The B/2 visa is a permit to enter Israel and remain here for a maximum of three months, under one or more of the following purposes:
- Tourism.
- Business meetings.
- Studying in a Hebrew ulpan.
It is the most frequent Israeli visa, but it does not allow its holder to work in Israel.
Who Can Apply for B/2 Visitor’s Visa?
Every person wishing to travel to Israel for at least one of the reasons listed above, under the intention to remain here for a maximum of three months, is eligible to apply for an Israeli B/1 Visitor Visa.
The visa processing authorities in applicant’s country of residence will then decide based on the application filed whether a B/1 visa shall be granted to the applicant or not.
However, due to good bilateral relations, Israel has abolished tourist visa regime for the nationals of several countries. If you are planning to travel to Israel anytime soon, but you are unsure whether you need a tourist visa or not, check our article on who needs a visa for Israel to find out.
How to Apply for a B/2 Visa for Israel?
If you need a B/2 Visitor’s Visa for Israel, then you will have to apply for it. Applying for a visa to enter Israel includes completing several requirements and procedures set by the authorities of Israel.
The main steps for applying for an Israeli visitor visa are as follows:
- Find out when is the right time to apply.
- Check where you should submit your application.
- Fill in the application form for a B/2 visa.
- Collect the required documents.
- Submit your documents / attend the visa interview.
- Pay the fee for your application.
- Wait for the processing of your visa.
Below in this article, you may find all these steps explained shortly and clearly, in order to understand the whole process better.
When to Apply for a B/2 Visa?
You should apply for a B/2 Visa to Israel between one to two months prior to the intended date of your trip. On the day you submit your application, you must have your application completed, or else you will be rejected.
Where to Apply for a B/2 Visa?
When applying for a B/2 Visa you need to submit your completed application file at the competent authorities in your country of residence for Israeli visa admission. This could be the Embassy or a Consulate of Israel, or a third-party visa-processing center to which Israel has outsourced visa admission
You should check with the embassy of Israel in your country of residence for this information before you start the application procedures.
Complete the B/2 Visa Application Form
Start the concrete application process by completing the application form for a B/2 Visitor’s Visa to Israel.
You can ask the embassy for this form, or download it online. The main things that you need to know about the application form for an entry visa for Israel are as follows:
- The form differs depending on the visa type; therefore make sure you get the right application form for a B/2 Visitor’s Visa to Israel.
- The form is available in two languages: English and Hebrew. You can complete it in either language.
- You can complete the form with your computer and then print it, or with a pen of any other color than black.
- You should answer all questions, which are mostly on your nationality, name, surname, parents’ full names, your occupation and your intended trip to Israel.
- Attach a photo in the given space on the form.
Collect the Required Documents
Next, continue collecting the required documents for a B/2 Visitor’s Visa to Israel. Start with collecting the commonly required documents, and then the following:
- Travel/Medical insurance. You will need to obtain insurance for the whole period of your stay in Israel with a minimum coverage of €35,000 ($40,000).
- Personal bank statements & salary slips for the last 4 months.
Since a B/2 Visitor’s Visa to Israel can be obtained for both tourism and business, depending on your purpose if entry you will need to submit other documents from the ones mentioned so far.
When traveling to Israel to attend a seminar, meeting, conference or for other business reasons, submit the following additional documents:
- A covering letter from your employer on the letterhead. It should mention your name and surname, your work position in the company, the purpose of your trip to Israel and the intended duration of stay.
- Personal Letter. This is a cover letter written by you, in which you explain the purpose of your trip, how long you want to stay and what you will be doing while in Israel.
- An invitation letter in Hebrew on the letter head of the guest company. The letter should mention your name, number of your passport, the duration and the purpose of your trip to Israel. The letter should be send to the embassy by fax from the inviting part in Israel.
- Salary slips for the last 4 months.
On the other hand, if the purpose of application for an Israel entry visa is tourism, experiencing the country, sightseeing or vacation, you should submit the following extra documents:
- Hotel reservation in Israel.
- Invitation letter. If a friend / relative residing in Israel invited you over, attach an invitation letter in Hebrew with contact details of the invitee, to your application file.
- Letter from the tour Operator in Israel, with a listing of the scheduled activities to be performed in Israel.
- Work Leave approval from the place of work for being absent for the whole period of your stay in Israel.
The Israeli authorities in your country of residence responsible for the processing of your visa have the right to ask you for additional documents. Make sure you collect and submit any additional required documents as soon as possible.
Attend the visa interview
You will need to attend a visa interview at the Israeli Embassy/consulate/visa-processing center. On the day of your interview, you will have to meet with a consular officer to whom you will submit the required documents. This person will ask you questions related to your application, the intention of your trip to Israel and other details in this regard.
On the same day, you will also need to pay the visa fee.
Pay B/2 Visa Fee
In order for the visa processing authorities to process your application you will need to pay the B/2 visa fee.
The fee for a B/2 Visa is €21 for every applicant. If you submit your application through a visa-processing center, you will have to pay an additional service fee, which cannot be higher than the price of the visa itself.
Israel Visa Processing
The processing of a B/2 visa for Israel can take up to 14 working days.
How Long Is a B/2 Visitor Visa Valid?
A B/2 Visa is valid for a maximum of three months, from the date of issuance and on. Yet, the Israeli Border Police determine the duration of the stay in Israel at your point of entry.
Can I Extend B/2 Visa in Israel?
If you want to stay for a longer period in Israel with your B/2 visa, you can apply for a visa extension. You should apply for the extension at the Population Authority office while you are still in Israel.
When you apply, you must present a reason why you want to stay longer, i.e. family ties, a medical reason, a legal procedure, etc.
7 Things You Need to Know When Traveling to Israel
Maybe you have traveled before to Israel, maybe this is the first time. However, some extra tips can always be handy when traveling to another country. In your next trip to Israel, make sure you know the following:
- The currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). They can be withdrawn at an ATM or money changing services. 1 NIS is equal to 0.26 Euro or 0.28 US dollars.
- Be aware of Shabbat. This is the Jewish day of rest, which starts a few minutes before sundown on Friday and lasts until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday. During this period, Jewish people stay at home and practically everything is closed, including shops, most restaurants, and even public transport.
- Carefully choose what clothes to wear. Though Israel is a very liberal country, there are a few cities, in particular the religious ones, where you need to be more careful what you wear. These cities, as Jerusalem, would appreciate if your skin is covered shoulder to knee. In others as Tel Aviv, it does not really matter.
- Smoking inside is okay. Israelis do not mind if you smoke inside a bar, a restaurant or a shop. Even marijuana is legal here.
- Ask for permission to take photos at holy sites. While most of them do not mind if you take photos, some others have a strict no-camera policy.
- It can be very expensive. If you do not pay attention, you may have to pay prices you cannot even imagine. Always check the prices before you order something, so at least you will know.
- Tipping. Taxi drivers in Israel do not expect you to tip them, though they would appreciate it. On the other hand, waiters are usually tipped about 10% to 15% of the full price of the order.