2025 is shaping up to be the year of the Electronic travel authorization or ETA. That means more irritating paperwork and fees for international travelers and the end of the days where you can just hop on a plane without prior travel permission for countries with visa waivers.
Unless they are further delayed, Israel will require an ETA-IL starting 1/1/25. The UK will require an ETA starting 1/8/25, and the EU will require one later in 2025. I’d expect more countries to hop onto that bandwagon as well. Once implemented, you won’t be able to board a plane to fly there without an ETA, unless you have a visa.
Travelers of all ages will need one and you should apply for one several days before traveling.
ETAs will be required for people coming from countries with visa waivers, such as the US. If you are coming from a country that requires a visa, you can ignore the ETA requirements.
You can apply for an ETA-IL here. If you do so by 12/31/24, the 25 shekel fee will be waived. The ETA will be valid for 2 years after approval and up to 90 days per stay, but if you get a new passport you will have to apply for a new ETA-IL. You can apply even if you don’t have travel booked to Israel.
Student visa holders and permanent residents of Israel are exempt from an ETA-IL, though Chaim V’Chessed recommends that they, too, apply for an ETA-IL just in case an airline agent isn’t familiar with those exemptions. However, people in those categories will have to be creative with their answers in order to apply for an ETA-IL. Personally, I think most airline agents will be familiar with the fact that visa holders don’t need an ETA, though I guess there’s nothing to lose by having one and avoiding a potential argument with an uninformed agent on a power trip.
This is what agents will see as the requirement starting on 1/1/25, stating that an ETA is needed for trips up to 90 days, if you don’t have a visa:
The UK will require an ETA for most visa waiver countries for travel starting January 8th, 2025. It will require it from EU countries starting April 2nd, 2025.
US citizens can apply for a UK ETA now. It costs £10 to apply. Any UK citizen, dual citizen, or anyone with a visa or permission to live, work, or study in the UK is exempt from an ETA. The ETA is valid for 2 years after approval and up to 6 months per stay, but if you get a new passport you will have to apply for a new ETA.
The UK requires an ETA even if you’re connecting to another country.
Expect an ETA to be required to enter EU countries later in 2025, though they will call it an ETIAS and charge 7 euros for it. The EU’s new entry system will eliminate passport stamps, which I find a little sad. I love reliving trips through passport stamps!
Of course, the implementation of these has been delayed in the past and could be further delayed, though we are nearly at the anticipated start dates for Israel and the UK.
Will you apply for an ETA-IL for free before 1/1/25?
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60 Comments On "2025 Will Be The Year Of Electronic Travel Authorization Requirements; Apply Now For A Free ETA-IL!"
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No reason to go to Europe anymore.
Really, what changed?
Well, obviously he only flies for passport stamps
I thought you said it’s “likely to be extended” a few months ago and “i’ll believe it when i’ll see it”
It was extended previously.
yes did apply yesterday…,
its asking for a travel date…
What is the real purpose of all these requirements, especially when illegals (migrants in PC speak) are welcomed anytime, anywhere, and no matter what they do?
The government loves more data and fees.
Ummmmm… wut? They’re already getting all the data they want from this little booklet thingy called a “passport”. Why do they need an ETA on top of that as well?
Are they really? And it isn’t “PC speak,” it’s simply accurate speak. “Illegals” doesn’t mean much at all. Perhaps if you said “a migrant that entered the United States illegally” you might not sound like such an “uneducated.”
Don’t miss the point with all the acronyms they put after your name in college.
You mean “illegal aliens” as they are legally called
Will an ETA be required for a stopover?
Yes.
do i need to have a trip scheduled to do this? Can i i just apply for free with my whole family and now i know im good for the next 2 years?
You don’t need booked travel. Yes.
How will transit through UK or EU be handled? Will you need an ETA
You will need an ETA for transit.
“if you get a new passport” does that include renewal of an expired one, or can I apply now even though mine is currently expired?
You need a valid passport.
Says on page I need to pay 25 shekel. Will this be waived upon submission?
Yes
is it required for student visa holders?
Please read the post.
Thank you! Just applied for all 6 of my family members. Totally free and got the approval within seconds on each… It’s good for 2 years or until the expiration date of your passport, whichever comes first. FYI make sure to put all dates in the Israeli format (DD/MM/YY) and not the opposite…
Is a new ETA required for each trip, or can we make unlimited trips within its two-year validity period?
Unlimited.
just applied. Instant approval.
for some reason they keep telling my wife shes not eligable .her passprt is not expiring anytime soon and shes a us citizen any ideas?
Does the ETA need to last the entirety of the trip or just be valid on day of arrival?
Day of arrival.
From what age do you need this thing?
Do I need to make one for my baby as well?
Please read the post 🙂
you write “You can apply even if you don’t have travel booked to Israel.” Question: When i try to apply, it asks for dates of travel. what do i do if i am not traveling now. Do i make up a date?
Yes
What do you put as arrival date if you don’t have travel booked to Israel?
Dan, if we will be leaving the US on our American passports, but entering Israel with our Israeli passports – think any (American) agents might be confused by this and still require us to have an ETA-IL? Thanks.
Why not use your Israeli passports to depart?
I always show both passports at check in. It was extremely helpful during the COVID vaccine insanity.
It’s ALL about the money!!!! Nothing more, nothing less!! Another way to dip into our bank accounts!! The heck with all of them!!
do i enter fake travel dates?
yes
Will travelers be required to provide their application number at customs? Or will they look it up from their end
A bit confused about our situation. My wife and I are Israeli citizens with valid Israeli passports. We moved from Israel to the US over a decade ago. Our kids are also therefore Israeli citizens, although they were all born here in the US after we moved here, so they don’t hold Israeli passports or a Teudat Zehut/national ID card. Do we now need to get our kids the ETA- even though they are Israeli citizens- since they don’t have Israeli passports?
If your kids where born in the US, what’s make them Israeli citizens?
Because we their parents were Israeli citizens at the time of their birth, which under Israeli law makes them citizens.
Since they don’t have Israeli passports, will be travelling with US passports, they should apply for ETAIL.
(במאמר מוסגר, סביר להניח שביד בכניסתם לארץ יסומנו, ויש לברר לגבי יציאה מן הארץ)
בהצלחה!
Is this needed if I will be arriving in Israel on 12/31 but staying for a few weeks?
What’s the downside to just getting it now? It’s free and then it’s valid for 2 years.
It is asking for $$
looks like they are charging already
Just did 6, no charge at all
Anyone didn’t get approved right away? I applied 2 hours ago and still no approval
Email verification takes very long to come
Do I need a ETA-IL if I live in Israel and go to visit the US?
Misrad hapnim now gives many student visas by email. If you do this they email you a visa but you do not get it as a sticker in your passport which you get if you go to misrad hapnim.
Some airline agents only recognize it as a visa when it is a sticker in your passport.
Signed up with a made-up travel date. As I understand it, that’s irrelevant and won’t matter, whether I end up going to Israel before or after that date, I just show them that approval email?
i cant seem to get onto this site from the highlighted area in your blog. Other sites that came up from google all want between $79 to $99. can you please send me a link or a website name. Please advise
Thanks. Moshe Munzeles
munmor@gmail.com
If have Israeli passport is it needed to enter Israel?
No