The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that starting this Thursday, Israeli tourists and business people will be able to travel to the United States without needing a visa. This was after Israel was admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Israel's inclusion in the VWP allows eligible Israeli travelers to apply online for authorization to travel to the country through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

To access this benefit, eligible Israeli citizens and nationals must possess a biometrically enabled passport book, so those who have non-biometric, temporary, or emergency travel documents or who are nationals of countries not included in the Visa Waiver Program must still apply for a U.S. visa.

According to information provided by DHS, people who plan to stay in the country for more than 90 days may be considered inadmissible, in which case they will be denied entry under the VWP.

Likewise, it is reported that those admitted under the program who exceed their period of authorized stay will be expelled and unable to benefit from future trips under the same program. The department clarified that the best option for extended stays or status changes will still be to apply for a visa.

According to the DHS statement, the designation of Israel in the United States Visa Waiver Program was made on September 26, 2023, after consultations between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State.

A mutual commitment

The United States decided to grant citizens and nationals of countries in the VWP the benefit of visa-free travel on the condition that these countries offer American citizens the same reciprocity, which means that now Israel is also committed to allowing entry of American citizens traveling with their American passports.