Entry to Israel of a Foreign Partner of an Israeli

This article includes information about touristic entry of partners of Israelis into Israel. It gives a general outlook on the entry policy to Israel. Please make sure you make adequate research and consult governmental officials to get the most updated and accurate information for your personal situation.

This post is relevant for citizens of countries who enjoy a visa-exempt travel to Israel. From January 2025, these foreign citizens will have to apply for ETA-IL before traveling to Israel, but normally don’t need to apply for a tourist visa (B2 visa) or entry clearance in advance. Please note that in particular cases, visa-exempt tourists may be required to apply for a tourist visa before traveling to Israel.*

It’s important to understand that under Israeli law, foreign citizens never have an automatic right to enter the country. The Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA)—like immigration authorities in many countries—has broad discretion to allow or deny entry, even for visitors with an approved ETA-IL, or those with personal ties to Israeli citizens.

*For example, in cases of past deportation, past immigration violations, past suspicious border movements, etc.

Entry to Israel as a Partner of an Israeli for a Visit or Tourism

In general, foreign partners of Israelis are just like any other foreign citizen when it comes to the entry policy to Israel for a “Visit Stay”. A “Visit Stay” is a term that is defined in the Entry to Israel Regulations:

Translation:

A person asking to enter Israel for a visit, or for any other purpose that requires only a short stay in Israel, except for the purpose of work, paid or unpaid, will submit an application for a visa and a visit stay permit type B2 (tourist).

Following this regulation, people who plan to visit Israel for a short period (3 months or less) and then leave, should be able to get a B2 tourist visa. Simply being in a relationship with an Israeli is not a reason for entry denial for foreign citizens visiting Israel as tourists.

However, being in a relationship with an Israeli might trigger other concerns, particularly the “fear of settling” indication, or in Hebrew: חשש להשתקעות. This concern, mentioned twice in procedure 6.4.0010, is one of the main reasons passengers are denied entry to Israel. It is mostly applied to citizens of non-western countries, including those from South America, East Asia, Eastern Europe (primarily Russia and Ukraine), Africa, and similar regions.

Another factor considered is the age of the passenger and their stage in life. Border control personnel might ask about a passenger’s employment status, academic studies, or any other ties they have to their home country. If a passenger is in their 20s to early 30s, has no job, and lacks strong ties to their home country, they might be denied entry to Israel due to suspicion that they intend to settle in Israel.

This applies to all passengers but is especially relevant for partners of Israelis, as they are more likely to want to stay in Israel to be with their partner.

How to Avoid an Entry Denial When Visiting Israel

1. Always Tell the Truth
   Lying is a listed indication for entry denial on the Entry to Israel protocol. Being caught lying to border control almost always leads to entry denial and a 5–10 year ban that’s difficult to remove. If asked, you can say you’re visiting your Israeli partner (it’s not a crime!) — just make it clear it’s a only a limited-time visit and you plan to leave on time.
   
2. Avoid Suspicious Border Movements
   Visiting Israel too frequently, leaving Israel and coming back a short time later, or spending long, consecutive periods in Israel — all of these may trigger border control’s suspicion on your next visit. We suggest taking significant cool-off periods between visits, and of course, always leave on time and never overstay your visa. Note that some bilateral visa agreements between Israel and other countries mention a maximum stay of 180 days in Israel per year for tourist visits.
   
3. Asses Your Risk & Consider an Entry Approval In Advance (“Invitation”)
   • Be aware of your personal immigration profile and assess your chances of being denied entry. Besides having an Israeli partner, additional risk factors include being a citizen of a non-Western country, visiting Israel for the first time, visiting too frequently or for long periods, being young, and having weak ties to your home country (such as no job, property, or rental contract). If several of these apply to you, we recommend applying for a tourist invitation in advance. Also, if you have previously been denied entry to Israel or were told by border control that you are “flagged” for future visits, obtaining a entry clearance ahead of time is essential.
   • The tourist invitation process allows PIBA to review and approve the visitor’s entry in advance by issuing an entry clearance (also called an “invitation”). To apply, the Israeli partner must submit an application at the visa department in their city of residence at least 21 business days before the planned visit. Please note that PIBA may require the Israeli partner to make a monetary deposit to guarantee the visitor’s timely departure from Israel. This deposit will be returned once the tourist leaves Israel.

Some PIBA offices may try to brush you off, saying a tourist invitation “is not needed” for citizens of vise-exempt countries who can apply for an ETA-IL. However, Israeli citizens are entitled to this service and should insist on receiving it to help facilitate their visitor’s entry, as ETA-IL does not guarantee entry to Israel at all.

4. Prove That Your Center of Life Is Elsewhere
   To avoid an entry denial, prove that your center of life is elsewhere and that you have no intention to stay in Israel. The first and most obvious thing to have with you is a return flight ticket (which you must always have). If you are undergoing a further investigation, you can show a job contract or an apartment rent contract. You can show you are registered for academic studies, that you own property abroad, or even that you take care of family members who are abroad.
   
5. Have a Letter from Your Israeli Partner Ready
   It is also recommended to have a printed, signed letter from your Israeli partner ready. The letter should include their full name, ID number, phone number, and preferably a photocopy of their ID. It should clearly explain what you connection to them is, where you will be staying, when you will be leaving, the purpose of your visit and your plans. We advise not to hand over this letter immediately unless specifically requested or if you are taken for further questioning.

What Happens After an Entry Denial?

First of all, try to stay calm. The experience might be very unpleasant but freaking out/shouting/losing it is likely not going to help your case.

In case of an entry denial, PIBA will arrange a flight back for you. You should be handed a paper notifying you of the entry denial, and saying that you have 30 days to appeal the decision. Depending on how soon your flight back is, PIBA may escort you to an unwelcoming detention facility at the airport where you will be waiting for your flight. Given that your flight back is likely to be only a few hours away, time is crucial if you want to overturn the decision while in Israel.

Once finalized, the entry denial decision can be overturned only with a judicial decision given in an appeal. Future entries to Israel will be blocked, unless a specific entry clearance (invitation or tourist visa) is obtained in advance. That means that even if your entry was denied, an Israeli could still apply for a tourist visa for you in the future, via a tourist invitation process, or for a partner visa through the gradual process.

Appealing the Entry Denial Decision

An appeal to the Tribunal of Appeals is a formal claim to review and overturn a decision made by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), such as an entry denial. It is a legal process that allows you to present your case and any supporting evidence before a specialized judge.

If you decide to appeal, we highly recommend hiring an experienced immigration lawyer and not try to do it on your own. All appeals will have to be supported by an affidavit that requires a lawyer’s signature. The fee for submitting an appeal is 755 NIS [2025].

You can find a list of qualified immigration lawyers – including those available 24/7 for urgent cases—in AIC’s advanced Lawyers Index. Our index includes details about each lawyer’s areas of expertise, languages spoken, contact information, helping you choose the right legal support for your needs.

Note: You can appeal the decision even if you weren’t handed any decision paper.

Note: PIBA is allowed to continue the deportation process even after you file an appeal—unless the Tribunal of Appeals issues a decision to stop it.

Airport Detention Center – מתקן יהלו”ם (Yahalom Facility)

The Yahalom facility is an immigration detention center located at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Operated by the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), it is used to detain individuals who are denied entry into Israel or are awaiting deportation.

These are the contact details of Yahalom facility:

• Address: רח’ שלדג 1, נתב”ג
• Email: hagira@piba.gov.il
• Tel: 074-7084888
• Fax: 02-6469188