Israel to Puerto Rico visa requirements

Yes, Israeli citizens can visit Puerto Rico without a traditional visa using an ESTA. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so U.S. entry rules apply. Since Israel joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program on 19 October 2023, Israeli passport holders with a biometric passport can apply online for an ESTA and stay up to 90 days for tourism. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, so the same immigration rules that apply to entering the U.S. mainland apply to Puerto Rico. There is no separate Puerto Rican visa or entry permit. Effective 19 October 2023, Israel became a participant in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meaning eligible Israeli citizens no longer need a B-1/B-2 visa for short tourist or business trips. Instead, they must obtain an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before boarding. An ESTA permits stays of up to 90 days, is generally valid for two years (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) and covers multiple entries. The traveler must hold a full-validity, biometric (e-passport with chip) Israeli passport; non-biometric, temporary or emergency travel documents are not eligible for the VWP and require a visa instead. The ESTA fee is approximately USD 40 (raised from USD 21 on 30 September 2025). Because arrival in Puerto Rico from a foreign country is treated as arrival in the U.S., travelers clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection on entry; flights between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland are domestic. Israelis who plan to stay longer than 90 days, work, study or who are ineligible for the VWP must obtain the appropriate U.S. visa.