I don’t want Israel to stamp my passport
Updated December 2013
No offense to Israel, but that entry stamp in your collection isn’t always a welcome sight in other countries. In fact, if you have any evidence in your passport of having visited Israel, you can be denied entry to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Libya, and Sudan. I’ve read of potential hassles in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and other Arab states. (FYI – Jordan and Egypt do NOT have an issue with Israeli passport stamps)
Traveler reports indicated that as of January 2013 Israeli border agents were not stamping foreign passports but rather using loose-leaf visas. This would solve the Israeli stamp dilemma, but there are still issues of other stamps from the neighboring countries — be sure to read that matter below. By the end of 2013, Israeli immigration officers were issuing a separate sort of visa/ID card, generated on site from the photo in your passport:
Prior to this, travelers needed to request that Israel does not stamp their passports. The immigration agent used to give you a short Form 17L to fill out. They wanted a good reason. You already have plans to go there or something. (For me, this answer got a stern Why would you want to go THERE? to which I replied “I am a travel writer” which turned the conversation to job envy, thank goodness.)
Jordan and Egypt do not have any issues with such a thing, but are worthy temptations and easily accessible from Israel by land, so you can head there during, after, or before your time in Israel.
Learn the ins and outs of crossing between Israel and Jordan by land.
But wait, you say: wouldn’t the Lebanese (or whoever) be smart enough to know that if you left/entered Jordan at King Hussein bridge, Sheikh Hussein bridge, or Aqaba that Israel is the only thing on the other side??? Yes, but Jordan can stamp your exit on a separate sheet of paper too. When I crossed at Allenby Bridge/King Hussein to Israel, Jordan did this for everyone and without asking. If you are not told to fill in your basic details (name, passport number) on a slip of paper, then you should mention it to the agent before something gets stamped into your passport. At Aqaba the Jordanian border agent didn’t stamp my passport but I had to request the form. (There is a free Jordanian visa in Aqaba, FYI.)
Just be sure to make your intention clear before handing over the passport. Be careful about getting the forms stamped and you should have no evidence of having visited Israel at all. It’ll be like the death of Bobby Ewing on the drama Dallas. It was all just a dream; it never really happened. (But if the Lebanese search your bags and find shekels, Lonely Planet Israel, bus ticket stubs, Jerusalem photos, you will still get sent packing.)
TIP: Want to avoid this business altogether? In the U.S. you can get a duplicate passport (only valid for two years) to use for these situations.
(This post regards Crossing to Jordan, based on personal experience. I am not commenting on Crossing to Egypt here, though I suppose if you could not do this little paper trick at the Egyptian border you could always go into Jordan and cross by ferry from there.)
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I will enter israel from jordan thru Allenby Bridge, will they require another visa upon my return to Jordan? can I aquire the visa upon arrival at allenby?
Yes, they will require a visa, but no, they do not grant visa on arrival at that particular crossing. Have a look at my post about all the ins and outs of the land crossings between Jordan and Israel. Good luck! http://www.themadtraveleronline.com/travel-tips/how-to-cross-from-israel-to-jordan-or-jordan-to-israel/
Any advice on a resident in Jordan getting a visiting visa to Canada.
There are tempermental clerks on the Jordanian side. Once a ‘no’ is received, that individual will never be allowed to apply for a visa again.
‘No soup for you!’.
Sorry, I can’t really comment on that. But if that’s true, it sounds even worse than the US visa: they are typically happy to take another $200 or so a few months later when a rejected applicant tries again.
Hi Kevin, I read your post on how to travel between Jordan and Israel. The Jordan Consulate here in the country i’m staying does not Issue a multiple visa.
I’ve read some blog’s and popstings saying if you exit jordan via allenby bridge, you can return back on the same bridge within 2 weeks. Do you have any Idea on this. How true can it be?
we are traveling to Jordan on the 17th of this month and planning to cross the border on the 18th. but we are still hanging on the information on how to return back to jordan with out having our passports stamp.
Appreciate your comments and infos.
Regards, Alan Dale
You have mentioned on your other posting that there is an Exit slip given by Jordanian officials upon exit. cold it be the exit and re-entry slip to orrdan?
Hi Alan, That is interesting and I am sending out some messages to see if there is truth to that two week option. If you find out with certainty, please let me know and I can update it here. It was a mild headache to track down some of this information and if that is true, it would make the situation so much easier.
The slip I mentioned was just so the Jordanian officials had something to stamp and it was collected from us before we all got on the bus that crosses the bridge. They would know of your arrival situation by the presence of the original visa and the lack of an exit stamp (which is how a clever immigration agent in say Lebanon could also know you went to Israel – thus the importance of no entry visas at the Israel border and both and entry and exit visa from Amman.)
I’ll reply here if I find out more about this two-week option. Safe travels!
Hi again, Alan – I checked on that with a couple good hostels in Amman and they confirmed it as of August 2012. You CAN cross back in if within the two week validity of that visa from Amman/Queen Aila airport – but only there at Allenby. They still do not provide visas at that crossing. I’ve updated my page to mention that valuable exception. Thanks for pointing it out! Let me know how your trip goes! – Kevin
Hi Kevin,
This is a *wonderfully* clear article on this subject. I know it changes by person and day, but you’ve been able to provide me with a few options. I was wondering if I could get your opinion on the following:
I am living in Amman now and waiting on an Iqama to go into my original passport. I’d really like to avoid the Jordan exit/entry stamp as well as the Israeli entrance/exit stamp so I can go to Lebanon in the spring.
My current plan is to cross from Jordan to Israel via the Southern crossing on my original passport (with a multi-entry Jordanian visa). I was told by someone who did it a few years ago that I could ask for Jordan not to stamp my original passport with the obvious exit stamp. Will they really stamp a piece of paper? I get a lot of wide eyes when I mention this plan.
Next, I plan to hand over the second passport on the Israeli side and explain I have plans to travel to Lebanon when questioned.
Then I will reverse this at the northern border by giving my second passport for the Israeli exit stamp and get the Jordanian entrance stamp on a piece of paper along with my original passport. I figure this could work since I have a multi-entry visa.
Any thoughts from you research?
When I entered at Aqaba, I asked them not to stamp my entry and they didn’t. I had to fill out a form and they stamped that. I am not 100% sure about what they do at that particular crossing for the exit, but for the exit at Allenby/King Hussein they stamped nothing at all but a slip that was merely to prove to the bus driver and border security that I had actually gone through immigration on the Jordan side. I would suspect (but never assume, right?) that the situation would be the same – on request – at Aqaba. You can do the passport swap I suppose with Israel but I just decided to avoid that Israeli stamp altogether. Ask for the special form and be firm but polite. 🙂 (If you took your second passport with you to Lebanon and they searched your bags, they still might find it. I am told they can be that thorough.)
Hi Kevin,
Thanks again for your post and email reply, it is very well appreciated! I can sleep well tonight and get ready for our trip tomorrow. Your travel blogs are really helpful, Good Job, keep it up!
We got everything we need to know on your posting it sums up most, if not all the resource info I’ve gathered from around the web and helped us even with the costing for visas and transport fares.
Yes, I will get you posted on how our trip will go…
Thanks again and God bless!
Alan Dale
Kevin,
Unfortunately, you can’t trust the Amman hotels — the two-week window is a myth. Unless you have a multiple-entry visa, you cannot get back to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge; you have to travel hours either north or south and cross there. I almost got stuck when I was training UN personnel last March in Jericho; fortunately, two of my UN OCHA students specialized in access to the West Bank and Gaza and were able to arrange my passage back to Jordan. But otherwise it would have been a long day…
Hi Kevin,
I’m not so sure it’s a myth since travelers, including some who have commented here, have actually done it in the last several months. So you actually crossed the Allenby Bridge and were turned away at the Jordan side? I didn’t try myself; took the bus to Eilat, crossed, and took the bus up to Amman. Got in late afternoon with an early morning departure from Tel Aviv. Pretty easy and not too costly.
Hi, I’m off to Israel this month and I just want to say your blog is awesome, and my favorite travel blog so far.
Thanks. Good luck in your travels. It’s a fascinating area.
Hello Kevin.
I am thinking of visiting the land of Israel, and since i am a Libyan citizen, it’s going to be impossible for me to return to my country with an Israelian stamp on my passport, i read that you manage to make the trip without the stamp.
Sir, can you please instruct me about the root i should take to get to Tel Aviv/Jerusalem from amman and advise me about what i might face in my way there?
Thank You in advance.
Hi Adam,
Here is my post on the routes from Amman and what might work best for you: http://www.themadtraveleronline.com/travel-tips/how-to-cross-from-israel-to-jordan-or-jordan-to-israel/
Being a Libyan citizen I think you will be required to get a visa so I am not sure how that will work with the passport or if you need the visa before arrival. You must request 17L before anyone handles your passport so you can be sure they do not put a stamp in it. But unfortunately I think you need to consult with an Israeli consulate or embassy or maybe even their tourism board about the specific visa process for Libyans.
http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Planning%20your%20trip/Pages/Visa.aspx
I hope this helps!
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I’ve been ff: this thread. Thanks Kevin 🙂
I just crossed the border last night. Starting from Petra. We went for a “joyride tour” from Petra to KHussein Boarder. ( a bit costly, but hiccup-free).
So having said so, we arrived at 6:45PM at King Hussein Station/ Border as you call it, so our driver/tourer did the talking, gave the our passports on one of the windows there. We paid 10JOD/head for exit tax ( we spent 2 nights in Jordan)Then we have to wait for the bus just to cross that 5km ( or less)King Hussein bridge. Expect 3 checkpoints. 5 JOD per head on that bus. about 1.5 JOD per luggage.
Then you will arrive on a terminal-slash-immigration, where you will be parted from your big luggages for a while, hand carry luggage stays with you. At the entrance, there were 2 windows, which will ask mainly, your purpose of going to Israel.
When we entered, there were around 4-5 booth, I believe this is the real immigration fortress, and since they saw post-its on our passport with bold letters “no stamp pls” they handed over the 17L form to fill up. Ask some questions, personal and etc. Then you will have to get your luggage from the belt near the exit.
I reckon according with this experience, it is somehow better to come at night time. The downside, you only have taxi as an option to Jerusalem, costs us 350NIS for 2 heads. ( We are staying at Davidka area). But the whole process from King Hussein to the taxi door, 1.5 hours. Not that bad at all.
dear kevin,
Perhaps I overlooked it in your blog, but do passports get stamped on exit from Jordan at King Hussien crossing? And would you know if that can be avoided?
Kindest regards
No, they do not get stamped as long as you make it clear you don’t want the stamp. Often they don’t stamp it even if you didn’t ask them not to.
According to the new rules, they dont stamp the passports on the Israeli side anymore, that means, everyone gets the stamp on a piece of paper. This is a new thing, since January 2013.
http://orientoholic.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/how-to-master-the-israeli-border/
Yes, and as of late January a couple travelers in travel forums have reported this loose-leaf visa, but had also witnessed others being stamped. (No word on what passport those “others” were carrying though.) Nothing on the Official Israeli tourism site yet; they still refer to the change of policy in 2008 that allowed for the optional L17 form (essentially the same thing as the new loose-leaf visa we’re hearing about).
Indian here, 27, work/reside in UAE. Intend to visit Jordan and slip over into Israel for a couple of days to meet friends (and their families) before returning to UAE via Jordan (of course!). Having a western passport and/or dual passports always helps but for the hapless eastern hemispheric single passport holders, a nightmare for sure! Nevertheless, a colleague has been to ‘the’ land sans issues – separate stamps I believe. Pity I can’t have my PP stamped!
Hi Kevin
I plan to fly to Jordan where my daughter will be living for a year and whilst in Amman go to Israel and fly back from tel aviv . Is this feasible? Or would it be better to go back to Amman and fly back from there?
Also my daughter plans too go to Israel Egypt and turkey Round Christmas. She has a British passport on which she is going to enter Jordan. Should she use her French one to go to Israel to avoid getting it stamped? And what if they find her British passport isn her luggage?
Many thanks
Catherine
Totally feasible, I’d say. Not sure how the prices compare, but it skips the added hassle of the land return if you want to.
She can use whichever passport she wants and just request that they don’t stamp it. I hear now they are automatically not stamping, but best to be sure before handing it over. Also important to not get it stamped if entering Jordan or Egypt FROM Israel. Jordan is good about that but I am not sure about Egypt. In that case, choose one that you don’t mind having potential evidence of an Israel visit in. As for the two passports, if they are both legal and valid, there should be no issue with possessing both. Unless you are Jason Bourne. 😉
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Hi- great post!
At beet sheean border. Can I leave Israel w an Israeli passport walk to Jordan border and enter w a US passport?
I don’t see why not. Since most of us are leaving Israel without any stamp in our passports, there shouldn’t be a problem presenting another passport. Articles have been written about traveling with two passports as well.
Would you or anybody know about the procedure for crossing from Israel to Jordan and then on to Saudi Arabia? how is it possible to get a visa for Saudi? Maybe even a transit visa?
My information here is only for crossing from Israel to Jordan. Unfortunately, I have no clue about the Saudi Arabian border.
Hi kevin! the info is very useful!
i am from argentina, studying in tel aviv for a couple of months…
i read everything but want to be completely sure.
i want to cross from israel to jordan and go to amman, because i m thinking about taking a plane from amman to bangkok that cost almost 40% less than flying from tlv..
So, which is the best border from your point of view? should i need an entering visa to jordan? if yes, can i get it directly at the border or should i ask in the embassy?
is amman a nice city such as to stay a couple of days before going to thailand?
Thank you very much in advance
regards
Joni
Hi Joni,
Argentinians do not need to get the Jordanian visa in advance but can get it upon entry. HOWEVER, the border at Allenby/KING Hussein does not give visas for Jordan. You might consider getting it at the embassy or just crossing one of the other two borders. At Aqaba it is free but a long bus ride to Eilat and then back up to Amman. You can do this in a day, however. The other border at SHEIKH Hussein is another option and makes for a shorter day.
Yes, Amman is worth a couple of days for sure. And do not forget to try Hashim’s hummus – the best hummus in Amman, many say, and I can’t imagine something better. That alone was worth going to Amman for. 🙂
But wait, you say: wouldn’t the Lebanese (or whoever) be smart enough to know that if you left/entered Jordan at King Hussein bridge, Sheikh Hussein bridge, or Aqaba that Israel is the only thing on the other side??? Yes, but Jordan can stamp your exit on a separate sheet of paper
If you have a Jordanian entry stamp and no corresponding exit stamp, then it shows you potentially exited Jordan by going into Israel.
Other problem is if you try to enter Syria overland from Jordan and have no Jordanian entry stamp: the Syrians then know that you entered from Israel. Having a brand new emergency passport issued by your embassy in Amman does NOT solve that problem. If you want to travel Israel–>Jordan–>Syria you must fly to Queen Alia Airport in Amman, get that precious Jordanian entry stamp (you could be coming from anywhere) then make your way to Syria.
Good point!
Hello,
I am planning to drive from the uae to israel with my own car, uae licence plate. Will israel allow to enter with my car? Since i have to cross the KSA how can i do it with entry stamps for jordan? The saudie brorder control will see no stamps of jordan if a manange to get everything stamped on a separate paper.
I am not an expert on the car rules, but I know you can take a foreign car in but must prove ownership, insurance, and driver’s license. I don’t think UAE plates matter. You will enter Jordan and be stamped. When you leave Jordan for Israel, be sure to request not getting a stamp in your passport. Israel already no longer stamps passports but will record it electronically and give you a loose sort of ID-visa card for your stay. Here is what I found about cars in Israel that might be helpful: http://www.aaci.org.il/articlenav.php?id=45
My Name is Fayaz khan and resident of india.I am planning to visit israel in the month of December.I just want to make sure is it true that who ever visits israel wil not be allow in saudiarabia in future due to israel visa stamp?In my future i will be visiting saudi arabia for sure so for this reason first i want to make sure about visiting israel which shouldnot effect my future saudi arabia trip.
Thank you
Israel recently stopped stamping passports and instead should provide you with a sort of card for the visa purposes, thus no evidence of the visit in your passport. The only thing to be concerned about is if you cross the land borders to Egypt or Jordan which would then show entries to those countries which would indicate where you came from to anyone paying attention. (They typically don’t stamp the passport there either, but you need to be sure they don’t do it without thinking)
Hi Kevin, I found your blog very informative and insightful for a traveller heading to the Jordan/Israel. I am heading there next month. One question which I have (which I can’t seem to find a clear answer to albeit scouring the web and books): I plan to fly into Amman, spend 4 days there, then travel to Israel via the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein crossing. As I understand, upon request, I can avoid having the Jordanian exit stamp and Israeli entry stamp in my passport there. Here comes the tricky part: After 9 days there, I am planning on flying back to Amman from Ben Gurion, stay 2 nights there then catch my return flight home from Amman itself. This means, after the end of my trip, i would have 2 Jordanian entry stamps and 1 exit stamp. Will passport control at Amman be able to stamp my re-entry on a separate piece of paper at Queen Alia Airport (Amman) if I ask? What are your thoughts on this?
Wow, there’s an interesting question… Two entries but only one exit. I think you could ask to skip the re-entry stamp but I suspect they wouldn’t allow that. But I am not sure it is a problem to have the two entries. It’s the EXITS from countries bordering Israel that tip off the anti-Israel countries that you have visited there. And if someone DID happen to catch it, I’d just say someone at the airport failed to stamp it. You will have no evidence of a land border crossing anyway. That’s my two cents but obviously it’s a guess. 🙂
Hi Kevin,
This blog is Indeed very helpful in many ways… I plan to travel to Jordan and Israel in Jan 2015… Me being an Indian is anyways a huge task to get Visas, though.. i will be flying into Amman, stay for 1 night and then cross the Border by Allenby Bridge/King Hussein crossing. Visit Jerusalem and Tel aviv.. for 8 days or so.. then then come back to Amman by the same way to take my return flight.
You think this could be a problem? Since i do not wish to have Israeli entry exit stamps on my passport…
let me know…
Many thanks!!!
Keep writing,,,, 🙂
They no longer stamp passports, so you are ok there. in practice we see travelers entering Jordan twice on that single-entry visa, but I’ve not seen it written as official policy. So because I am paranoid, I’d probably get a double entry visa since I’m going to the embassy/consulate anyway. Ask their advice to confirm that. Good luck!
Hi – Good advice on here. This is my situation, UK national with UK passport – expires Oct 2017. I have UAE Residency visa in that passport expires April 2016. I also have multi entry KSA business visa expires April 2015. I live / work KSA. In Dec 2014 I wish to go to Israel and Jordan – as there are no flights from KSA to Israel I intend to go to Amman and overland to Jerusalem via King Hussain crossing. Will return to KSA from Amman. The passport should not be stamped by Israel as it could lead to denial of entry into KSA. Any problems here ?
Shouldn’t be. Israel is no longer stamping passports. Just be sure that Jordan doesn’t stamp your exit into Israel (they typically don’t and are good about that), because that would be the only other evidence of your trip. Plus Israeli coins or something like that.
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for the useful information.
I am currently living in Baku, Azerbaijan for work. I had travelled to Tel Aviv in 2011 and they did put visa in my passport which was not pleasant. This Nov I ma planning to visit a professor in Israel and the embassy here told me they cannot give me the paper visa but only the visa in the passport. They were apparently quite offended about the reason I will have to travel to Malaysia for work in Christmas.
Do you have any good suggestion on this situation?
Thanks
What country is your passport from? Do you need a visa ahead of time? Or can you get it at the airport when you arrive? Get a second passport from your country? I know Americans can do that. If you do not need a visa for your travels, then you can not worry because they don’t stamp the passport anymore when you arrive.
I am holding PRC Chinese passport so I do need visa before departure.
Thanks
Hi, I just want to ask..
I am Oreo a nationality of Philippines but working in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates. I am traveling from United Arab Emirates and I will be going Israel for Passover.
My flight is Abu Dhabi to Jordan April 5 and Jordan to Abu Dhabi on April 8 and I already have a Jordan Tourist VIsa
But I will spend most of my time to Israel. Of course I should not have any evidence that I went to Israel. Any suggestion that I need to know?
Thanks so much.. I will be glad to hear your response.
Oreo
Israel now issues sort of entry cards instead of stamping your passport , and Jordan stamps a slip of paper as you exit over the borders , so just make sure that they don’t stamp it when you enter back into Jordan because that would be evidence that you crossed. Normally they will not.
Hi,
Thank you very much for your informative blog. I do have a few clarifications I’d like to ask though!
I’m traveling to Israel in September from Turkey, and have a British passport. I plan on taking an internal flight to Eilat from Tel Aviv and continuing on to Aqaba and Petra. Am I able to spend the night in Aqaba and then return the next day back to Eilat and then to Tel Aviv with the same visa given when landing in Ben Gurion a few days earlier? I haven’t seen any word on whether the Israeli visa is multiple entry, especially as I’ll be staying a night in Jordan before returning to Israel and then back to the UK, rather than a simple day trip.
Also, do you know if you can request Israeli and Jordanian stamps? I have no passport stamp issues to be concerned about… I like getting them!
Regards,
Euan
England
I am sure you can request the stamps. You are free to enter Israel twice on your visa exemption for the UK passport, but I imagine you will still need to pay the exit fee for that land departure into Jordan.
hi, as i read the post in this website, kindly advise me also regarding for this matter. i am lebanese national and married to filipina and we both are residing in Qatar. i really want to see jerusalem for a tourist purpose, do i have a chance to enter israel via entering to Jordan or Cyprus then will take a bus going to israel. i can enter jordan without visa, so can i enter israel as well?
You need a visa Israel and it must be confirmed by Jerusalem (so says the visa chart from Israel: http://mfa.gov.il/MFA_Graphics/MFA%20Gallery/Consular%20forms/VisaRequirements.pdf). The Philippine passport is exempt for visa. The border doesn’t usually mark passports leaving from Jordan (if you ask) or entering to Israel, but be sure to confirm that as you pass if you are concerned about an Israel stamp in your passport for Qatar.
where can i apply for visa while i think qatar is banned for visa and there is no israel vembassy here. can i get this visa in jordan.
I am not sure about that. You should contact the mission in Jordan directly to confirm: http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/consularServices/Pages/MissionAbroad.aspx?continent=Asia&CountryId=150&isEmbassyInWorld=True
Let us know how it works out for you as that would be useful information to others in the future. Good luck!
You need to apply for a Visa by sending off all documents to an embassy in another country.
Use this form:
http://mfa.gov.il/MFA_Graphics/MFA%20Gallery/Consular%20forms/EntryVisa.pdf
Without writing “embassy of Israel”, on the letter, you could send off your passport physically to the embassy in Washington DC at their address which is 3514 International Dr NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States
Or you could email them, and arrange a relative in the US to pay for visa fees. Or have them give you a B2 tourist permit and mail it to you (this would be difficult and I wouldn’t recommend mailing anything associated with Israel to Qatar. Sending a passport to the US? Ok. Sending a Lebanese passport with Israeli visa application? Oh God no).
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i have an american passport but on my passport it says my place of birth is israel when and also my children passport have israel written on their american passport can you tell me how i would handle that because i will be travelling from israel to jordan with my children and i really dont want any problems
It shouldn’t be a problem. Jordan isn’t one of those countries that has that issue with passports.
hi i am going to be travelling from israel to jorden with my children we have american passports but on the place of birth section of our passport it says israel do u think this would be a problem and how would u suggest handling it?
I am a uk citizen working in Saudi. I am considering flying to telaviv via Amman. what would you advise as I have been told I would not be allowed back into Saudi if I have a Israeli passport stamp. I would like to stay in telaviv for 4 days then take the train to Jerusalem visit Bethlehem Nazareth Galilea Petra and visit the Dead sea. Can you advise please
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