Israel has removed all remaining Covid-19 entry rules, so international travellers will be able visit the country without showing proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test result.
The change takes effect on Saturday (May 21) and means the requirement for a negative PCR or antigen test before boarding a flight to Israel will be removed.
The same relaxation in entry requirements will also be extended to travellers entering Israel by land or sea.
Furthermore, arrivals by air do not need to take a PCR test before leaving the airport, so they do not need to isolate until the results of their test arrive, or 24 hours have passed.
The Israel Government Tourist Office said news of the rules being dropped comes after health officials said Covid infection numbers have “dropped to a number low enough where it is safe enough to relax restrictions further”.
The tourist board added: “As per travelling to Israel in pre-pandemic years, visitors to Israel are still required to fill out a passenger entry declaration up to 48 hours before boarding a flight or vessel.”
Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky, director of the IGTO in London, said: “This is the news we have been waiting for, for over two years.
“It has been our highest priority to make the process of entering Israel the easiest it can be whilst responsibly looking after our passengers’ health and safety.
“With Israel joining many other countries in dropping all Covid restrictions, I am hopeful that the travel industry has now reached a crucial milestone in this post-pandemic world.”
Earlier this month, Israel said it would drop its requirement for on-arrival PCR tests from May 20.