Authorities in Israel have announced that starting from July 1, the requirement for Israel’s electronic travel authorization (ETA-IL) prior to travel will be expanded to include Ukraine and Moldova as well.
The new decision means that starting next week, nationals of Ukraine and Moldova will be required to apply through the ETA-IL system 72 hours in advance, VisaGuide.World reports.
Authorities in Kyiv and Chișinău have warned about reciprocal measures. Officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel claim that the move effectively puts an end to visa-free travel.
Ukraine will introduce similar pre-approval requirements for Israeli citizens, including pilgrims. The specifics of these electronic visas are currently under review in Kyiv. These mutual actions will impact thousands of religious pilgrims who annually visit Ukraine.
Therefore, both these affected countries have been considering reciprocal measures, meaning that citizens of Israel would be required to pre-register before traveling to Ukraine.
1/1 In the context of the launching and implementation, starting with July 1st 2024, of the ETA-IL system in Israel, which will also include Moldovan citizens traveling to Israel, the Republic of Moldova will be imposed to respond with reciprocal decisions.
Authorities in Israel introduced the ETA-IL system, which allows its holders to enter Israel and stay in this country for a period of up to 90 days per visit. This kind of authorization is valid for two years for multiple trips of 90 days or less within that period. If visits last for a period of over 90 days, a request for an extension of the stay is needed.
ETA-IL to Be Implemented to All Countries From August
Since June 1 this year, Israel’s electronic authorization system has been applied to nationals of Germany and the United States. Back then, authorities in this country announced that the system would be applied to other countries as well, starting from July 1, 2024, while from August 1, 2024, the system would be applied to all countries.
Before applying for the authorization, applicants will be informed if they meet the needed conditions for the ETA-IL based on their origin country. Then, they are required to answer some questions in addition to paying a fee of 25 NIS. Applicants will then receive a response within 24-72 hours.
Last year, the country received a total of 3.01 million international visitors. These figures accounted for an increase of 12.5 per cent compared to 2022 statistics when 2.67 million travelers were registered. Due to the war, in the last quarter of last year, Israel recorded just 180,000 arrivals.