Israel: Various information
Formalities, visas
Tourists from the following countries receive a free visa when entering Israel:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Central African Republic, as well as Italy, New Zealand, San Marino, Spain, South Africa, and Uruguay.
This also applies to tourists in the Federal Republic of Germany – provided they were born after January 1, 1928.
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) also receive a visa upon entry, but must pay an appropriate fee.
Tourists from Germany who were born before January 1, 1928 also receive a free visa, which must be applied for at an Israeli diplomatic or consular mission in Germany before leaving their home country.
The stay is limited to three months and the passport must be valid for more than 6 months upon entry.
Issuing of visas in Germany
Auguste-Victoria-Straße 74-76
14193 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 89 04 55 12
Email: botschaft@israel.de
www.israel.de
Currency, goods and customs and foreign exchange regulations
Currency
The national currency of Israel is:
New Israeli Shekel (1 Shekel = 100 Agorot).
The “New Israeli Shekel” (NIS) was introduced on September 4, 1985 and replaced the old Shekel in a ratio of 1: 1000. On February 24, 1980, this had replaced the Israeli pound at a ratio of 1:10. The change took place because of the high inflation rate in the 1980s.
The import or export of funds (cash, personal checks, travelers checks) worth a total of 80,000 shekels must be reported.
Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs
In Israel , tourists like to buy leather goods, jewelry, ceramics, glass items, religious souvenirs, embroidery, items of clothing and local wines. The following items may be imported into Israel duty-free:
250 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco products, 1 l spirits (people aged 18 and over), 2 l wine, 250 ml perfume or eau de cologne and gifts up to a value of 125 US $. A permit is required to import flowers, plants and seeds. The import of fresh meat, bananas and pineapples as well as African fruit and vegetables is prohibited.
Shop opening hours
Shops in Israel are usually open from Sunday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Fridays and before public holidays from 8:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m., but some shops close from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in between: 00 o’clock. The supermarkets are open from Sunday to Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Fridays until 3:00 p.m. The Arab shops are closed on Fridays.
Israel State Transport Office for Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Friedrichstrasse 95
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20 39 970
Email: info@goisrael.de, presse@goisrael.de
Web: www.goisrael.de
Transportation
The main means of transport in Israel are buses, private cars and shared taxis, known as “Sherutim”. These run in and between major cities and on the main routes at fixed prices per person.
bus
Buses are the most popular and nationwide means of transport in Israel. They drive regularly and at affordable rates. You should be prepared for the fact that most bus routes do not run on Shabbat (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday).
railroad
The Israeli railways have connections between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nahariya. Freight trains also serve the port of Ashdod further south, the cities of Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva, and the mineral mining area south of Dimona. The rail network extends over approx. 530 km.
Regular train journeys are offered on the following three routes:
- Tel Aviv north to Nahariya, including Netanya, Haifa and Akko.
- Tel Aviv south to Rechovot via Kfar Chabad.
- Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on a beautiful country road through the mountains.
Like buses, trains do not run on Shabbat.
Streets
Israel’s road network is very well developed and covers approximately 15,464 km. The majority of inner-city streets are at least two lanes in each direction. Approx. 56 km are developed to highways or motorway-like roads.
Rental car
Most of the major international and several Israeli car rental companies can be found in the larger cities and at Ben Gurion International Airport. Anyone over the age of 21 and in possession of a valid national and international driver’s license and credit card can rent a car.
Ferry connections
The port in Haifa is one of the largest container ports in the Mediterranean, which is also called at by passenger ships. Ashdod is also one of the largest passenger ports. Foreign yachts also have Eilat, Herzliya, Tel Aviv and Ashkelon as ports of entry.
Nationally, a ferry operates between Tiberias on the west bank of the Sea of Galilee and Kibbutz En Gev on the east bank. Ferries call at all ports on the Mediterranean coast.
Flight connections
The largest airport in the country is Ben Gurion International Airport, about 25 minutes by car from Tel Aviv and 50 minutes from Jerusalem.
For charter flights, mainly from Europe, as well as domestic flights, Eilat Airport in the south and two smaller airports near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the center and Rosh Pina in the north are available.
Infectious diseases
Israel has an excellently developed health system that does not need to fear comparison with any other country on earth. Health centers are marked with a red Star of David on a white background.
In Israel, with the exception of leishmaniasis, diseases that are not widespread in Germany or Northern Europe are hardly to be expected. Under this premise, the following infectious diseases can be expected:
- Leishmaniasis
- Hepatitis A and B
- rabies
- Tick bite fever
- Various intestinal infections caused by pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, amoeba, lamblia or worms
Vaccination recommendations
There is no compulsory vaccination for travelers. But the following vaccinations, which, by the way, should also be given in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, are recommended:
- diphtheria
- Hepatitis A and B
- polio
- tetanus
- typhus
Compulsory vaccination
There is no compulsory vaccination for travelers.
Additional information, warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizen Service
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
International license plate
Israel’s international license plate is:
| IL |
Israel: embassies, consulates
Representations of Israel in Germany
Embassy in Berlin
Auguste-Viktoria-Strasse 74-76
14193 Berlin
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 890 45511
https://embassies.gov.il/berlin/Pages/default.aspx
German representations in Israel
Embassy in Tel Aviv
3, Daniel Frisch Street, 19th floor
64731 Tel Aviv
PO Box 16038
61160 Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel: 00972 – (0) 3 – 693 13 13/-12
Email: info@tel-aviv.diplo.de
Web: www.tel-aviv.diplo.de
Honorary Consulate General in Haifa
98 Hanassi Avenue
34455 Haifa
Tel: 00972 – (0) 4 – 838 14 08
Email: consulate@pappelaw.com
Honorary Consulate General in Eilat Neviot 5 88000 Eilat Tel: 00972 – (0) 8 – 637 45 36 Email: barbara.pfeffer@gmail.com
Austrian representations in Israel
Embassy in Tel Aviv
Beit Crystal, 12 Rehov Hahilazon, Ramat Gan
IL-Tel Aviv 52522
Tel: 00972 – (0) 3 – 612 09 24/-26
Email: tel-aviv-ob@bmaa.gv.at
www.aussenministerium. at/telaviv
Honorary Consulate in Eilat
The Red Canyon Offices, Shderot Hatmarim
Eilat 88000
Tel: 00972 – (0) 8 – 637 51 53
E-Mail: moshe_sf@inter.net.il
Honorary Consulate in Haifa
c/o Ofer Brothers, 9, Andre Saharov Street
31905 Haifa
Tel: 00972 – (0) 4 – 861 06 10
E-Mail: udia@oferb.co.il
Honorary Consulate in Jerusalem
Technology Park, Manahat Building No. 1
Jerusalem 91487
Tel: 00972 – (0) 2 – 649 06 49
Email: imolho@smplaw.co.il
Representations of Israel in Austria
Embassy in Vienna
Anton-Frank-Gasse 20
1180 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 47 64 60
Email: info-sec@vienna.mfa.gov.il
Swiss representations in Israel
Embassy in Tel Aviv
228 Rue Hayarkon
63405 Tel Aviv
Tel: 00972 – (0) 3 – 546 44 55
Email: tel.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/telaviv
Consulate in Eilat
PO Box 3079
88130 Eilat
Tel: 00972 – (0) 8 – 637 27 49
E-Mail: alfonso1@netvision.net.il
Representations of Israel in Switzerland
Embassy in Bern
Alpenstrasse 32
3000 Bern 6
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 356 35 00
Email: info@bern.mfa.gov.il
Web: http://bern.mfa.gov.il
Consulate in Geneva
Avenue de la Paix 1-3
1202 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 716 05 00
Email: consul@geneva.mfa.gov.il
Web: http://geneva.mfa.gov.il
