Job Discussion Forums

[akolsky1]

Is there a website that lists countries who allow in and don;t allow Israel stamps on passports? I hear this and that from people, but if there is an offical website that lists it all out so as not to avoid any confusion, that would be very helpful.
Thanks,
A

[johnslat]

Dear akolsky1,

"Please note. Although you may not have to pay for a visa to enter Israel, you will have to pay a US$50 "exit tax" when you leave (land or air).

Israeli border guards might stamp the entry and exit stamps on a separate piece of paper if you ask, and not in your passport. This is not always the case so beware.

Having an Israel stamp in your passport may stop you from entering;
Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, UAE and Yemen.

There are border guards in other countries who might react unfavorably to seeing an Israeli entry/exit stamp.

Also be warned, if you have a stamp from the Egyptian or Jordanian border crossing with Israel, could also give you problems. The entry and exit stamps into Jordan and Egypt must be consistent, and you must not be missing an exit or entry, otherwise you may be refused entry into the above countries.

If you do have an Israeli stamp on your passport and you want to hide it some consulates which issues sticker visas will cover the stamp if you ask. Also we have heard of people who have simply stamped and smudged (with a few drops of water) over the Israeli stamp so as the hide it. We do not recommend this type of behavior. "

http://projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=il

Visa/Crossing the border
The info you find here was taken from the Lonely planet Thorn tree.

All Arab countries of the Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa (except Egypt, Jordan and Morocco), as well as Iran, some African countries and a few other Muslim countries in Asia, refuse entry to travellers whose passport bears evidence of a visit to Israel. 'Evidence' means Israeli stamps of any kind (entry or exit, or visas for other countries issued in Tel Aviv), plus entry or exit stamps from the Egyptian border posts at Taba (near Eilat) and Rafah (Gaza Strip), or the Jordanian border posts at the Sheikh Hussein Bridge (near Irbid), the King Hussein Bridge (near the Dead Sea) or the Wadi Araba crossing (between Aqaba and Eilat).

ISRAEL: Will *always*, at all borders and airports, stamp you in and out on a piece of paper rather than in your passport, if you ask them forcefully enough. This fact solves 99% of 'keeping Israel out of my passport' problems. Free visas issued to everybody on arrival.

http://www.1000traveltips.org/newpage12.htm

Passport restrictions
In addition to goods and businesses, many Arab states refuse to allow entrance to anyone who uses an Israeli passport or who has any Israeli stamp in his or her passport. The stamp may be a visa stamp, or a stamp on entry or departure. It can also include a stamp of another country which indicates that the person has entered Israel. For example, if an Egyptian departure stamp is used in any passport at the Taba Crossing, that is an indication that the person entered Israel.
Countries that do not accept Israeli passports


Legend:
Israel
Countries that reject passports from Israel
Countries that reject passports from Israel and any other passport which contain Israeli stamps or visas
Algeria [2]
Bangladesh [3]
Brunei [4]
Djibouti [5]
Iran [6]
Kuwait [7]
Lebanon[4] [8]
Libya [9]
Malaysia (Clearance permit needed from the Ministry of Internal Security). [10]
Pakistan [11]
Saudi Arabia [12]
Sudan [13]
Somalia[citation needed]
Syria[5] [14]
United Arab Emirates [15]
Yemen[6] [16]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_boycott_of_Israel#Passport_restrictions

[akolsky1]

These crossings are confusing--I will need to get a map and figure out the route b/c will need to go to Egypt from Israel--and thought it was all good betw. the countries. "entry or exit stamps from the Egyptian border posts at Taba (near Eilat) and Rafah (Gaza Strip), or the Jordanian border posts at the Sheikh Hussein Bridge (near Irbid), the King Hussein Bridge (near the Dead Sea) or the Wadi Araba crossing (between Aqaba and Eilat)." I know this question is above and beyond the scope of teaching and travelling --but why are there border crossing restrictions if Govts. of egypt and Jordon are "Friendly" w/ Israel??

[veiledsentiments]

Never try to find logic in any of this. I suggest consulting a travel board like Lonely Planet Thorntree because they have people crossing back and forth regularly to these countries. They have a search mechanism and these question come up often.

The vast majority of us ME hands stay away from any of these borders, so we don't really know...

VS

[Pikgitina]

A now-dated Middle East Lonely Planet mentions that people have been able to get into the UAE with evidence of a trip to/from Israel in their passports. However, the implication still is that it's best not to try.

johnslat, thanks for that up-to-date lowdown - good to know for many of us I'm sure!