Passport

Before passports: How travelers crossed borders

The passport was not the beginning of travel documentation, but the result of centuries of attempts to control movement, identity and access across borders.

Before passports became standard, travellers relied on permits, letters and personal recognition to cross borders.
Germany granted citizenship to 6,756 Israelis in 2025, making its embassy in Israel the country's largest passport office outside Europe.PremiumPremium

'Insurance certificate for escape': Israelis reclaim German citizenship in record numbers

A Romanian passport; Illustrative.

Ex-IDF soldier convicted for using foreign passport to enter Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia

An illustration picture shows Israeli passports in Jerusalem, on January 18, 2023.

Israel's passport climbs to record high in Henley Passport Index despite conflicts


Hapoel Tel Aviv continues to soar abroad

Jerusalem advances in Champions League • Holon falls to Bursaspor in tight finish, still reaches Play-In

  HAPOEL TEL AVIV players celebrate on the court with a number of young fans from the group of 160 war-affected supporters who were hosted by the Reds in Belgrade for Wednesday night’s 100-81 EuroCup victory over Venezia.

Will the attorney-general probe Yair Netanyahu passport fiasco?

MK Naama Lazimi demands investigation into distribution of passports to Likud members, Yair Netanyahu

 Yair Netanyahu, son of then-former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in the defamation lawsuit filed by former MK Stav Shafir in Tel Aviv, on November 29, 2022.

Amid war, Israel's FM hands diplomatic passport to Netanyahu's son

Several of the Likud members who received diplomatic passports through the directive are noted allies of Eli Cohen and would likely be key figures if he entered into primaries for Likud leadership.

 Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (not pictured) speak to reporters as part of Israel's efforts "to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons" in Berlin, Germany, February 28, 2023.

130 Gaza border area kids taken to Hungary to watch Israeli soccer team

"We want to provide an opportunity for the people of Israel to unite around an event that embodies national pride and a triumph for the Blue and White," the initiative's organizer said.

 A delegation of Israelis flew to Hungary to watch their national team compete against Romania and Switzerland.

Close to two million Israelis currently ineligible for US visa waiver

The Population and Immigration Authority says that it has its "finger on the pulse" and is readying to deal with the matter.

 US-Israel visa waiver deal: American and Israeli passport (illustration)

Almost 40% of Israelis contemplating emigrating in judicial reform protest

The number of Israelis intending to emigrate underscores the deepening crisis within Israel and raises questions about the nation's resilience, according to the Jewish People Policy Institute.

 Travelers are seen at the departure hall of the Ben-Gurion Airport on April 4, 2023; illustrative

US could announce Israel's inclusion in visa waiver program this week - report

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to endorse Israel's candidacy for the program on September 27.

 Will Israelis soon be able to travel to the US visa free? (Illustrative image of Israeli and American passports)

US officials inspecting Israeli border crossings ahead of visa waiver deal

In return for visa-free access for Israelis, Washington has demanded that Israel provide reciprocal unfettered passage for Americans, regardless of their background.

 Israeli soldiers guard at a checkpoint not far from the scene of a shooting attack, in the Northern West Bank, July 6, 2023

Lithuania says passport found in Prigozhin's office was used by his double to visit

Prigozhin flew into exile in Belarus on Tuesday under a deal that ended a mutiny by his fighters.

 Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks inside the headquarters of the Russian southern army military command center, which is taken under control of Wagner PMC, according to him, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023,

Israel alters passport scheme for urgent visas after High Court petition

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel's May 1 passport marathon plan would dedicate four major ministry offices to applications to tackle the passport renewal backlog.

 Travelers are seen at the departure hall of the Ben-Gurion Airport on April 4, 2023; illustrative