Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit IL?

German ordinary passport holders do not need a traditional visa for short tourist visits to Israel, but since 1 January 2025 they must obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) online before travel. It costs ILS 25, allows multiple entries with stays up to 90 days, and is valid for 2 years. Germany is on Israel's visa-waiver list, so German ordinary passport holders are exempt from a consular visa for tourism. However, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) made the ETA-IL mandatory for all visa-exempt nationals from 1 January 2025. Germans must apply online for the ETA-IL before boarding; it is not a visa-on-arrival. The authorization is electronic, costs ILS 25 (about USD 7), permits multiple entries of up to 90 days each, and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Apply at the official portal israel-entry.piba.gov.il, ideally at least 72 hours before departure. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned arrival date. Israel is not in the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to entering Israel (ETIAS is a separate, future EU system that affects Israelis going to Europe, not Germans going to Israel).