Heads up: Israel's new travel requirement for tourists, starting January 2025

Israel just announced that tourists from visa-exempt countries (the ones who could previously just hop on a plane) will need to get an electronic pre-approval called ETA-IL before traveling. Think of it like America's ESTA system, if you're familiar with that.

What You Need to Know:

- Kicks off January 1, 2025

- Costs about 25 shekels (pretty minimal)

- Applies even if you're from a country that doesn't normally need a visa

- You'll need to get approved before you can board your flight

The idea is pretty straightforward: rather than finding out there's an issue when you land at Ben Gurion Airport, you'll know before you even leave home if there might be any problems with your entry. If something does pop up, you'll be directed to your local Israeli consulate to sort it out.

Israel's following in the footsteps of countries like the US, Canada, and Australia with this move, and the EU is planning something similar soon. They've set up a help desk for anyone who gets stuck with the application or has questions.

Want to check it out? The official website has all the details in both English and Hebrew:

- English: https://go.gov.il/ETA-IL_EN

- Hebrew: https://go.gov.il/ETA-IL_heb

Bottom line: if you're planning a trip to Israel in 2025, add "get ETA-IL approval" to your pre-flight checklist. It's just one more box to tick, but it'll be mandatory for everyone, even tourists from previously visa-exempt countries.