Israel dual citizenship: entering Israel with a U.S. passport
Checked against the official pages on 13 November 2026. How we check.
Israel dual citizenship raises one practical question for Israelis in the U.S.: which passport to show at Ben Gurion.
Chicago’s notice of 24 August 2026 answers it: Israeli citizens are required to enter and leave Israel on a valid Israeli passport, and «as an exceptional measure, and until December 31, 2026», the Population and Immigration Authority accepts a valid foreign passport (Chicago’s notice).
What the exception means and how long it lasts
New York’s passport page gives two dates for the exception that lets Israelis enter and leave Israel on a valid foreign passport: «until the end of September 2026» in one paragraph and «until the end of December 2026» in the next.
Chicago’s notice of 24 August 2026 says until December 31, 2026, and adds that you must carry your Israeli passport even if it is not valid. (sources: 1, 2)
The nine missions also carry a notice dated 4 October 2026, «Extension of the possibility of exit and entry for Israelis holding foreign passports» (Chicago’s copy of the notice). After the exception ends, plan on an Israeli passport that is valid for the trip.
The ETA-IL with a foreign passport
An Israeli who travels on a U.S. passport usually does not need an ETA-IL: New York’s ETA-IL page exempts an Israeli whose foreign passport is linked to their Israeli record, or who shows the Israeli passport with it (New York’s ETA-IL page).
Otherwise New York’s passport page sends you to the ETA-IL site.
| You travel with | Until 31 December 2026 | After |
|---|---|---|
| A valid Israeli passport | Accepted | Accepted |
| A valid foreign passport, Israeli one expired | Accepted, carrying the Israeli one | Plan on a valid Israeli passport |
| Only a foreign passport | Accepted, with the ETA-IL rules above | Plan on a valid Israeli passport |
Military service and a family abroad
Israelis staying abroad who are candidates for military service can regularize their status with the IDF through a mission, Atlanta’s service page says (Atlanta’s page); New York’s passport page sends minors of 16.4 or older who have not done it there first.
- A valid Israeli passport, or the foreign one and the Israeli one until 31 December 2026
- The ETA-IL, if your foreign passport is not linked to your Israeli record
- Your military status, if you are of draft age
Questions people ask
Does Israel allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Israel lets its citizens hold another nationality, but they enter and leave Israel as Israelis.
Do U.S. passport holders need a visa for Israel?
No, but they need an approved ETA-IL. An Israeli with a linked U.S. passport is exempt from it.