Dear Colleagues and Customers,

Given the recent increase in the spread of COVID-19 cases, the Israeli government has implemented several limitations regarding the entrance into and exit from Israel. According to these limitations, all countries were classified within three categories: (i) high-risk countries; (ii) countries with a severe travel warning; and (iii) countries without classification.

As part of the limitations, exit from Israel to the following countries – which are all categorized as high-risk countries – is prohibited until further notice:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• South Africa
• India
• Mexico
• Russia
• Belarus
• Uzbekistan

As of July 23 2021, and subject to the approval of applicable regulations, exit to Spain and Kyrgyzstan will also be banned.

Please note, there are a few exceptions to these prohibitions as set forth below:

The person leaving Israel is not an Israeli citizen nor a permanent resident; the individual is departing Israel for the purpose of obtaining permanent residence, subject to the presentation of a statement and documents to this affect, as presented to an Exception Committee, as well as confirmation of the presentation of these documents; an exceptional humanitarian need, or an essential need; the departing party is a foreign representative or an Israeli emissary; the departing person is a crew member on an aircraft departing from Israel as part of his/her duties;  a professional athlete as defined within the regulations; the person is fulfilling a vital need concerning Israel’s foreign relations or national security with the approval of the Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense or the Prime Minister’s Office; or an official envoy of the person of the national institutions, subject to the Exceptions Committee approval.

Exiting Israel to one of the countries above will also be permitted in cases of a connecting flight into one of those countries, as long as the passenger remains at the airport, and is in the country’s airport for no more than 12 hours.

Exiting Israel for one of the reasons listed above requires approval by the Exceptions Committee.
An application for such an approval can be submitted here

Any individual who unlawfully exits Israel to one of the high-risk countries will be fined NIS 5,000.
Entry is forbidden (and no permits will be provided) to foreigners trying to enter Israel from high-risk countries.

Under the regulations, as of July 16, 2021, any individual returning from one of the following countries, categorized as countries with severe travel warnings, will be required to fully quarantine (including those who are vaccinated and/or recovered):

• United Arab Emirates
• Seychelles Islands
• Ecuador
• Ethiopia
• Bolivia
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Namibia
• Paraguay
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Tunis

As of July 23 2021, subject to the signing of the Public Health Order, full quarantine will be require from individuals returning from: Brittan, Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia, Uganda, Myanmar, Fiji, Panama, Cambodia, Kenya, and Liberia.

Notwithstanding the above, a person who has returned from one of the countries listed above is entitled to end the quarantine after seven days only, subject to the following conditions:

• The returning individual has no symptoms of COVID-19 and
• The returning individual received two negative PCR tests, as long as the first PCR test was administered as close as possible to the date he/she began quarantine, and the second PCR test was administered on the seventh day of the quarantine, and at least after 24 hours after the first one.

As of July 16, 2021, anyone who returns from an unclassified country, including those who are vaccinated and/or recovered, is required to quarantine until the earlier of 24 hours, or until receiving a negative PCR test.

We will continue to provide you with updates of any developments.

The Labour and Employment Department
Herzog Fox & Neeman