Israeli COVID Restrictions on International Travel, Including for Vaccinated Passengers, Go Into Effect

Israeli orders restricting international travel to and from seven countries with high coronavirus infection rates went into effect on Monday, and will remain in place at least until May 16.

The latest regulations also apply to vaccinated people – who over the past months, as Israel's vaccination drive progressed and the country reopened – were largely exempt from most COVID-19 restrictions.

Apart from special cases, requiring passengers to obtain permits in advance via the Health Ministry's website, Israeli citizens and residents are barred from traveling to Ukraine, Brazil, Ethiopia, South Africa, India, Mexico and Turkey.

Those who are not Israeli citizens are allowed to travel to those countries only if they plan to reside there permanently. The regulation will not apply to those who have stayed at airports in one of these countries for a time period of up to 12 hours while waiting for a connecting flight.

In addition, the government has authorized the health and interior ministers to appoint representatives from their ministries to head the committee reviewing special cases and an appeals committee.

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Furthermore, the Health Ministry is proposing that those returning from the aforementioned countries enter mandatory quarantine – even if they are vaccinated or have recovered from the coronavirus – for two weeks.

Those who have received two negative COVID-19 tests would have to enter a 10-day quarantine.