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Entry into Israel Law, 5712-1952

חוק הכניסה לישראל, תשי"ב-1952

Published: 1952-09-05Last amended 2026-07-20✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter V: Miscellaneous Provisions

Regulations§

14.
(a)The Minister of the Interior may make Regulations on any matter relating to the implementation of this Law, and inter alia on the following matters:
(1)categories of persons who shall be disqualified from receiving a visa or residence licence under this Law;
(2)conditions to be fulfilled before a visa is granted or before a residence licence under this Law is granted, extended or replaced;
(3)medical examination of persons entering Israel, medical treatment thereof, and sanitary inspection and disinfection of their clothing and belongings;
(4)fees for the grant of visas and licences under this Law according to their types, and exemptions therefrom;
(4a)a fee for the filing of an application for an electronic travel authorisation as defined in section 14a, and exemption therefrom;
(5)methods of collection of removal expenses as referred to in section 13(b) and (b1), including the application of the provisions of the Tax (Collection) Ordinance to the collection of removal expenses as aforesaid, and including the laying down of provisions for the confiscation or attachment of funds and movable property to cover removal expenses;
(6)provisions regarding the exercise of powers under this Law in relation to a foreign worker as defined in Chapter IV-A of the Foreign Workers Law, in consultation with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment;
(7)the establishment and methods of management of a special detention facility for the holding of a person unlawfully present in Israel — with the consent of the Minister for Internal Security;
(8)the postponement of the removal of a person against whom a removal order has been issued, for the purpose of settling his affairs and legal rights in Israel — in consultation with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment.
(b)Regulations pursuant to subsection (a)(4) to (6) and (8) require the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset.

Use of Revenue from Fee for Filing an Application for an Electronic Travel Authorisation§

14a.

Revenue from a fee pursuant to section 14(a)(4a) for the filing of an application for an electronic travel authorisation shall be used by the Population and Immigration Authority for the purpose of its operations pursuant to section 14(a)(2); for this purpose, "electronic travel authorisation" means an authorisation granted to a person applying for a residence licence for a visit of type B/2 who is exempt from the provisions of the Law regarding the obligation to hold a visit visa of type B/2 for up to three months, in accordance with the provisions pursuant to section 17(b).

Implementation§

15.
(a)The Minister of the Interior is responsible for the implementation of this Law.
(b)The Minister of the Interior shall appoint border control officers and border control supervisors for the purposes of this Law from among the employees of his Ministry, or from among State employees in another Ministry, including from among officers of the Israel Police, with the consent of the Minister in charge of that Ministry; notice of appointments pursuant to this subsection shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Transfer of Powers§

16.
(a)The Minister of the Interior may transfer to another person his powers under this Law, in whole or in part, except for the power to make Regulations; notice of the transfer of powers shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).
(b)(Repealed).

Exemption§

17.
(a)The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the entry into Israel or the departure from Israel of a person who arrives on a diplomatic visa or a service visa, nor to the residence in Israel of such a person who holds a valid foreign diplomatic passport or a valid foreign service passport; the Minister of the Interior may, by Order, exempt from the application of the provisions of this Law regarding entry into Israel, residence therein or departure therefrom, additional categories of representatives of foreign states holding diplomatic or consular status or persons on special missions, in accordance with conventions or international agreements to which Israel is a party or in accordance with international usages recognised by Israel, provided that that state acts in like manner towards Israel.
(b)The Minister of the Interior may, after consultation with the Interior Committee of the Knesset, by Order published in Reshumot (Official Gazette), exempt additional categories of persons from the provisions of this Law, in whole or in part, absolutely or subject to conditions.
(c)The Minister of the Interior may permit a transit passenger who has arrived in Israel by ship or aircraft to remain in Israel, without a visa or residence licence, until the ship or aircraft has departed from Israel.

Application and Transitional Provisions§

18.
(a)This Law shall apply to a person who enters Israel after its commencement and to the residence in Israel of such a person.
(b)A person who entered Israel before the commencement of this Law shall be treated as if this Law had not been enacted.

Nothing in this provision shall prevent the Minister of the Interior from granting a permanent residence licence to a person who entered as aforesaid, and once such a licence has been granted to him, the provisions of this Law shall apply to him.

(c)A person who, on the sixteenth day of Kislev 5708 (29 November 1947), was a resident of the territory that became the territory of Israel, and who had left that territory before that date, and who requested, within two years from the commencement of this Law, to return to Israel — the Minister of the Interior may grant him a visa for that purpose.

Repeal and Validation§

19.

The Immigration Ordinance, 1941 — is repealed. The Immigration Regulations in the Schedule to the said Ordinance, as well as Regulations, Orders and notices made and visas, licences and certificates issued under the said Ordinance, shall remain in force as if they had been made and issued under this Law.

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First Schedule (Section 8a)

1.§

The Israel Security Agency.

2.§

The Mossad — Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations.

3.§

The Israel Police.

4.§

The Israel Tax Authority.

5.§

The Ministry of Health, for the purpose of protecting public health, through the identification, prevention or treatment of the possibility of an outbreak or spread of epidemics or infections, within the meaning thereof in section 20 of the Public Health Ordinance, 1940, or in Schedule B to the said Ordinance, or of an infectious disease that poses a significant risk to human life.

6.§

The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, for the purpose of the security of civil aviation and maritime traffic to and from Israel, including the protection of the security of passengers travelling to and from Israel against security threats.

7.§

The Central Bureau of Statistics, in respect of statistical operations, as defined in the Statistics Ordinance [New Version], 5732-1972.

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Second Schedule (Section 13w)

A decision of an authority, in matters of entry into Israel, stay and residence in Israel or departure therefrom, or in matters of citizenship, under the enactments listed hereunder —

(1)the Entry into Israel Law, 5712-1952, except a decision under section 11a;
(2)section 7 of the Citizenship Law, 5712-1952;
(3)sections 30, 30a, 32, and 32d of the Prevention of Infiltration (Offences and Jurisdiction) Law, 5714-1954;
(4)the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision), 5763-2003, except decisions under sections 3a1, 3b and 3c;
(5)the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision), 5782-2022, except decisions under sections 7, 8 and 9;

For this purpose, "a decision of an authority" — except a decision made by the Government and except the making of Regulations.

The appeals tribunal shall not entertain an appeal against a decision in matters entrusted to the detention review tribunal, except pursuant to section 13x(c) of the Law.

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