PASSPORT VALIDITY
Make sure you know where your passport is and ensure it is not expired or nearly expired. If your passport is set to expire within six (6) months of your departure from the USA, it must be renewed in advance of the trip. You may be denied boarding on the group flight if your passport expires within six (6) months from your departure date from the USA.
To determine if your passport will still be valid during your travel, use the handy calculator below!
Enter Your Passport Expiration Date:
We estimate your passport will be valid for travel to Israel until . If you depart from the USA after this date, make sure to renew your passport immediately!
CHECK YOUR PASSPORT!If your passport expires within six (6) months of your scheduled departure day from the USA, do not delay—renew it NOW. Learn more about the requirements and timelines for renewing your passport at www.travel.state.gov.
VISA RULES
If you travel with an American, Canadian or EU passport, good news —you don’t need a visa to enter Israel! If you travel with a passport from another country or have a USA Travel Document (as opposed to a standard passport), you may need a visa. Contact your local Israeli Consulate for details.
Learn more about visa requirements by citizenship here.
If you are flying through Canada and hold a passport from a country other than the USA or Canada, you may need Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). More information can be found on the Government of Canada website.
It is important to note that any person traveling on a flight from Canada or in transit through Canada without a valid passport or required VISA will not be able to travel and will not have the option of traveling on the next flight departing from Canada. Please be in touch with us regarding questions.
PASSPORT COPIES
You are required to submit a copy of the inside cover page of your passport to our office (i.e. the page with your picture and passport number). If you haven’t done so already, upload your passport copy to the last section —Travel, of your Birthright Israel Application. If you have difficulty uploading, you may email it to [email protected] or fax it to (202) 315-3269.
RULES FOR ISRAELI CITIZENS OR CHILDREN OF ISRAELI CITIZENS
If either of your parents is an Israeli citizen, or if you have ever lived in Israel, it is your responsibility to make sure your status with the Israeli Defense Forces is worked out and clear. Moreover, you may still have obligations to the State of Israel that must be resolved prior to your trip, even if you do not have an Israeli passport. These matters must be taken care of before you arrive in Israel.
Note: If you hold an Israeli passport, you must enter Israel with your Israeli passport.
If you do not take care of these matters prior to your trip, you may be obligated to stay in Israel by the State of Israel until resolution. If this applies to you, you will be solely responsible for your own situation and any costs involved. Again, we highly recommend you be extremely cautious about these matters and contact one of the regional Israel consulate offices if you have any questions.
PROTECT YOUR PASSPORTYour passport is an incredibly important document. We recommend making two (2) photocopies of your passport and leaving one with a friend or relative at home. That way you’ll be covered in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen.