Russian Federation to Israel visa requirements

Russian ordinary passport holders do NOT need a traditional visa for tourism in Israel, but since 1 January 2025 they MUST obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) online before boarding. It costs 25 ILS, permits stays of up to 90 days, and is valid for 2 years (or until passport expiry). Israel is not in the Schengen area. Russia and Israel maintain a long-standing bilateral visa-waiver agreement, so Russian ordinary passport holders remain visa-exempt for short tourist visits of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, visa exemption alone is no longer enough to fly: as of 1 January 2025 Israel requires all visa-exempt nationals, including Russian citizens, to hold an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to departure. The ETA-IL is applied for online through the Israel Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) portal at israel-entry.piba.gov.il, costs 25 Israeli new shekels (about USD 7), and is typically approved within minutes to 72 hours. Once granted it is valid for up to two years (or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner) and allows multiple entries, each for tourism, business or study up to 90 days (cultural/sport activities up to 30 days). The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned stay. Final admission is always decided by the Israeli border officer on arrival. Israel is NOT part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to an Israel trip; the 90-day limit here is Israel's own. Travelers should apply for the ETA-IL at least 72 hours before booking non-refundable travel, as PIBA recommends.