PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Palestine

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need an online travel authorisation before flying to Palestine.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per visit.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourism and visits. Israeli officials may make you sign a form restricting entry to Palestinian Authority areas without advance permission from Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories; breaking it risks deportation and a 10-year entry ban (UK FCDO).

  • Passport validity

    At least 90 days (3 months) beyond arrival (UK FCDO). Carry your passport and the Israeli entry slip when crossing between Israel and the West Bank.

  • How to apply

    Apply for the ETA-IL online only at israel-entry.piba.gov.il (Israel Population and Immigration Authority). Fee NIS 25. Valid 2 years, or until the passport expires, for visits of up to 90 days. See the Israel page for full details. There is no separate Palestinian application.

  • Where South Africans apply

    Online at israel-entry.piba.gov.il. For Israeli visas, the Embassy of Israel in Pretoria uses VFS Global South Africa. For consular help in the West Bank, South Africa has a Representative Office in Ramallah (not verified this session).

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    No vaccinations required. The Palestinian territories and Israel are not yellow fever risk countries, so South Africa does not require a yellow fever certificate when you return directly.

  • Arrival forms

    Israel issues an entry slip instead of a passport stamp; keep it, as it is checked at crossings between Israel and the West Bank (UK FCDO).

  • Transit

    Crossings: Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge from Jordan, plus the northern and southern Jordan crossings. Rafah (Egypt to Gaza) often closes without notice; Erez (Israel to Gaza) is closed. Checkpoints close without warning during holidays and unrest (UK FCDO).

  • Travelling with children

    Children need their own ETA-IL (see the Israel page).

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Government of Israel, tourist visa table (via the ISR record researched this session) (Official, gov.il) https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/reports/tourist-visa-table/en/2022_Foreign_Visa_to_Israel.pdf
  2. 2. Israel Population and Immigration Authority, ETA-IL portal (Official, israel-entry.piba.gov.il) https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/
  3. 3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/the-occupied-palestinian-territories/entry-requirements
  4. 4. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/the-occupied-palestinian-territories

From doineedavisa.co.za/palestine. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.