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How to get a visa to Israel Jordan and Egypt easily

Petra by Night, Jordan

Get a visa to Israel, Jordan and Egypt: The FULL guide

Love to travel, but hate dealing with visa applications? No need to worry! We got you covered.
Anyone who travels must always check the visa requirements. The problem is that this information isn’t always available in a convenient format.
To solve this, we’ve prepared the following article, which will help find all the information you need about getting a visa to Israel, Jordan and Egypt quickly!

Visas are dependent upon which nationality passport you hold.
If you are unable to find your country in our post, please contact us here and we will make sure to add it.

View of significant sites in Israel you should visit once you receive the visa.

Visa to Israel

While some countries receive a free visa to Israel upon arrival, others should apply for one at their local Israeli embassy.
The following nationalities can get a free tourist visa to Israel upon arrival:

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Central African Republic
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Estonia
  • Fiji Islands
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malawi
  • Malta
  • Man & Canal Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Niue
  • Norway
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • (The) Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Surinam
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu

If you are holding a different passport, you may need to apply for a visa at an Israel embassy near you.

As tour operators, we are unable to influence any decision to grant or deny a visa.
However, we can provide you with an invitation letter for individual travelers from specific countries which may assist with getting a visa (once you book one of our weekly tours – check them out here and also here!).
If you have a minimum of 10 people or more joining our group from one of the following countries, we will be able to apply for the visa on your behalf.
It is important to know that the visa is not guaranteed even if you apply through Noah Tours.

  • China (embassy located in Beijing)
  • India (embassy located in New Delhi)
  • Malaysia (nearest embassy is located in Singapore)
  • Indonesia (nearest embassy is located in Singapore)
  • Bolivia (nearest embassy is located in Peru)

What about transit visa?

If you have a connecting flight through Israel, you will need a transit visa. If you are eligible for a standard tourist visa upon arrival, you will also be given a transit visa upon arrival. If you are not eligible for a visa upon arrival, you will need to apply for the transit visa ahead of time.  

Kerak Castle in Jordan on a sunny Spring day.

Kerak Castle. Jordan

Visa to Jordan

If you are holding a Japanese or a Hong Kong passport, you’re in luck! These are some of the nationalities that can get a visa upon arrival at the border/airport.
The visa to Jordan costs USD $60 per person. In case you are staying for 2 nights or more, the Jordanian visa is free of charge – and you get to see more of the country.

So who else can obtain a visa upon arrival?

  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Estonia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greenland
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • North Korea
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palestine
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Salvador
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunis
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Tuvalu
  • UAE
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Ukraine
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
  • Zimbabwe

Travelers from other countries such as the below need to apply for visas in advance:

  • Colombia
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • The Philippines
  • Vietnam

How to apply for a visa to Jordan in advance?

If you are traveling on your own, the fastest way would be to contact your nearest Jordanian embassy. They can give you the information required for applying.
If you book a tour with us, Noah Tours will take care of the process for you – no need to worry about bureaucracy!

We apply for our traveler visas to Jordan in advance, even for those who can obtain one upon arrival, to save time upon crossing the border.

If you need to apply for a visa in advance (for example, Philippine passport holders) we will need to apply for the visa at least 4-6 weeks prior to arrival, due to visa processing time.

Though we never had issues when applying for the visa ahead of time, we are unable to guarantee that a visa will be granted, as it depends upon the Jordanian immigration’s decision.

And what if I come through the border rather than the airport?

Crossing the border between Israel and Jordan may seem confusing, but the process is quite simple.
We recommend crossing at the Arava Border in the South or at the Sheikh Hussein Border in the North.
Allenby Border is not recommended as it is less tourist-friendly.

Departure tax and VAT refund

When you get to the border, you will need to pay the Israel departure task (approximately USD $32 per person, dependent on the current exchange rate).
If you do not hold an Israeli passport, this is also your chance to get VAT (Value Added Tax) back on some of the items you may have purchased during your visit.
The Israeli representative will ask to see the items purchased along with the receipt, so it’s best to have it stored as accessibly as possible.

If you cross the border from Jordan to Israel, a departure tax of  10 JOD (Jordanian Dinar) per person will be required (approximately USD $15 per person, dependent on the current exchange rate).

Crossing the border

Finally, after passing through the departure tax unit, Israeli passport control and the VAT refund representative, it’s time to move on to your next destination!

If you cross at the Arava Border, you will simply walk straight into Jordan with your luggage for approximately 300 meters.
Should you be crossing at the Sheikh Hussein Border, you will need to take a shuttle from the Israeli to the Jordanian side.

If you are on a tour with us, though our Israeli guide cannot cross with you, our Jordanian representative will be waiting for you at the other side.
You will then go through the Jordanian passport control, pay for the visa (if staying for less than 2 overnights) and go through security.
Our Jordanian representative will be there to assist throughout the process.

That’s it – you’re in Jordan now! Where would you like to go first, the Dead Sea, Jerash, or just head straight to marvelous Petra? Time to explore!

Important note – when visiting Jordan, do not bring any souvenirs with Jewish symbols on them with you, as they may be confiscated at the border.

Security

Just as in any other country in the world, when entering Jordan from Israel / Israel from Jordan, you must go through security.
This usually consists of simply putting your luggage through the x-ray machine, walking through a metal detector and answering a few questions.
Though this may take some time, this is a regular part of the border crossing procedure and patience is key.

Can you get a transit visa?

If you are passing through the Jordan Airport and have a connecting flight within 72 hours, you may enter without a transit visa, as long as you do not leave the airport.
For a longer stay or if you wish to leave the airport and explore Amman, which offers a great variety of pleasant dining options and historical sites (have you been to the citadel yet?) a visa must be obtained.

Camels walking past the pyramids at sunset: a must visit!

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Visa to Egypt

We’ve discussed how to get a visa to Israel, Jordan and now – it’s time for Egypt!

The visa to Egypt costs USD $25 per person, regardless of your nationality.

It is possible for certain nationalities to get a visa upon arrival. However, if you book through us, we are able to apply for the visa on your behalf in advance. This applies you hold a passport from one of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Georgia
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Macao
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • South Korea
  • United States of America
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • Any of the European Union member states

Applying at the Egyptian embassy near you

Much like Israel, we can’t influence the Egyptian immigration’s decision to grant/deny a visa, but we CAN send over an invitation letter if you book a weekly tour with us.
You will then take it to your nearest Egyptian embassy to apply for the visa.
Though the visa is not guaranteed, the invitation letter may be helpful in raising the chance of getting the visa from the embassy.

Nationalities who should apply independently and can get an invitation letter from us:

  • (The) Philippines
  • South Africa

And transit visa?

Similar to getting a regular visa to Israel, Jordan and Egypt, the requirements for a transit visa tend to be similar to a regular visa.

If you happen to hold a passport from Hong Kong, Macao or Malaysia, for example, you will be able to transit through Egypt without applying for a visa.

Most travelers need to arrange the transit visa to Egypt ahead of time. Once you have your passport and a valid flight ticket, it can be applied for. Much like Jordan, the decision will be made in accordance with the length of your stay between connecting flights and your passport’s nationality.

Important disclaimer:
The visa requirements may be changed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian governments without notice.
We do our best to keep this guide on getting a visa to Israel, Jordan and Egypt up to date.
As a tour operating company, we are unable to guarantee that there haven’t been recent changes in immigration policy.

The information on this page was last updated on January 15, 2020.

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