BORDER REGULATIONS AND VISAS
Please be aware that when traveling to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, it is mandatory to have a passport with at least 6 months validity. While border officials may not always enforce this requirement if there are several months left until the passport expires, it is ultimately the responsibility of the clients to take this into consideration.
The departure taxes for Israel in 2023 are as follows:
$55 per person (NIS 198 per person) for Allenby Bridge
$32 per person (NIS 118 per person) for Taba, Arava, and Sheikh Hussein.
Please note that these amounts are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
For Jordan, the exit tax at land borders is JOD10 per person (approximately $15 per person), but this is subject to change. Currently, tourists are exempt from the exit tax if they leave Jordan on the same day they arrive or the day after. However, if you stay for 2 nights or more in Jordan, the exit tax is payable.
Airport departure taxes for both Israel and Jordan are included in the airline ticket price.
Some clients may prefer not to have their passports stamped when entering Israel. Since early 2013, Israel has implemented a policy of not stamping passports but issuing personalized printed cards instead. These cards contain a scanned copy of your passport photo, your name, and entry date. It is crucial to keep this card with your passport throughout your stay in Israel as it serves as proof of entry and may be required at Israeli checkpoints. However, if you wish to have a stamp in your passport, the authorities will still provide it upon request.
Please be aware that the regulations may change, and it is advisable to inform the authorities that you prefer not to have your passport stamped. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide assistance within the immigration terminal or influence Israeli Immigration practices. Based on our experience, it is not common for Israeli Authorities to refrain from stamping passports. However, we have not encountered any incidents where passports were stamped against the wishes of tourists in over 10 years. It is important to note that we cannot assume any responsibility if your document does get stamped.
Please note that passports are not stamped at Allenby Bridge/King Hussein Bridge in Jordan. However, passports are stamped at Jordan River Crossing (Sheikh Hussein Bridge) and Rabin Crossing (Arava). If requested, they may stamp a separate piece of paper instead of your passport. Once again, we cannot be held responsible if your document gets stamped.
Israel requires certain nationalities to obtain visas in advance. We offer assistance in applying for group visas, but please note that a group must consist of at least 10 people for the application to be processed. However, for nationals of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, we can apply for up to 5 people.
The visa application process by the Ministry of Interior takes a minimum of 12 working days (6 weeks for Moslems). To ensure a smooth process, we recommend sending us the passport manifest at least 20 working days in advance, or at least one month if it includes Jewish Holidays. It is important to understand that the Ministry of Interior has the discretion to refuse part or all of a visa application without providing a reason, although this is extremely rare. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any visa application rejections by the Ministry of Interior.
Please refrain from assuming that a visa is approved unless you have received confirmation from us. The decision to grant a visa lies with the Ministry of Interior in Israel, and they have the authority to refuse or delay the issuance of a visa. If you have not heard from us, please reach out to inquire about the status of your visa. It is important to note that the Israeli visa fee is a non-refundable application-processing fee paid to the Ministry of Interior, even if the visa application is rejected.
Additionally, entry to Israel is subject to the discretion of the Israeli government, and they reserve the right to refuse entry to the Holy Land, although this is a rare occurrence. We cannot be held responsible for any entry refusals to the Holy Land.
Visa to Jordan: Visas for Jordan can be obtained upon arrival at the country's entry points. The cost of a visa is $60. However, groups consisting of a minimum of 5 people, who arrive through a local travel agent and stay for at least two consecutive nights immediately after arrival, are eligible for a free group visa. It is important to note that these groups must arrive and depart together. In order to obtain a group visa, we require a passport manifest in advance of the group's arrival.
Please be aware that groups arriving in Jordan but not staying for two consecutive nights immediately upon arrival will be required to pay the visa fee.
Certain nationalities, particularly those from economically disadvantaged countries, are subject to restrictions and must obtain prior approval from the Jordanian Ministry of Interior in order to enter Jordan. For more information, please consult with us.
Please note that Allenby Bridge or King Hussein Bridge is not an officially designated point of entry to Jordan. Tourists cannot obtain Jordan visas at Allenby Bridge. For additional information, please contact us. It is crucial to obtain confirmation from us regarding permission for restricted nationalities before their arrival.
Groups arriving at a port of entry in Jordan (such as the airport), and then crossing the Allenby Bridge or King Hussein Bridge to the Holy Land, may return via Allenby Bridge to Jordan. They can re-use the visa they initially obtained in Jordan as long as it is within the validity of the visa (for example, tourists get a 1 month at the airport. They are able to re-enter Jordan at Allenby within the 1 month. There is no additional visa fee. Note this rule only applies when leaving Jordan and re-entering at Allenby.
Visas to Egypt: Visas to Egypt are obtained at the point of entry to the country. The cost is $15pp (except for a few nationalities that are exempt). Certain nationalities (generally from poorer countries) are restricted and must get prior approval through us from the Egyptian Ministry of Interior to enter Egypt (at a cost extra for processing). Please check with us for additional information.
Security delays: From time-to-time tourists are delayed at the port of entry by Israeli Authorities. We are not responsible for such delays and any consequences.
