South Africa to Israel visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders do not need a traditional visa for short tourist visits to Israel, but since 1 January 2025 they must obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) online before travel. It permits stays of up to 90 days, costs 25 NIS, and is processed online (usually within 72 hours). Israel is visa-exempt for South African (ZA) ordinary passport holders for tourism, but as of 1 January 2025 entry is conditional on holding an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization), administered by Israel's Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) at israel-entry.piba.gov.il. Travelers complete a short online form with passport, travel and contact details, pay a 25 NIS fee by card, and normally receive approval within 72 hours (apply at least 72 hours, ideally several days, before departure). An approved ETA-IL is valid for up to 2 years (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) and allows multiple visits of up to 90 days each. Israel is NOT part of the Schengen Area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and the EU ETIAS do not apply here; the ETA-IL is a separate Israeli system. Final admission and the exact length of stay are always granted at the discretion of the Israeli border officer. Carriers check for an approved ETA-IL at boarding, so travelers without one risk being denied boarding. Note that for tourism Israel typically issues an electronic entry record/stamp on a separate slip (Form B/2) rather than stamping the passport.