Israel Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

When someone from a different nationality is willing to travel to Israel for whatever reason, a visa for Israel is issued in the name of the respective person. There are various kinds of activities that can be done on this permit. It allows the holder to visit the country for leisure and tourism, to visit friends and family, do business in the country, pursue education and much more. There are different kinds of visas based on certain aspects. The validity of the visa will differ accordingly as well. You must also note that a visa will not guarantee you an entry into the country. If the Border Control officers find an issue with your visa or with yourself, you may not be allowed to cross the border to enter Israel.

In order to get a visa for Israel, you will have to apply offline to the Israel Visa Application Centre (VAC). Although, before carrying on with the process, you need to check the eligibility criteria for the same, this is how you will know whether you are eligible for the permit or not. The Israel visa process is given as follows:

1. You can start by downloading the form from the website of Israel VAC.
2. Fill out the application form thoroughly. You will have to type in the application forms as handwritten forms are not accepted.
3. You can then collect the documents specified by the VAC.
4. Submit the documents to the Israel VAC as per the jurisdiction.
5. Your documents will then be verified.
6. After the verification, you will be informed if there are other requirements as well.
7. You can then pay the fee and the processing will begin.

After the submission of the documents, the processing will begin. Your documents will be verified by the VAC officials. If there are any missing documents, you will be informed accordingly. You can submit the documents and the application form personally, through a representative or through a visa agency. Although, there are other documents that are to be submitted in case you are not submitting the form yourself.

At the time of filling out the form, you need to make sure that you are providing the correct information and details. If any information is found to be false and is untraceable, there are chances that your Israel visa application may get rejected. Such a visa rejection can affect your future applications for permits to not just Israel but other countries as well.

There are different types of visa for Israel categorised based on the purpose of the visit, length of stay permitted and other factors. The types of Israel visa are given as follows:

• A1 - Temporary Resident Visa
  This visa is given to the ones who are willing to move to Israel and have passed the test with aliya (immigration) representative of the Jewish Agency. It is provided only after the application and the examination has been approved by the diplomatic or consular representative from the Israeli Mission.
• A2 - Student Visa
  This permit is issued to those applicants who are willing to travel to Israel to pursue education. It can be issued for short term courses as well as long term courses and the validity of visa will differ accordingly.

• A3 - Clergy
  As the name suggests, this permit is issued to the clergymen who are visiting Israel to fulfil the clerical duties for the religious communities. The validity of the permit will also vary accordingly.

• A4 - For Spouses and Children
  This permit is provided to the children and spouses of the resident visa holders or citizens living in Israel. The validity of this permit will depend on the type of permit the sponsor is holding.

• B1 - Work Visa
  A work permit is issued to applicants who are willing to work in Israel. To get this permit, the applicant must have a confirmed job in Israel. The validity of the permit will depend on what kind of employment has been acquired.
• B2 - Tourist/Visitor/Business Visa
  This permit is issued to the ones who are willing to travel to Israel for tourism and leisure or to visit their friends and family in the country. This is a short term visa and generally is single-entry. It is also issued to businessmen for business related visits, which may be multiple-entry in this case.

There are different kinds of requirements based on the type of visa. Some of the common documents are listed as follows:

• An original passport that is valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Travel Itinerary
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Travel and Medical Insurance
• Adhaar Card photocopy
• Approval Letter from the employer
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of purpose of visit - invitation letter, exhibition or conference pass, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.
  

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 55mm x 55 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white.
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The fees to get an Israel visa for Indians is paid at the time of submitting the application form and the supporting documents. The fee may vary depending on several factors such as the type of permit, whether the permit is single-entry or multiple-entry, the purpose of the visit, service fee and other charges. It can also vary as per the exchange rate of the currency at the time of application.

In order to check the status of your Israel visa online, you will have to visit the official website of the Israel Visa Application Centre. You can check the status for your visa by entering the required details. There is an alternative offline method as well. You can contact the VAC for the visa status through email, or calling on the contact number provided.

To get the visa issued, you will have to apply by filling out the application form on the online portal of Israel VAC. You will need to have all the requirements and the documents must be verifiable. At times, the process may seem complicated and the formalities involved can seem difficult to be carried out on your own. In such cases, professional visa consultation can be considered from the visa agencies. This will allow you to have your documents handled professionally and the procedure may even be quicker than the normal process. This way, the chances of visa rejection also get nullified.