Urgent: Can you travel to Israel with two months on passport

amother

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 2:49 pm

Hi,

We live in Israel, but we're not citizens, we're here on student visas.

We hope to travel abroad soon for a wedding and I realized that my son's passport is expiring less than two months after the date we plan to return.

Will this be an issue?

FranticFrummie

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 2:50 pm

You need to contact the embassy NOW. There can be a two to three month wait just to get an appointment. All the Covid closures have slowed down application processing, and there's no real estimate about how long it will take.

avrahamama

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 2:52 pm

Yes. We had an issue. Although it was 5 yrs ago. The timeframe is even smaller for minors.

amother

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 2:56 pm

avrahamama wrote:

Yes. We had an issue. Although it was 5 yrs ago. The timeframe is even smaller for minors.

You weren't allowed to fly?

He will be turning 5 soon.

avrahamama

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 2:59 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

You weren't allowed to fly?

He will be turning 5 soon.

We didn't even try. We went and expedited a new passport. We were told that getting on the plane might be fine but then getting out of the airport and into the country would be a different issue.

amother

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 3:17 pm

avrahamama wrote:

We didn't even try. We went and expedited a new passport. We were told that getting on the plane might be fine but then getting out of the airport and into the country would be a different issue.

Does anyone know if the fact we have visas make it any different?

avrahamama

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 3:20 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Does anyone know if the fact we have visas make it any different?

I calledy airline (el al) and they were able to help me figure it out. It might be worth it to call and see if they can direct you to better information.

amother

Aubergine

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 3:23 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Does anyone know if the fact we have visas make it any different?

Contact the embassy. If you live in Israel you might be able to get back in on a visa.

avrahamama

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 3:29 pm

amother [ Aubergine ] wrote:

Contact the embassy. If you live in Israel you might be able to get back in on a visa.

If you need answer right now you can call american number. Still business hours here.

banana123

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 4:56 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Does anyone know if the fact we have visas make it any different?

Ordinarily I'd think that it would. Now with corona, they're not allowing anyone who isn't Israeli into the country. And that includes people who hold some types of visas.

amother

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 4:59 pm

banana123 wrote:

Ordinarily I'd think that it would. Now with corona, they're not allowing anyone who isn't Israeli into the country. And that includes people who hold some types of visas.

We're eligible to get permits to return. Though you're actually making me realize that if they give the permit then they've authorized him to come in to the country regardless of passport status, so that might make it even easier. (unless I guess, they decide NOT to issue a permit because of it.)

I guess will speak to Chaim V'Chessed tomorrow and see what they say. I sent an email though was after hours already.

Elfrida

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 5:22 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Yes. A few years ago I was returning to Israel, and my UK passport was due to expire in less than three months. They wouldn't let me on the plane until I produced my Israeli passport and explained that I would be entering Israel using that.

icedcoffee

Wed, Dec 16 2020, 5:47 pm

This February my husband and I were supposed to go on vacation but when we got to the airport, they wouldn't let us on because his passport expired in less than 90 days (he told me the night before and was like "huh I hope this won't be an issue" Banging head

There was nothing to do at that point except hope for the best). We were seriously there with all our suitcases ready to go and had to turn around and go right back home. Now we laugh about it but at the time it was traumatic. So sorry haha I know that's not helpful for your specific situation but hopefully it can be a PSA for other imas here!

nanny24/7

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 1:50 pm

I was under the impression Israel is only letting adults into the country on student visas. So unless your 4 year old got a full Israeli citizenship and Israeli passport he wouldn't be allowed back into Israel regardless of when his foreign passport expires or not.
I never heard of any children allowed into Israel since Corona started, unless they are full fledged Israeli citizens with up to date Israeli passports.
Does your child have a student visa?

amother

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 1:53 pm

nanny24/7 wrote:

We are all dependants on dh's student visa and they're issuing permits for that as well.

amother

Forestgreen

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 2:42 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

The permit and passport are 2 separate issues. You can have a permit and the airline can still refuse to let you fly due to expiring passport.

amother

Azure

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 2:52 pm

FranticFrummie wrote:

I contacted them last week and received an appointment for the end of March (Tel Aviv). Jerusalem's calendar is fully booked or not yet open for booking, and they have not responded to my email.

amother

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 2:54 pm

We spoke to Chaim V'chessed today and they said it wouldn't be a problem, I think because we have visas. I'm still nervous though, so I guess we'll try and check with others as well.