Schengen Area of Europe.
From 2022, they will need to register with the new ETIAS system, which will allow them to continue to enjoy visa-free travel to these European countries.
The ETIAS is effectively a visa waiver and is intended to increase border security for the Schengen member states and make daily life safer for both residents and visitors within the open borders region. It is not a visa and will be easily obtainable through an online platform.
Once it is rolled out, the ETIAS for Israeli citizens will be a requirement in order to visit the Schengen countries.
It will not guarantee Israeli visitors entry into Europe, as the final decision lies with the border control office, but once they are in Schengen territory, ETIAS will allow them to travel freely between the 26 Schengen member states.
Documents required to obtain ETIAS for Israeli citizens
ETIAS requirements for Israeli citizens state that all applicants must be in possession of a valid passport issued by the Israeli government. Furthermore, this passport must remain valid for a minimum of three months following the initial date upon which the holder plans to enter the Schengen Area of Europe.
Applicants who possess a valid Israeli passport must then be in possession of two additional items:
- Valid debit or credit card
- Functioning email address
The credit/debit card is necessary for the payment of the ETIAS application and processing fee.
The email address is needed for the exchange of important information regarding the application. This includes updates on the processing status, notice of whether the travel authorisation has been approved or rejected, and any communication required to repeal a rejected application, if necessary.
ETIAS application for Israeli citizens
Completing an ETIAS application for Israeli citizens essentially involves filling in and submitting a simple online form. Once completed, this form will be sent to European authorities for review, and the information it contains will be cross-referenced against a number of security databases.
The ETIAS application for Israeli citizens only requires around 10 minutes to complete.
However, applicants are strongly advised to double-check all the information they provide on their form, as a mistake of any kind could result in the processing of their application being delayed, and in some cases, may even cause their application to be rejected.
In order to successfully submit an application for the ETIAS for entry to Europe, Israeli nationals will need to share the following information about themselves:
- Personal information — full name, gender, date of birth, and place of birth
- Contact information — phone, email, and current home address
- Passport information — passport number, date of issue, place of issue, and expiry date
- Provisional travel itinerary — dates and destinations of the applicant’s planned trip to the Schengen Area. Applicants must be sure to include their initial port of entry into Schengen territory along with this information.
Additionally, applicants will be required to answer a small number of questions relating to any criminal records they might have and their health history.
Israeli applicants whose ETIAS applications are approved will be notified via email. Once they receive this notification, they should print it and carry it with them so that they can present it to transport authorities on their way out of Israel or to border authorities upon entry into Europe.
The ETIAS is expected to have an application acceptance rate of close to 95%. For the small number of travellers who have their applications rejected, it will be possible to appeal the rejection by submitting an appeal directly to the member state through which they intend to enter the Schengen Area. Their appeal will then be processed independently by this member state.
How long does it take to get ETIAS from Israel?
Thanks to the electronic nature of the ETIAS for Israeli citizens, most applicants will receive their approval notifications by email rapidly – sometimes within minutes of successfully submitting their ETIAS application, provided they have filled in the application form correctly.
There are, however, occasional delays in processing, and to avoid travel disruption, all Israeli nationals are advised to ensure that they obtain their ETIAS well in advance of their trip to the Schengen Area.