When speaking to fellow travellers, globetrotters and Couchsurfers, I am always amazed how many people are afraid of visiting Israel – not because of Hamas’ rockets from Gaza or because of suicide bombers, but because of a stamp in a passport. Guys, you are missing out on the most fascinating and interesting country in the world – for no reason.
There are two myths, one which is complete bogus and one which has some truth to it, but I will give you the hot-shot traveller’s advice on how to work your way around the so-called “Israeli passport stamp problem”. I have been to Israel many times and I have also been to Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. I have never had a problem entering any of these countries at all. – I should mention that I have a German passport (or two of them as you will find out later), but as far as I am aware these rules and tips apply to all other EU passports as well as US, Australian and all other “free Western world” passports.
Myth no. 1: You can not enter Israel if you have the stamp or a visa of an Arab/Muslim country in your passport.
This is completely false.
There is absolutely no problem if you have been to an Arab or Muslim country before, whether on the same trip or long before, and want to enter Israel.
In fact, there are open border crossings between Jordan and Israel and between Egypt and Israel (in Sinai). I have used both of these border crossings myself. Upon entry to Israel, you usually receive a 3-month visa stamped into your passport. Easy thing. I have also travelled to Israel after having been to Lebanon, Syria (the land borders between these two countries and Israel are closed) and Iran and never faced any problem.
Now, of course it could be that if your passport shows visas for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, that the Israeli immigration officer will have some probing questions for you, but that’s nothing more than you would have to expect in the UK, the US or if you entered the Schengen zone.
Myth no. 2: With an Israeli visa stamp in your passport, you cannot travel to any Arab/Muslim country thereafter.
There is some truth to it. Unfortunately, some countries are so obsessed with their hatred of Israel that they do indeed not give visas to tourists if there are stamps from Israel in that passport. To make matters more complicated, many of these countries do not apply these rules stringently. Generally speaking, you will have more problems if you try to enter Iran, Syria and Lebanon, you may have problems if you try to enter the UAE or Saudi Arabia, and you won’t have any problems when you go to Jordan, Turkey, Egypt or Morocco.
But now to my tested hot-shot tips on how to circumvent this problem:
1. get a second passport
No, not with another name and not from another country. Simply a second passport from the same country that issued your first one. Tell the passport office that you are travelling in the Middle East. Usually, they are already aware of this problem. I am now on my third set of two simultaneous passports and it was never a problem to get the second one. – If your local passport office causes a problem, offer them that they can always keep one of the passports with them, if your travel plans can accommodate that. You can then go to the passport office and exchange your passports as you need them.
I then use one of these passports for all Arab and Muslim countries and the other one for Israel, Europe and the US.
One thing you have to watch out for: In many countries, the second passport is valid for fewer years than your primary one (in Germany for example, it’s 5 versus 10 years). In order to avoid suspicion when going to Iran or Afghanistan, use the second (shorter validity) passport for Israel.
2. ask the Israeli immigration officer to NOT stamp your passport
Israel is fully aware of this problem and does not want to spoil your further holiday plans.
If you arrive in Israel by plane, you were always able to ask the immigration officer at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to please NOT stamp your passport and hand you a separate piece of paper with the visa stamp. From early 2013 on, this is now the standard procedure at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. You will now receive a separate piece of paper. Keep it and carry it with you. It is your visa. After your trip to Israel, even the most suspicious Iranian immigration official won’t detect a trace of Israel in your passport.
However, this only works at the airport. I have not yet heard of anybody doing this successfully who entered Israel via one of the land borders or by sea. At the land border crossing, it also wouldn’t make sense because Egypt for example would give you an exit stamp which says “Taba Border Crossing”. There is only a border with Israel, so everybody will know where you went, even if you don’t have an Israeli stamp in your passport.
3. plan your trip accordingly
If you are doing one big Middle East tour, you can of course simply go to Israel last. If you enter Israel via Egypt or Jordan, you can even use the land border crossing.
4. lose your passport
If you have Israeli stamps in your passport and you are planning a trip to Syria and your passport office is not cooperative with a second passport, simply “lose” your passport and apply for a new one. (The lost one will be blocked and you won’t be able to use it anymore.)
Happy travels and enjoy Israel!
I’m a bit surprised that Saudi Arabia would have any problems with folk traveling from Israel. Syria and Lebanon, especially with what’s going on currently, absolutely.
Sadly enough, without some nearly-miraculous occurrence, this advice is pretty much useless for me. But thanks for a great “window to the world”!
Great tips- I have found it easy (from the US) to get a second passport, although it had a shorter expiration than my original passport.
Dear Andreas,
Thanks a lot for your valuable advise. I will test their applicability next Sunday when we go to Israel, both for vacations and to meet colleagues at Tel Aviv Uni. With a jewish wife and son I am absolutely positive that they will also wellcome the goj husband.
What I am more concerned is my plan to visit Iran next year. Somebody told me that on request the Israeli border police might put the visa on an extra inlay, that can be removed later. In case the Iranian border IRGF cause me some trouble, do you think I should show them your blog entry as a reference ? But perhaps this causes even more problems, right ?
You definitely have to ask the Israeli immigration to please put the entry (and later the exit) stamp on an extra piece of paper, not into your passport. Otherwise, you may run into real problems in Iran.
When you go to Iran, you have two options: You can apply for a visa beforehand, or get a tourist visa (15 days) at the airport. On both my visits, I chose the later option.
If you apply for the visa beforehand, you have to sign that you have never been to “Occupied Palestine”. If your passport shows no signs of having been to Israel, you can simply sign this.
If you apply for the tourist visa at Tehran Airport, you have a much shorter form to fill out. The main thing the Iranian immigration is interested is that you provide some name and phone number of somebody in Iran who invited you. Then you pay 50 EUR, wait an hour or two and you’ll get the tourist visa in your passport.
I would not show any printout of my blog in Iran because being associated with me could cause even more problems than being associated with Israel. (Because of this: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/reports-about-my-trip-to-iran-in-junejuly-2009/) By the way, when I was in prison in Iran and was investigated by the Interior Intelligence Service, I told them that I had been to Israel (upon their questioning and because I found it pointless to lie). It was not a problem at all. In fact, it was the last question of all the interrogations in these 6 days in prison. After that, I was released.
Interesting info, good to know.
Regarding your last suggestion though, wouldn’t this fall under fraud and be criminally liable? In my country you actually have to swear that you are saying the truth, so you would be liable for perjury too if caught out I presume.
On the other hand, one could also conveniently “lose” it in the sea out on a walk by Dingli cliffs after carefully shredding any personal and biometric info within it.
Yes, the last option is not quite legal. Unless of course you ‘really’ lose your passport. ;-) But you have to make sure that it never pops up anywhere again.
2 years ago i asked the israeli immigration officer to not stamp my passport. it was no problem at all and like you said, they gave my a separate piece of paper and stamped this. one week later i travelled to jordan over the Sheikh-Hussein-Bridge near Bet Sche’an. There i had little problems, because i got the stamp on a separate paper and not in the passport. i explained and after a while they let me through and gave me another separate piece of paper, on which i got another stamp.
on the otherside of the jordan-river, the jordanian immigration gave my a 3rd piece of paper with a 3rd stamp. like you mentioned the problem with the “Taba Border Crossing” stamp, here it would be the same problem with an entry-stamp over jordan-river.
at the border on the way back into israel there was no problem at all on the jordanian side. the israeli side made at first little problems. because i travelled with 2 israeli arabs to jordan, they asked us a few questions and among others why i dont want an israeli stamp in my passport? i said: because i want to travell to iran and afghanistan. then they separated us and we were questioned almost 3 hours. it was quite an experience. i wanted to provoke a little and i succeeded in doing that.
so, it is possible to enter israel via land borders an not to get ones passport stamped.
there are many jordanians who do this. btw: they can keep their jordanian license-number and drive with them in israel, while the israelis have to take them at the border off and travell with jordanian license-numbers, which you get at the border. on your way back, you must give them back and then you can put the israeli number back on the car.
sorry, but you’re an absolute fucking IDIOT.
Whay would you want to “provoke” the Israelis “a little”?
You’re being admitted to THEIR country…you should show some respect.
It’s people like you that Israel should deny entry IN EVERY INSTANCE.
It’s a privilege to visit Israel.
You’re now only ignorant and cynical, but thankless and SURELY not well-educated AT ALL.
Nothing more to say.
No wonder people HATE americans everywhere lol…thanks to white trash like YOU.
Why do you go to Israel in the first place?
Next time: SPARE THEM.
They do NOT need (or want) your money (whatever little you night have, as I gather you’re SURELY NOT well-off lol), or tourism.
Go spend it with the arabs. They’ll SURELY appreciate it.
Filthy uneducated hypocrite
i can tell you why and i will.
i have a name that sounds like a typical israeli name. i was so many times in israel that i have learned the language so well, that only a few people there hear some kind of an accent, but cant tell where i am from. when i am landing at ben-gurion, they do not believe me, that i am not an israeli citizen and they taking me every single time to an office, where i always have to answer the same questions. this procedure lasts about an hour.
a good friend of mine, an israeli, who is working for arkia, suggested to do something very strange at one of the borders, so that this incident would be registrated. from then on, when i will go through a passport controll in israel, they will see it and will probably leave me alone. i have to say, my friend was right, she knew what she was talking about.
the one who does not show respect, is you! i am not an idiot, but i cannot tell, if you are one.
David stop being a fool, people doing business need to travel and I 100% certain that the Israely government may well disagree with you these people are not needed!!
Your comment just show what a thick shit you are and points to you being the fucking idiot. Oh and I’m British and we gave Israel to the Jewish people, your welcome.
It’s very sad to hear such hate in a reply David, you should be ashamed of yourself. White trash? Not sure how you would know that from an online post. You must be very very clever or quite the opposite.
We all need to grow up and understand this is our planet. This type of hate is why we have these problems in the first place. accept we have our differences in skin colour, countey of birth and upbringing and be happy. We have one world and one chance at life and enjoying this world. One chance. It’s not a practice run, this is it! Chill out and spread happiness not hatred and bad comments like that.
well, David was right about the white colour, but wrong about the quality of it. furthermore he was absolutley wrong about my nationality.
ok, ok, he was wrong about many other things, but Tim, i think you are right about this opposite thing you mentioned.
Dear Andreas,
To be honest, I am much less concerned about the issue of having a stamp of the “zionistic entity” in my passport, when asking for an visa to Iran. This is all pure ideology, isn’t it. And however hypocratic the IRI mullahs are, they will somehow realize that foreigners with an interest in Iranian affairs like you (even if they really have never been to Israel), are a much more sever problem. Last year two german reporters were arrested, for “illegally” interviewing the family of Sakine Ashtiani (who was sentenced to death for adultery). Recently, an american-iranian lady, who went to Tehran to see her family and friends, was arrested with a fabricated accusation of drug-smuggeling, sentenced to death and hanged. Some time ago, three americans, hitch-hiking through the country were also arrested and accused of espionage. Your own case also shows that the IRI authorities are really afraid of people who come to the country not only to visit the cultural heritage or the beauty of the nature, but who have an interest in the politics and want to meet the people and exchange ideas.
You yourself are perhaps the best example: after your participation in the 2009 green movement, after openly writing and talking about the violence of the Basij forces in your blog, in the Spiegel journal and in the HBO documentary, do you think that they would let you travel through Iran freely ones again ?
I know from several Iranian friends here in Germany, that they are always afraid that any negative comment they are doing here, in particular if it is via internet (Blogs, forums, Facebook etc) might become known to the security forces in IRI, and later they might got problems when they want to visit their families and friends.
O.k., if I apply for a visa beforehand, and it got rejected, I know that I have to wait for a change of the regime, hoping that a more liberal gouvernment in Tehran will also be less restrictive against foreign visitors. But if I would enter the country with the visa from the border police (as you did), and later they would find out that I used to make naughty comments about the human rights situation in IRI on blogs etc., I could imagine they try to catch me red-handed somewhere when i visit friends in the country. Let alone the prospect to be arrested for fabricated political reasons the second time in my life (after spending some nights in Berlin-Rummelsburgs Stasi cells), I would have special concern to bring friends in Iran into trouble. They have no place to escape to or to be expelled to.
I’m really curious hearing your opinion.
Michael ( Radius)
Well put. Yeah, our brilliant idea to try getting a U.N. car thru the Lebanese border didn’t work out so well…ah, the foolishness of our youth! But seriosuly, even people in Lebanon will tell you to use an extra piece of paper to visit Israel. The popular choice is to travel to Cyprus between the two. Also, if your mother or wife has a Jewish last name, you can always just refer to her married name on any official documents when traveling through the Middle East to avoid complications. It’s common for Arab women to use their maiden names on official documents, but they are familiar with other traditions. I first learned of this strategy from an Iranian friend whose mother was Jewish and father was Muslim. He obviously wanted to visit both cultures but had to be creative.
Great advice. And yes, everyone should visit Israël. It is AMAZING!! And is very safe!!
I have recently visited Israel, followed by a trip to Saudi Arabia. You can now get a separate paper visa while border crossing from Amaan to Jerusalem. We just had to make sure that any stickers on the outer cover of the passport and the visa was discard before boarding the flight to Jeddah. Also in some cases luggage is checked so to be on a safe side concealing product with Hebrew writing helps.
Thank you very much for the updated information!
Being Indian, I had to get an actual visa sticker in advance from the Israeli embassy in Paris this week. I dont think I will ever have plans to actually visit a Middle Eastern Muslim country, but I will transit Oman on my way to India later this year (just staying in the international zone at Muscat airport). I am wondering if there will be a problem.
On the other hand, I noticed that Saudia has some really attractive fares from Europe to India, almost $200 less than the usual price. I am tempted to buy, but I keep having visions of being hauled to prison and getting beheaded by authorities in Jeddah or Riyadh…What is the worst they will do if for some reason they decided to flip through my passport in Jeddah or Riyadh and discover the Israeli sticker?
I have visited Isreal twice , and i have done transit via dubai and doha many times after Isreal visit. you have no need to worry for transit if you fly emirates or Qatar
but pl avoid Saudhi which is very strict.
Dear Andreas,
Thank you very much for your clearly presented and nicely illustrated article.
We read it with great care!
This summer we’re planning to go to Tel Aviv –> Jerusalem –> Amman –> Beiroet.
We’ll be arriving from Belgium by plane in Tell Aviv and tell not to stamp our passports (as you mentioned) afterwards we’ll go to Jerusalem. Here we wanted to cross the Sheikh-Hussein-Bridge to enter jordan (we’ll already buy our Jordan visas in advance in Belgium). We’ll also ask to put an Israeli exit stamp on a different sheet. The entrance stamp of Jordan we will also ask to put on a different sheet, because of the location.
Do you think we we’ll be able to enter Libanon flying from Amman with only an exit stamp from Jordan??
Thank you in advance and the kindest Belgian regards,
Belgiumcouple
I think it could pose a problem because Lebanon will notice that you have no entry stamp to Jordan, making them suspicious.
It really all depends on the person checking your passport.
If you want to be on the safe side, you would need to change the itinerary of your trip and go to Israel at the end of your holiday.
Ok thanks Andreas, we’ve changed it accordingly! You’ve helped us a lot!
Greetings from belgiumcouple
Hi Andreas , Im an Indian and already got two business visa of Israel on my passport, now Im planning to move to Bahrain on a permanent job opportunity , i already got the Visa to travel , but after seeing all this Im worrying , do you think I could be stopped at border control in Bahrain . I tried this with Dubai but it worked absolutely fine and i worked there on employment visa too but not sure about Bahrain ? please help.
wondering how as an Indian you are afraid to get to Saudi Arabia or Emirates there is a lot of Indian living out there dude. maybe more than locals
I am planing to go from Egypt to Jordan by ferry to Israel then through Cyprus by ferry to Turkey.. Do you think I will have a problum with a Stamp from Israel?
No, that’s absolutely fine. Even the other way round would be unproblematic. All of the countries you mentioned have no objection against you having visited Israel.
Enjoy the trip!
Thanks for the info!
Im heading to israel soon and then on to egypt and sudan. The sudanise embassy wont give you a visa if you visit israel. But my problem is that I enter egypt via the tabas crossing. Is it possible to get a stamp into egypt on a seperate piece of paper?
Dear Andreas,
How funny, as a student in Palestine (West Bank) I was writing a blog post about how hard it is to get a visa, which led me to your page. I know Muslims who have been denied entry to Israel for no reason, or who have been interrogated as to why they’ve visited Malaysia (which is one of the closest transit points). The racial profiling is a huge problem. Also I know people who are not Muslim who have been refused entry into Israel because they’ve visited Iran, or Azerbaijan (obscurely enough). How funny that our experiences are so completely different.
I know how hard it is for Palestinians to travel, not least because I helped many Palestinian clients myself when I worked as an immigration lawyer in Germany. Of course the whole thing becomes even more ironic when you consider that Palestinians with an Israeli passport have no problem at all to travel to Europe or North America.
As to people being denied entry, it happens with all countries, not only Israel. The US, Germany, the UK, Lithuania, Italy, France and most other countries also deny entry to some people for some (random) reasons. Nobody has an entitlement to enter another country. Even if you have been issued a visa, the border police can still turn you away.
Hey, thanks for your post. I have a question. I am backpacking across the world, and will be in India soon. From there I will be visiting United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. From Turkey, I plan to go to Greece, and from Athens to fly to Tel Aviv. Would all these stamps from Muslim countries be OK? There is also the problem in that while I am an American citizen (born, raised, and live in the US my whole life), my parents are of Indian descent (Hindu) and thus I am dark-skinned and may be perceived as Arab/Muslim. I was planning on going for 10 days or so, but I’m afraid I will be denied entry because of my skin color and my travel itinerary before arriving in Israel and that I will have to sit in one of their “facilities” for 10 days before getting my flight back to Europe. Do you think I will have any problems?
No, I don’t think you will have any problem at all.
Hi , if you have Israeli stamp in passport you cannot enter UAE !
I had no problems entering the UAE last year with an Israeli stamp in my German passport.
even with an israeli passport you can enter the uae!!
Hello,
I have been a student here in EGYPT for past two years,i have EGYPT visa and i have my various EGYPT student residence permit on my passport,i have also visited RUSSIA,Philippines and i have also visited UAE having the entry stamped and exit stamp of UAE also various Egypt entry and exit stamp on my passport ,I always enter and exit Egypt via CAIRO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT..
My dad have been discussing with me to go along with me to ISRAEL sometimes June this year,and i also wish to visit Israel at least for once in my life ..
AM A NIGERIAN PASSPORT HOLDER
My questions is won’t i have problem getting my visa along with my dad at my next visit to Nigeria and if granted visa won’t i have problem at Israel port of entry via tel-av-iv,if i luckily got stamped in,won’t i have problem to enter Egypt back for my schooling after holidays or won’t i have further problem entering UAE because i have family there that i do visit,
NOTE;;I do always travel to UAE via their airline EMIRATE
ANY SUGGESTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED
I have travelled myself between Israel and Egypt with the same passport, got all the stamps and it never was a problem.
About the UAE I don’t have any experience of my own, but I think somebody else commented about that above.
ANDREAS MOSER :::you mean you hold a nigerian passport?
if yes,how come about that ?if not which passport do you hold presently
Honestly i would still want an idea about the UAE issue because i travel to UAE alot at least minimum of thrice in 4 months
Hi im planning a trip to Israel in June however i’ve previously been to Pakistan & Saudi. I did think of “losing” my passport however you have to have a valid passport for 6months in order to gain entry.
Im just wondering whether I should just risk it & go with my current passport? :-/
As the section “myth no. 1″ above says, you won’t have any problem with getting into Israel. Have a great trip!
Finally one good article on the topic! There are just too many myths concerning this issue, but I dont understand why people dont check out the facts. Actually, the Israelis are not stamping the passports anymore – this is as of February 2013, so quite a fresh thing. I cant find the sources for this but I have a close friend working in tourism and crossing regularly, so I know its true. Just wrote an article about the Israeli borders at my blog :-)
Thanks for both the compliment and the update!
As far as I have read the new guidelines, they only refer to Ben Gurion Airport at Tel Aviv though. While this is admittedly the main port of entry for most visitors, those crossing into Israel at a land border with Egypt or Jordan will still get their passport stamped.
Hi All – My name is Srinivas Namani, Indian citizen. I am currently working
in Israel and would like to move to Dubai. I have already received the visa approval copy from UAE and now I am worried with all these myths about my residence visa since, I am having Israeli work visa on my passport. Please suggest me before going to Dubai.
Thank you very much for the help
Hello, thanks for this site. I am currently studying abroad in the Gulf. I’ll be travelling to Israel soon, via Jordan. I have a second, short-term passport that I use for Arab countries (other than Egypt and Jordan) and a primary one that I’ve used for Israel many times. My question is, if I use the shorter passport with the Gulf stamps to get out of the Gulf and into Jordan, will the Israeli officials be suspicious when I present my primary passport to them upon entry, and it doesn’t say where I came from? I also have the same question about leaving Israel. If I leave on the primary passport and then get back to the Gulf without having any stamp for where I was last, will that be a problem? Thanks so much. Also, do the Israeli border officials realize that some people have two passports? Is there any way I would get in trouble if they found out? Thanks for your help!
You will not have any problem getting into Israel. You also do not need to hide the fact of having two passports. This solution is absolutely legitimate and is well-known to Israeli border guards.
When you re-enter the Gulf, you would need to come up with an explanation where you came from. That is you need to pick a country where your passport would not be stamped. (Typically your home country or in the case of an EU citizen all other EU countries.)
Question: Im thinking about traelling to Iran with my German passport (which has a Israeli stamp in it) , do I absolutely need a second passport? Thanks a lot!
You don’t need a second passport if you will get a new one in time. When you fill out the Iranian visa application form, you will have to sign a statement that you have never been to “occupied Palestine”.
Thanks a lot! One question: my daughter is travelling at Middle East now. She did get the Israeli stamp on her passport, and will be Dubai and Oman in 3 days. Do you think she will have any problems? Especially Oman. It’s urgent. Thanks!
Reblogged this on Wikipedia Aficionado – No veo, no oigo, no hablo..
I am in jordan and having indian passport. Is it possible for me go to israel by road from amman.. I have no prior visa for israel.. jordan on arrival visa for 14 days I have. Pleasebhelp and advuse..
Just to let you all know I successfully crossed the border from Egypt to Israel at Eilat and they offered me the separate piece of paper with the stamp on. So it works at the border too. This was in September 2011. No need for 2 passports, they completely understood the situation.
Thank you very much for that information!
Help please, i have a canadian passport with israeli stamps in it. And it was made in tel aviv. Do you know if i can enter Qatar? I dont have time to make a new passport.