The Coronavirus news in Israel

As of the midnight between Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, it will no longer be required to present a negative result on a COVID test before boarding a flight to Israel or a cruise to Israel or before arriving at an Israeli land border crossing.

You can find the full guidance from the Israeli Ministry of Health website. Rules and regulations might change at short notice. (https://corona.health.gov.il/en/directives/air-travel-covid19-green/?tab=by-air(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window))

Entering Israel

As of the midnight between Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, it will no longer be required to present a negative result on a COVID test before boarding a flight to Israel or a cruise to Israel or before arriving at an Israeli land border crossing.

It will also not be required to present a negative result on a COVID test before boarding a cruise departing Israel. This guidance is set forth according to the requirements of the Israel Ministry of Health. You are required to inquire the requirements of the company operating the cruise.

The PCR testing mandate for those entering Israel at airports and maritime and land border crossings will be lifted. You will no longer be required to isolate for 24 hours after entering Israel. The mask mandate for travelers entering Israel in airports and maritime and land border crossings will also be lifted. Anyhow, it is still mandatory to wear a facemask during international flights. The requirement to fill out an entry statement form on the Israel Ministry of Health website before arriving in Israel via air or sea will remain in effect.

Further information:

• Ministry of Health COVID-19 Restrictions:  https://corona.health.gov.il/en(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry of Health on inbound and outbound guidance: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/air-travel-covid19-israel/govil-landing-page(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry of Health (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Embassy of Israel in Helsinki(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Restrictions

There are currently no restrictions on movement. Public transport is in operation.

Air travel to Israel is subject to entry clearances.

Local restrictions on movement are possible on short notice. Please follow advice from local authorities and stay informed of the situation through the local media.

Further information:

• Ministry of Health COVID-19 Restrictions: https://corona.health.gov.il/en(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry of Health on inbound and outbound guidance:  https://www.gov.il/en/departments/air-travel-covid19-israel/govil-landing-page(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry of Health (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Government coronavirus guidance (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ben Gurion International Airport (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Times of Israel (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Jerusalem Post (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Haaretz(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Health

It is not mandatory to wear a facemask in public spaces, excluding hospitals, nursing homes and flights.

The HaMagen app is endorsed by the Ministry of Health. The app cross checks the GPS history of your mobile phone with historical geographic data of patients from the Ministry of Health.

HaMagen is available in five languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian and Amharic.

Persons with any flu symptoms are instructed to stay at home. Those with severe symptoms are to contact the MDA Emergency Services Hotline 101. A person with a temperature over 38 Celsius and with respiratory symptoms (breathing difficulties or cough) should remain at home for two days after the body temperature has normalized, regardless of whether COVID-19 testing is required.

Information on the coronavirus from the Ministry of Health hotline: *5400 (Hebrew) or 08 624 1010 (service also in English).

Further information:

• Ministry of Health Israel (layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Israel government Corona Information(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Services

Shops, malls, markets, museums, libraries and restaurants are open. Public transport is in operation.

Further information:

• Ministry of Health Green Pass information(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry of Health COVID-19 information(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)  
• Israeli Government Corona information(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window) 

Penalties in violating the restrictions

Violating the restrictions is punishable by a fine. Travelling to or trying to travel to a country classified as red is also punishable by a fine.

Further information:

• Ministry of Health Israel(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Israel Government Corona Information(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

The Embassy Customer Service

Embassy customer service is open. We admit passport applications as well as population registry- and notary notifications, by appointment only.

Schengen Visa and residence permit applications can also be submitted. Kindly contact the Embassy by phone or email prior to appointment booking.

Book an appointment(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Upon arrival, we ask you to observe the guidelines and restrictions of movement, currently effective in Israel.

We serve you by phone Mondays to Fridays from 9 to 12 am.

Telephone: +972 3 745 6600

Consular emergencies outside office hours: +358 9 160 55555 (no visa inquiries).

E-mail (inquiries): sanomat.tel@formin.fi (Opens New Window)

Facebook: Finnish Embassy Tel Aviv(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Twitter: @FinIsrael(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Embassy website(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Customer service appointment booking(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Further information:

• Applying for a passport(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Population Registration in Finland(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Notarial Services(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland FAQ Coronavirus (Opens New Window)
• Finnish Government information and advice on Corona virus(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare Coronavirus latest updates(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Finnish Border Guard – Guidelines for border crossing during COVID-19(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)
• Residence permits(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window)

Travel notification / Finns abroad

If you are a Finn living abroad, or you are residing in Finland, we recommend you to fill out the travel notification form online: Finns abroad / Travel notification(layout.types.url.description) (Opens New Window).

If you already have submitted the travel notification and your stay abroad gets extended, it is advisable to update your travel notification. This will ensure that we will know if you are still in the country and can send you advisories and questionnaires during the crisis. If you are registered in the Travel Notification system, you can update your information yourself. If you have not registered yet, you can make a new notification online.

If your travel notification does not have an end date, or you have returned to Finland earlier than planned, it is advisable to remove the notification. If you have registered in the Travel Notification system, you can remove the notification yourself. If you have not registered, you can send an email to konsulipalvelut.um@formin.fi (Opens New Window) requesting the removal of the notification. Kindly note that processing might take longer at times.