Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit IL?

UK ordinary passport holders do NOT need a traditional visa for short tourist stays in Israel, but since the system became mandatory they MUST obtain an approved ETA-IL (electronic travel authorisation) online before departure. It costs 25 ILS, allows stays of up to 90 days, and is valid for 2 years. British citizens holding an ordinary passport are visa-exempt for tourism in Israel but are required to hold an approved ETA-IL before they travel. The ETA-IL is Israel's online pre-travel clearance for visa-waiver nationals, administered by the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA). It launched in 2024 and became fully mandatory for visa-exempt travellers (enforced from 1 January 2025), with airlines checking for an approved ETA-IL before boarding. The application is completed online at the official PIBA portal (israel-entry.piba.gov.il) for a government fee of 25 Israeli shekels, paid by card. It authorises multiple visits of up to 90 days each within a 2-year validity window (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first). Approvals are often issued within minutes to 72 hours, but travellers are advised to apply at least 72 hours before departure. On arrival, visitors are issued a paper entry card (typically at Ben Gurion Airport) rather than a passport stamp; this card should be kept with the passport as proof of legal entry. Passports must be valid for at least 90 days after the arrival date. The ETA-IL covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and short stays; it does not permit work. Israel is not part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply.