Often, the documentation you need for a trip abroad involves planning ahead. If you’re a Swiss national and are thinking about visiting Israel, it’s essential to know your travel requirements before you leave. The ETA for Israel, a mandatory document for Swiss visitors, is a new requirement that can be applied for easily and quickly online.

Do Swiss citizens need a visa to visit Israel?

Swiss citizens are visa-exempt, meaning that they do not need a traditional visa. This means there is no need for a Swiss passport holder to book an appointment at the embassy, endure long wait times, or undergo a long and expensive application process if they wish to visit Israel.

However, Israel is introducing a new protocol in 2024 that requires that even visa-exempt citizens acquire documentation that shows they have been permitted to enter the country. This document is called the ETA – electronic travel authorization.

An ETA is far simpler, quicker, and affordable to obtain than a traditional visa. Both the application process and the document itself are online.

Because Switzerland is on the visa-exempt list, if your passport is Swiss, you will need to get an ETA before travel.

Israeli travel requirements for travelers from Switzerland

As with any country, it’s important to know your bureaucratic obligations before you depart for Israel. As a Swiss national, your travel requirements are manageable, but still essential to get right.

To enter Israel, you need an ETA. This stands for electronic travel authorization. The ETA is applied for online and typically authorized within a week. Your ETA is an electronic document – you do not have to print it or receive it by mail.

Alongside your ETA, you will require a valid passport to enter Israel. Make sure that the passport is not only valid but is the same one you used to apply for your ETA. ETA applications are passport-specific, so if you use a different passport to enter the country, you will be considered without an ETA by Israeli authorities.

When does my ETA expire as a Swiss passport holder?

If your passport remains valid for the full duration of this period, the ETA lasts for 2 years after authorization. The expiry date will also be disclosed on the document.

However, if the passport you used to apply for your ETA was lost, stolen, replaced, or expired before this 2-year period, you will need to apply for a new ETA.

The ETA is only valid for visits of up to 3 months (90 days) at a time. Any more spent time consecutively in Israel is considered a long-term stay, which requires a visa. It is essential not to overstay the 90-day period – doing so may lead to consequences, including the inability to enter the country in the future.

I am a Swiss national. How can I apply for an Israeli ETA?

The ETA application is done online through a form, which will ask you questions about your personal details and your plans for the trip.

The process is simple, straightforward, and affordable. To apply, you will need:

  • A computer or smartphone with an internet connection
  • Your valid Swiss passport (no temporary or diplomatic passports)
  • An email address of an account you have access to
  • A debit/credit card to process the application fee

You are recommended to have these by your side before you start for a quick application.

To apply, simply:

  • Load the online form
  • Fill in your details as required
  • Submit and await approval

Your approval should be sent to you within about a week.

A summary of travel requirements for Swiss citizens

To enter Israel, an easily-acquired ETA and a valid passport are the key requirements for a Swiss national. If you plan on becoming one of hundreds of thousands of tourists to visit Israel in a year, sort out your travel requirements as soon as possible before you travel. We wish you a pleasant trip.