Israel

Do South Africans need a visa for Israel?

Not a visa as such — but there’s a required step. South Africans get visa-free entry for up to 90 days, provided you obtain an ETA-IL (Israel’s online travel authorisation) before you fly. It’s been mandatory since 2025: apply online, pay the small fee, and carry the approval. You can check the requirements here.

Two honest caveats. First, the regional security situation can change quickly — some areas may be off-limits, so check your government’s advisory and your insurance before booking. Second, while Israel usually issues an entry slip rather than stamping your passport, evidence of an Israel visit can still complicate entry to certain other countries in the region — plan your wider itinerary with that in mind.

What it costs (in rand)

Israel is expensive — budget R1,200–2,000 a day, with Tel Aviv among the pricier cities in the Middle East. Accommodation and eating out are the main costs; savers include market food (hummus, falafel, sabich), the excellent and cheap intercity buses/trains, and free entry to many holy sites. The Dead Sea resorts and guided tours are the notable extras.

When to go

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm and comfortable for the cities, desert and coast. Summer is hot (and very hot at the Dead Sea and in the desert); winters are mild on the coast but cool and sometimes wet in Jerusalem. Note major Jewish holidays, when transport and businesses close (notably Shabbat each week, and Yom Kippur when the country largely shuts).

Getting around

It’s small and well connected: frequent intercity trains and buses link Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and the south, and they’re cheap. Note that public transport largely stops for Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening) — plan around it or use shared “sherut” taxis. Car hire helps for the Galilee, the Negev and the Dead Sea. Tel Aviv is walkable and bike-friendly.

What to actually do

The historic and religious heart is Jerusalem’s Old City — sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam in a few square kilometres. Float in the Dead Sea and climb Masada at dawn, contrast it with cosmopolitan, beachy, nightlife-rich Tel Aviv, and explore the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth in the north. The Negev desert and the Red Sea diving at Eilat round it out. Pre-book guided tours for the historic sites if you want context.

Honest take

Israel packs extraordinary history into a small, easy-to-travel country — the ETA-IL is the only paperwork, but the real homework is the current security advisory, which is exactly why this page is flagged. Check official advice and insurance close to your dates, and carry a data eSIM so you’re connected on arrival.