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Israel is opening up to all travelers, including unvaccinated, from March – what you should know

Feb. 21, 2022
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2 min read
Old town and port of Jaffa, Tel Aviv city, Israel
Israel is opening up to all travelers, including unvaccinated, from March – what you should know
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Unvaccinated travelers are set to be allowed into Israel from March onward.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz revealed yesterday current travel restrictions – allowing only passengers who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 entry to the country – will soon be eased.

Beginning March 1, both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter Israel after submitting two COVID-19 tests: a predeparture PCR test (which proves a demonstrable negative result) and another PCR test on arrival.

Once in the country, all travelers will be required to self-isolate for 24 hours, or until their PCR test comes back negative.

Currently, Israel’s entry requirements state that non-Israeli citizens must have been fully vaccinated with an approved jab – or have proof of recovery – to be allowed entry into the country.

Related: Here's how to get to Israel using points and miles

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Israel accepts all of the vaccines commonly administered in the U.S., including Moderna and Pfizer as well as the single-dose Johnson & Johnson.

In the case of two-dose vaccines, the second dose must have been received at least 14 days prior to arrival in Israel, and no more than 180 days prior. Where booster doses have been available, they are also necessary to qualify as "fully vaccinated" by Israel’s definition.

Present rules have allowed entry for people who can prove they have recovered from COVID-19 with a certificate of recovery – if the recovery happened within a period of eight to 190 days prior to the visit.

Related: The tiny nation with a rapidly growing airline route map

For more information on current entry requirements for Israel, visit the Israeli government website.

Of these restriction changes, Bennett confirmed: “We are seeing a consistent decline in morbidity numbers, so this is the time to gradually open up what we were the first in the world to close.”

Israel was one of the earliest countries to lock down its borders at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, reopening briefly before locking down in December 2021 as a result of the omicron variant.

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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