ETA-IL - electronic permit to enter Israel. It must be completed before travelling. citizens of countries that do not need a visa to Israel, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. Whether you need it, check on the official website. Without ETA-IL approved the airline may not put you on the flight.

The main thing is in numbers

  • Official fee - 25 шекелей.
  • Validity - up to 2 years or until the expiration date of the passport, if it comes earlier.
  • Consideration period is usually up to 72 hours, often faster. Serve in advance, not on the eve of departure.
  • Official website - israel-entry.piba.gov.il. Beware of sites that pose as government agencies.

How to submit it yourself

  1. Open the official website and select Russian or English interface.
  2. Upload a scan of your passport page with a photo and your photo on a light background.
  3. Fill out the form: passport details, contacts, purpose of trip, address in Israel, information about past trips.
  4. Pay the fee by credit card. Cards from Russian banks are usually not accepted for payment - you will need a card from a foreign bank.
  5. Wait for an email with the decision and save it.
ETA-IL is not a guarantee of entry. The final decision is made by border guard at the airport. The permit only gives the right to fly in and go through control.

Common mistakes

  • A typo in the passport number or transliteration of the name - the permission will not be “on you.”
  • New passport after approval: ETA-IL is tied to a specific passport, if replaced, you must apply again.
  • Answers that diverge from what you would say at the border. Write the truth about the purpose of the trip.

Why go to helper services

You can submit the application yourself for 25 шекелей. Services charge money not for “permission”, but for work around it: application form in Russian, data verification before submission, payment of the fee from your foreign card, status control and resubmission in case of error. If you don't have a foreign cards or you're not confident in English, this may be a wise investment. It is important that the service honestly showed which part of the price was government tax and which part was his service, and did not pretend to be state website.

When the permit is ready, select a job in advance: fresh vacancies in Israel and reviews of places of work - rate, hours, lunch and how they pay, according to those who worked there.