Israel
Warnings and insurance
FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Register your presence
Let the UK government know you’re in Israel, register your presence if you’re in Israel for further updates.
Regional escalation
Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.
Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.
Follow the instructions of the local authorities and monitor local and international media for the latest information. Visit Israel’s Home Front Command
Read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK this includes suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies.
Sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts.
Shelter in place
Follow the instructions of the local authorities. If you are advised to take shelter, Israel’s Home Front Command provides guidance on how to find a protected space. The best option is a residential protected space (Mamad, Mamak or Maman) or a communal shelter. If that is not possible, choose a stairwell without windows and exterior walls and stay at its centre
Sign up to receive information and alerts. Visit Israel’s Home Front Command
Leaving Israel and Palestine
If you judge it is safe to do so and plan to use commercial options to depart check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator, as well as the instructions of local authorities and the status of any border crossings before you travel. Make sure you have access to emergency supplies and essential medication. Travel within or out of Israel is at your own risk.
Keep your departure plans under review and ensure your travel documents are up to date, including any visas required for onward travel. Details of Israel’s Land Borders operational hours can be found at the following link, under the “Land Borders” tab
The Israeli Ministry of Tourism is providing shuttle buses from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to the Taba border (Egypt). British tourists that entered on a B2 tourist visa are eligible to register for this service. British Nationals who are resident in Israel or are dual Israeli nationals are not eligible for this service. To register for this service those eligible need to go to the below link:
https://govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/touristsevacuationdata@tourism.gov.il?displang=en&gbxid=0
A British Embassy team is present on the Egyptian side of the Taba border to point British Nationals to options for onward travel to Sharm El-Sheikh Airport.
Entry to Egypt
If you cross the border from Israel into Egypt at Taba, you will have to pay a ‘Sinai Tax’ of 25 US dollars per person (not applicable to children under 24 months). This is payable at the Taba Border Crossing in US dollars, cash only. The border tax exempts you from requiring an entry visa for Egypt for up to 15 days, as long as you stay within the Sinai Peninsula.
If your stay in Sinai will exceed 15 days, or you are planning to leave the Sinai Peninsula, including to fly on from mainland airports, for example Cairo or Hurghada, you will need an entry visa. This costs 30 US dollars and can be purchased at the Taba Border Crossing on entry or at Sharm El-Sheikh airport. This entry visa also requires a letter of guarantee, which can be obtained from the travel agents located in the arrivals hall at the Taba Border Crossing, at a cost of 25 US dollars. Please note that there are no ATMs dispensing US dollars at the Taba Border Crossing. Travellers should obtain USD before travelling or in Eilat before arriving at the crossing as all payments are required in cash.
If you are in Israel and Palestine
We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily move some of our staff and their dependents from Tel Aviv to another location within Israel. Our Embassy continues to operate as normal.
The situation could escalate quickly and poses significant risks. Regional tensions may cause international borders (air and land) to close.
If you are in Israel and Palestine, be aware that whilst the frequency of missile and drone attacks has decreased, there is still a risk of rocket and drone attacks throughout Israel. There is a risk of shrapnel from intercepted missiles falling across Israel and Palestine, and possible disruption at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Political tension can cause demonstrations and clashes around anniversaries and significant events.
Keep up to date through local media and follow the instructions of Israeli Home Front Command. To find these:
-
visit the Israeli Home Front Command website (available in Israel only)
-
call 104 if you are in Israel
Before travelling within Israel or Palestine, check the local measures in place, that roads are open and, where appropriate, that scheduled train and bus services are operating.
Travel within or out of Israel or Palestine is at your own risk. You are encouraged to follow the advice of local authorities, for example on which routes are open or when to take shelter.
Leaving Gaza
Border crossings out of Gaza have been closed to civilians and general traffic since the Israeli military took control of the Rafah crossing on 6 May 2024. Consular support is not available from within Gaza. If you are a British national in Gaza who wants to leave Gaza, you should make contact with us as soon as possible. There are currently no exit routes available for foreign nationals to depart Gaza independently. We are working with the Israeli, Palestinian and other authorities in the region to help British nationals leave via safe routes.
If you are a UK visa holder who meets all of the following criteria, you can contact us to request support to leave Gaza if:
-
you have a spouse/partner or a child aged 17 or under currently living in the UK, and
-
you hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months
Help from other organisations
Keep up to date with local travel advice through local news outlets and international outlets like the Access Coordination Unit.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:
- women travellers
- disabled travellers
- LGBT+ travellers
- solo and independent travel
- volunteering and adventure travel
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Get travel advice updates
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO: