Palestinian visa resources
How to apply for entry and permits for Palestine
A practical overview of how entry, residence and Palestinian document applications actually work given the dual Palestinian and Israeli control of the territories.
Important
Applying for entry to the West Bank or Gaza is not a single-authority process. For short visits, foreign nationals obtain entry permission from the Israeli authorities (an ETA-IL or visa where required) and enter through a controlled crossing; Palestine does not issue its own tourist visa.
For longer stays — work, study, business, joining family or residence — the process usually starts with a Palestinian sponsor (an employer, university, institution or resident family member) coordinating a request through the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs, which is then decided by the Israeli military body COGAT under its procedure for entry and residence of foreigners.
Palestinian documents such as the passport and national ID are applied for separately through the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and Civil Status offices, and require an existing Palestinian ID or a successful population-registry registration.
Typical steps
- Identify the correct category (visitor, worker, student, family, business, lecturer/expert)
- For visits, secure Israeli entry permission; for longer stays, have a Palestinian sponsor coordinate the request
- Submit through the General Authority of Civil Affairs where a coordinated request is required
- Await Israeli approval before travelling, then enter via an approved crossing
- For Palestinian documents, apply through the Ministry of Interior / Civil Status offices
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.