COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL INFORMATION
Requirements for Entry to Israel
Below are the currently mandated requirements for foreign nationals entering Israel. [Updated: 03/02/2021]
You may have additional requirements from your airline or home country, please check these before traveling.
You have not been in a ‘red’ country
You did not stay in any country listed as a red country in the 14 days prior to your arrival. You can check the current list of red countries here: https://corona.health.gov.il/en/country-status/
You are fully vaccinated or recovered
You are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid accoring to the following:
You have a WHO approved Covid Vaccine or have recovered from Covid according to the following guidelines. The WHO approved vaccines are: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm. Israel also recognizes the Sputnik-V Vaccine.
- You received your second shot of a WHO approved vaccine (or first Johnson shot) within six months of your date of departure from Israel
- You received a booster shot of a WHO approved vaccine more than 15 days before your date of arrival. Please note, there is no expiration on the validity of a booster shot. If you have received one at any point, you may enter Israel.
- You received a positive result on a PCR Test within 190 days of your date of departure AND have a digital Covid certificate of recovery. Please note: the US does not provide digital Covid Certificates.
You have Travel Insurance
You must have travel insurance that covers medical costs related to a coronavirus infection while in Israel. We also recommend that you have insurance that covers any costs associated with a Coronavirus infection, such as quarantine costs, cancelled flights etc.
Process of Entry to Israel
In addition to the above requirements you will need to do the following:
Test before departure
- PCR Test within 72 hours of departure OR Antigen test within 24 hours of departure – with your passport number on it. Please note: If you have tested positive for Corona in the three months prior to your trip you are not required to take a PCR test, but must bring your positive test results from the 90 days prior to your trip.
- If you have a layover of more than 24 hours, your PCR test must be within 72 hours of time of departure of your final flight to Israel.
Completed Health Declaration
You will need to fill in the declaration form on the Ministry of Health’s website (This can only be filled out in the 24 hours before time of the departure to Israel.): https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/
Those who carry a digital vaccination certificate can upload it in the form. The following countries’ digital certificates are recognized by Israel. If you do not have a digital certificate (e.g. the United States does not), please bring your paper record with you to your flight.
Digital certificates recognized by Israel: https://corona.health.gov.il/en/directives/agreement-countries/
PCR Test on Arrival
Take a PCR test upon landing at Ben Gurion airport and isolate for 24 hours or until you receive negative test results (whichever is earlier).
Those vaccinated with the Sputnik-V vaccine are also required to take a serological test at Ben Gurion Airport.
Disclaimer: Foreign nationals who are found to have presented forged documents or who have violated their isolation requirement shall be denied entrance to Israel for five years.
Helpful Information
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is required that you take out travel insurance for your trip. For further information please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Passport Copy
JJ Travel requires that you send us an electronic copy of your passport prior to travel. This is in the event of an emergency or loss of your passport, while on the tour. It is also a requirement that you bring a copy of your passport with you and keep it in a place separate from your actual passport.
Itinerary Pace
In order to see all the sites and get the maximum from the itinerary the tour must maintain a certain pace. In the interest of everyone on the tour we ask that you cooperate with the tour guide and tour leader to keep the schedule.
Payment
Unless otherwise agreed pre-payment is required by bank wire or credit card.
Accommodation
Check-in
Check-in time is usually around 15:00. If you arrive significantly before this time and want access to your room it may be that you have to pay for an additional night. Check-in times on the Sabbath (Saturday) can be significantly later than 15:00.
Extras
It is your responsibility to settle the bill for any ‘extras’ (drinks, WiFi, additional meals etc.) upon checking out of the hotel. If for any reason a bill is not settled JJ Travel will request payment from you and add a 5% handling fee.
Solo Travellers
Unless otherwise stated, all tour prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you are travelling alone you have the option of paying a ‘single supplement’ for sole occupancy of a room. If you are unable to pay the single supplement we strongly encourage you to find someone to accompany you on the tour.
If neither of those are an option, we will do our best to place you in a room with another participant on the tour of the same gender. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be an option. If we are able to find a roommate for you, this will be your roommate for the duration of the tour as changes to room arrangements during the tour are not typically possible.
Upgrades
At some hotels, it may be possible to request an upgraded room. If the option is not available to you at the time of booking please contact us for more information.
Arrival Information
Passport and Immigration Control
All travelers must ensure they hold a passport that is valid for at least 6 months at the time of traveling to Israel. At passport control you may be questioned regarding your visit to Israel, answer simply and truthfully. State that you are coming on a tour of Israel and if necessary, present your documents from JJ Travel showing that you are attending a tour. Passport control will give you a small blue and white piece of paper, this is your permission to stay in Israel (instead of a stamp in your passport). It is important to keep this with your passport you may be required to present it to officials while in Israel and when you leave the country.
The Sabbath and Religious Holidays
The Sabbath begins just before sunset on Fridays and ends just after sunset on Saturdays. Stores and some restaurants begin closing on Friday afternoon and will not open again until Saturday night or Sunday morning. Similarly, public transport is also very limited during this time. The extent of this depends on the location, for example, it is most noticeable in Jerusalem, but it applies across Israel. Similar circumstances apply to some of the religious holidays. If you are in Israel when this happens you will be informed beforehand.
Tour Book
JJ Travel provides each participant a tour book - Touring Israel According to God's Economy - to accompany the tour. The tour book brings to life the Biblical sites and puts each place into the context of our daily Christian experience.
Electrical Items
The electrical supply in Israel is 220V AC. The plug type is a 2-pin (European) style. It is advisable to purchase an adapter prior to your trip if you need one. Most hotels provide hairdryers and have 110/220 electric shaver outlets. Please be aware if you are traveling from the USA or another country that uses 110V you will need to bring appliances that can be switched to 220V or bring a transformer. Chargers for laptops, phones, cameras etc. are generally fine as they have the transformer built-in. If you are in any doubt about your appliances check before you leave.
Wifi and Internet
Most hotels provide free Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi will be available on JJ Travel tour buses. During the tour there may be WiFi access at various restaurants and coffee shops, but when out of the bus during the day access to Wi-Fi will be limited.
Money Matters
Currency
The national currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Each Shekel is divided into 100 Agurot (singular Agura). NIS bills are in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 200. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 Shekels and 10 and 50 Agurot.
Credit Cards
Standard international credit cards are accepted throughout Israel. There will be some small vendors that do not accept credit cards and will require cash. To ensure your card will work while in Israel contact your card provider prior to departure.
Money Exchange and ATM’s
It is advisable to have your money needs taken care of before the start of the tour, although money can be changed at the airport on arrival. However, if you are arriving in a large group please be aware that this can take time. There will also be opportunities to change money at the hotel (this can be expensive) or in the cities you are staying in. The most simple and convenient way to get Shekels is to use a bank ATM machine with a credit card. The rates at these are often favorable. However, please note that tour itineraries are full and time is very limited. You can calculate the value of your currency in Israeli Shekels at www.xe.com. We recommend that you have at least 350 Shekels (approximately $100) before the start of the tour.
Emergency Fund
We strongly recommend that you have you have access to an emergency fund of approximately $200 while on your trip.
Tips
It is recommended and customary to tip the guides and drivers for the tour. We suggest $5 per person per day for the guide and $3 per person per day for the driver. This can be in USD ($) or Shekels. Our suggestion is that this is organized and collected as a group. It can be given daily or as a lump sum at the end of the tour. JJ Travel or your tour leader may help facilitate this by collecting the money, but it is paid directly to the guide and driver.
Transport
The tour transport will be an air-conditioned bus. Significant amounts of time will be spent on the bus and the driver, who works in coordination with the guide, is an important part of the tour. Depending on the size of the tour there may be very few empty seats so you should expect to sit next to someone. If you suffer from travel sickness please bring appropriate medication with you.
Meals
Meals Included
To see specifically which meals are included as part of your tour package please refer to the itinerary.
Breakfasts
Hotel breakfasts in Israel are buffet style. There will be a wide selection of salads, breads, pastries, eggs etc. along with tea, coffee, and juice.
Lunches
Lunches that are included as part of your itinerary will vary in type but will be a good-sized meal. Soft drinks to accompany these meals are usually an extra to be paid for by you in cash. When lunch is not included as part of your package you will be taken to a place where you can purchase your own lunch. Lunches can vary in price depending on the type and quantity of food but it would be safe to budget the equivalent of $10-$15 (USD).
Dinners
Dinners in the hotels will generally be buffet style with a choice of meats, rice, pasta and potatoes etc. and a large selection of salads. Typically water, tea, and coffee are included but other beverages such as soft drinks will be extra and charged to your room. Eating out in the evening will vary in price depending on the type of food. You can pay around $10 for street food (falafel, kebab etc.) up to $20-$30 or more for a sit down meal.
Snacks
Due to the physical nature of the tour it is advisable to have snacks with you. The days start early and are active and it can feel like a long time from breakfast to lunch.
Departure Information
Upon departure you should plan to be at the airport three hours before your scheduled flight time. As part of the security process you will be asked some simple questions when you leave Israel. Answer truthfully, accurately and to the point. If you are travelling with others on a flight, for security reasons, it is advisable that you check-in together.
Tour Guide
It is a legal requirement that all tours in Israel have a professional Israeli-registered guide. These guides undergo an extensive education program in history, archeology, geology, flora and fauna and more. At JJ Travel we choose the guides that we work with very carefully. Guides may be Jewish, Arab, believer or non-believer, but all guides are selected based upon our understanding of the participants of the tour and of the specialist nature of the tours we conduct. The guides fulfill two main functions. First, they take care of the group while touring, not only making sure that everyone is safe and well and that the schedule is maintained, but also that everyone is enjoying the tour. Secondly, the guide provides an explanation of the various tour sites.
What to Bring
We recommend that you travel light – one suitcase and one bag to use daily on the tour. You will move hotels during the tour and so being able to move your luggage around easily and pack and unpack quickly will be much more convenient.
- Passport and copy of passport.
- Visa (if necessary).
- Airline tickets.
- JJ Travel booking confirmation document.
- A photocopy of your passport. Keep this in a different place than your passport. In this way should you lose your passport you will have this copy.
- Travel insurance documents.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Day bag – a small bag or backpack for use during the tour.
- Water footwear – if you are planning to take a dip in the Dead Sea you will need footwear you can get wet. The ground in and around the Dead Sea can be very uncomfortable to walk on with bare feet.
- Umbrella or waterproof coat (winter months). Between the November and March it is possible to get caught in rain showers while on the tour.
- For other clothing items please refer to the information on the weather and climate in Israel for the time of year that you are travelling. It is important to note that a significant amount of time on the tour is spent outside.
- Due to the religious sensitivity of some tour sites, females need to have some form of clothing that will cover the knees (skirt or trousers) and also cover the shoulders. In some places males are also required to wear long trousers. This only applies to a few days on the tour and you will be informed ahead of time by your guide or tour leader.
- Sunscreen.
- Insect repellent.
- Water bottle – bottled water can be bought, but it is convenient to have a refillable bottle.
- Camera/cell phone/tablet for pictures. Don’t forget the charger or spare batteries. Extra memory cards can also help – you will want to take a lot of photos.
- Electrical adapter – see the information below.
Cell Phones
There are a number of options available to you if you would like to have cell phone access whilst in Israel.
- Rent an Israeli phone or purchase an Israeli SIM card. SIM cards can be purchased at the airport in the arrival hall or in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
- Use your own cell phone as it is with your current number. You may need to speak to your provider to ensure this will work and check to see if you can purchase a special plan. This is often an expensive option but maybe necessary if you need to keep your current number.
- Ask for an Israeli number from your current provider.
Weather
In general Israel enjoys warm dry summers (April-October) and mild winters. More specific information can be found in the tables below. A current weather forecast can be found on the Israel Meteorological Service website.
Monthly temperatures by region (min/max)
| Jerusalem | Tel-Aviv | Tiberias | Eilat | Dead Sea | ||
| Jan | C | 6-11 | 9-18 | 9-18 | 10-21 | 11-20 |
| F | 43-53 | 49-65 | 48-65 | 49-70 | 53-68 | |
| Feb | C | 7-14 | 9-29 | 9-20 | 11-23 | 13-22 |
| F | 44-57 | 48-66 | 49-67 | 51-73 | 56-72 | |
| Mar | C | 8-16 | 10-20 | 11-22 | 13-26 | 16-25 |
| F | 47-61 | 51-69 | 51-72 | 56-80 | 61-78 | |
| Apr | C | 12-21 | 12-22 | 13-27 | 17-31 | 20-29 |
| F | 53-69 | 54-72 | 56-80 | 63-87 | 68-85 | |
| May | C | 15-25 | 17-25 | 17-32 | 21-35 | 24-34 |
| F | 60-77 | 63-77 | 62-89 | 69-95 | 75-93 | |
| Jun | C | 17-27 | 19-28 | 20-35 | 24-37 | 27-37 |
| F | 63-81 | 67-83 | 68-95 | 75-99 | 80-99 | |
| Jul | C | 19-29 | 21-30 | 23-37 | 25-40 | 28-39 |
| F | 66-84 | 70-86 | 73-98 | 77-103 | 83-100 | |
| Aug | C | 19-29 | 22-30 | 24-37 | 26-40 | 29-38 |
| F | 66-86 | 72-86 | 75-99 | 79-104 | 83-101 | |
| Sep | C | 18-28 | 20-31 | 22-35 | 24-36 | 27-36 |
| F | 65-82 | 69-89 | 71-95 | 75-98 | 81-96 | |
| Oct | C | 16-26 | 15-28 | 19-32 | 20-33 | 24-32 |
| F | 60-78 | 59-83 | 65-89 | 69-92 | 75-90 | |
| Nov | C | 12-19 | 12-25 | 15-26 | 16-28 | 18-27 |
| F | 54-67 | 54-76 | 59-78 | 61-83 | 65-80 | |
| Dec | C | 8-14 | 9-19 | 11-20 | 11-23 | 13-21 |
| F | 47-56 | 47-66 | 53-68 | 51-74 | 56-71 |
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
| Jerusalem | Tel-Aviv (Costal Plains) | Tiberias (Galilee) | Eilat | |
| Jan | 133 | 127 | 90 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 118 | 90 | 73 | 5.8 |
| Mar | 93 | 61 | 57 | 3.7 |
| Apr | 25 | 18 | 20 | 1.7 |
| May | 3.2 | 2.6 | 4 | 1 |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Oct | 15 | 26 | 14 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 61 | 79 | 50 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 106 | 126 | 81 | 6 |
Health
As part of the registration process, you will be asked some simple medical/health-related questions. This information is treated in the strictest confidence. In some cases, JJ Travel may deem a person's health condition unsuitable for a given tour. If you have any questions regarding these matters please do not hesitate to contact us.