United States to Palestinian Territory visa requirements

U.S. passport holders do not need a separate Palestinian visa, but Palestine has no independent border control. Entry to the West Bank (and any part of historic Palestine) is controlled by Israel, which since January 1, 2025 requires an approved ETA-IL electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt tourists, including Americans. Apply online before you travel. Palestine does not operate its own immigration system for foreign tourists. The State Department, GOV.UK and Wikipedia's visa-policy overview all confirm there is no Palestinian visa: "there are no visa conditions imposed on foreign nationals other than those imposed by the visa policy of Israel." Access to the West Bank is controlled by the Government of Israel, and access to Gaza is controlled by Hamas (Gaza is effectively closed to tourism). For a U.S. tourist this means you enter the West Bank exactly as you would enter Israel. As of January 1, 2025, Israel requires all visa-exempt nationals (including U.S. citizens) to obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization for Israel) before arrival for stays up to 90 days. The ETA-IL costs NIS 25, is generally valid for up to 2 years (or until the passport expires), permits multiple entries with up to 90 days per visit, and is usually approved within minutes though it can take up to 72 hours. Most travelers reach the West Bank either by flying into Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) or via Jordan over the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein crossing; those entering from Jordan may receive an entry permit valid only for Palestinian Authority-controlled areas. Israel generally does not stamp passports, issuing a paper entry slip instead. Gaza is not accessible for ordinary tourism. Because there is no separate Palestinian no-visa channel and entry is gated by the mandatory Israeli ETA, the practical verdict for a short tourist visit is an ETA.