Traveling to Palestine Without a Visa: Many who strive to visit Palestine have numerous questions surrounding the bureaucracy, especially regarding visas. For instance, some would like to bypass Israeli-issued visas, others are unsure if visas are required upon arrival, and still others may not be allowed to travel to Palestine at all. 

This article will provide an overview to give insight into the effects of the political circumstances surrounding Palestine with regard to travel, borders, and general visa information. 

The PA Has No Control Over Their Borders 

The Palestinian Authority has the authority to administer internal Palestinian affairs within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, however they have no power to control or regulate travel into the Territories or out through bordering countries. The Palestinian Authority cannot issue visas to anyone who wants to enter Palestine, and as such visitors who are eager to travel to the West Bank or Gaza must get a visa from the Israeli authorities in order to be granted entry. 

Palestine 194

Within the political construct known as nation states, Palestine is a country recognized by 71.5% of the world’s 193 member states of the United Nations. The campaign known as Palestine 194 aims to make Palestine the next member; under current conditions, the State of Palestine holds a seat in the U.N. but with no voting powers of its own. 

As such, Palestine is a country under occupation by Israel, and therefore anyone wishing to visit cities such as Bethlehem, Nablus, or Hebron must have a visa approved by Israeli authorities. 

Tourist Visas

Most who enter Palestine arrive via the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, though some cross via the land borders, at which point visas on arrival may be obtained by citizens of exempted countries. Depending on your specific situation and point of entry, you may be questioned for several hours before being issued your visa; it’s important to note that visas on arrival are not a guarantee, however most travelers are allowed passage. The standard tourist visa is valid for 3 months or 90 days, though some may be shorter. 

For those whose home country does not have an exemption agreement with Israel, a visa must be obtained in advance from an Israeli embassy or consulate in the home country before travel is possible. Additionally, citizens of countries that do not recognize Israel are not permitted to travel to Palestine owing to Israeli-controlled borders; some passport even clearly state this within the document language, depending on the country in question. Likewise, Israel has banned its citizens from travel to various countries as well, such as Lebanon, Syria, and Algeria, unless granted special permission from the Israeli Ministry of the Interior. 

Visa exemption agreement

Please visit the website below to verify whether or not your native country participates in a visa exemption agreement (Tourists to Israel) : https://excellencenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Visa-Requirement-.pdf 

Getting the “Stamp”

While Israel used to stamp passports like most other countries, they have ceased with this method and now issue separate cards small enough to easily fit inside passports. Because of regional and international relations, travelers with an Israeli stamp in their passport could not enter into various other countries after visiting Palestine or Israel without procuring a secondary passport. 

These inserts contain your information and the details of your visa, along with a bar code and any travel restrictions. You must keep both your passport and visa with you at all times, especially when traveling through the West Bank and Jerusalem owing to the plethora of Israeli checkpoints. 

To summarise

Obtaining a tourist visa to Palestine particularly the West Bank, should not be difficult. Please don’t throw it away! Keep your visa and passport in a secure location at all times, since you may be requested to display them while passing through Israeli checkpoints.

You will also be required to produce it upon departing from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, in order for an exit visa to be issued. The worst that may happen is that you will be delayed at the airport for some time. Relax and take use of this opportunity to reflect on the experiences, new friends, and adventures that await you in Palestine!