The Israeli Passport Stamp is a question many visitors to Israel are concerned about. In reality though, there’s nothing to worry about. Whilst many Arab countries who do not recognize Israel will not allow entry to anybody who has an Israeli passport stamp, the Israeli authorities are sympathetic to the fact that many people do wish to travel around the world and since early 2013, most visitors to Israel don’t have their passports stamped… by default!

I don’t want an Israeli passport stamp

Since early 2013, most people entering Israel via Ben Gurion Airport on a B2 visa (a regular tourist visa) do not receive a stamp in their passport. Instead, they receive a piece of paper (like a train ticket) which is stamped and they should keep in their passport for the duration of their visit (it can also be important to show this in hotels to verify that you are a tourist and do not need to pay VAT).

In some instances, or at other border points, it is possible that the authorities may want to place a stamp in your passport. Usually, just asking them to stamp a piece of paper is no problem, and they’ll attach a piece of paper to your passport which you can remove after you’ve left Israel.

Is an Israeli passport stamp a problem?

Some Arab countries will refuse entry to anybody who has an Israeli passport stamp (it is no problem to visit Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, or the UAE with a stamp). If you do have an Israeli stamp, and want to visit another country, the simplest thing is to just get a new passport or a second passport which will be blank and cause no problems. It is also important to note that some authorities in Arab countries look at Jordanian and Egyptian stamps from the land borders with Israel and consider these to be a sign of having entered Israel.