Every year, millions of foreigners visit Israel. These are pilgrims eager to see and worship the shrines, businessmen who come on business to their partners, tourists who want to relax in modern Israeli resorts and just people who come to their relatives or friends. All of them are interested in the question of whether citizens of Russia need a visa to Israel .
Since 2008, a visa-free regime has been operating between Russia and Israel, according to which a visa to Israel is not needed for Russians, but under certain conditions. So, a visa does not need to be issued if the planned period of visiting the country within six months does not exceed 90 days, while the
purpose of the trip is a tourist trip, a visit to relatives, a short business meeting that does not involve receiving a monetary reward or treatment.
In this case, you only need a passport, round-trip tickets with the indicated departure date, a document confirming the reservation at the hotel, a medical insurance policy valid for the entire stay in the country. An invitation must also be provided if the purpose of the trip is to visit friends or relatives. To receive treatment in Israel, you need a letter from a medical institution. In some cases, they may require confirmation of their solvency, for this you can indicate the amount of cash taken on a trip, or show a bank card.
In the event that a citizen plans to stay in the country for more than 90 days, as well as carry out any activity involving remuneration, to study or participate in various organizations, then a visa to Israel for Russians is compulsory. In 2011, a visa-free regime was concluded with Ukraine. Ukrainians just like the Russians can not apply for tourist and guest visas, in all other cases a visa is still required. A visa to Israel is mandatory for Belarusians, since an agreement has not yet been concluded with Belarus, although it is planned in the future.
Children under 18 years of age, accompanied by both parents, need to have only a birth certificate with them. If the child is accompanied by one parent, then a power of attorney from the other parent, certified by a notary, is required. If the child is accompanied by third parties, then a power of attorney is required from both parents.
A visa to Israel for Russians or a visa-free regime is not yet a guarantee that a citizen will freely enter the territory of the state. Border services reserve the right not to let foreigners into the country and deport them back to their homeland if they don’t like something. Israel is not in the most friendly relations with many Arab states, so sometimes the border service arranges a real interrogation of visitors. This should be taken with understanding, because they, therefore, protect the peace of their citizens and visitors.
In some cases, even a valid visa to Israel will not help. For Russians who have visas of Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Iran in their passport, the special service will conduct a special interrogation with partiality, and in some cases it can even be deported without explanation. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary problems, it is best to get a new passport before traveling.