Is it possible to avoid getting an Israeli passport stamp?
I was talking with my friend the other day, and we're trying to figure out her situation.
She is Lebanese by origin, born in Saudi Arabia and lived there for more than 10 years, and has both a Lebanese and a European (German) passport. She is a computer science graduate and works in IT. Can she enter Israel without 'issues' by using her German passport and having the visa stamped separately, so that she can later go back to Lebanon if need be with either passport she holds?
I guess she will be questioned heavily at the Israeli border, but since she's not politically involved at all, I wonder...
If you have any experiences or references on the matter, would be great to hear. Thanks!
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Update: so thanks to the response below, indeed seems she will have no issues entering since Israeli document stamps are now provided separately. However, in a separate yet related issue, we are wondering whether her being born in Saudi Arabia (which is visible on German passports) would cause any issues at the border? Or should she request another German passport with the place of birth omitted (if that's possible)?
Update2: even though this question may have been partially addressed in other questions, I find the responses (personal experiences + links) below to be helpful, especially since policies are always subject to change, so recency is important. So I would rather not mark this question as a duplicate.
Best Answer
I wanted to add my own experience to the answers here.
Israel no longer issues stamps
I found this to be true at the main international airports. At land crossings they will still issue you a stamp unless you explicitly tell them not to (and also depends on their mood). However if you are entering via a land crossing, such as Jordan, you will get an exit stamp at the Jordan boarder anyway which shows you are entering Israel.
Will she experience issues at the border?
Probably. I don't know specifically about Lebanese, but I traveled through Israel with an Indian friend born in Fiji with a New Zealand passport. He apparently has a last name that is common among Muslims. Every single checkpoint our entire group were pulled aside and questioned individually.
We were asked questions like; where are we traveling, how long are we staying, pretty standard but tedious stuff.
But he was asked questions like; who are your parents, where are they from, who are your grandparents on your father's side, who are your grandparents from your mother's side, where are they from...
My advice would be, make sure she is prepared for this.
Pictures about "Is it possible to avoid getting an Israeli passport stamp?"
Do you get a stamp in your passport for Israel?
Today, that question might still be asked but the answer is simple. The Israeli passport stamp is no more. Rather, border officials give you an entry visa automatically on a piece of paper. No more stamps in passports.Which countries deny entry with an Israel stamp?
Lebanon is one of the strictest countries, denying entrance to anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport. Other countries you should avoid entering if you have an Israeli stamp are Syria, Sudan, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Can I visit Arab countries with an Israeli stamp in my passport?
Some Arab countries will refuse entry to anybody who has an Israeli passport stamp (it is no problem to visit Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, or the UAE with a stamp).Which countries do not accept Israeli passports?
Thirteen countries do not accept Israeli passports: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. Some of these countries also do not accept passports of other countries whose holder has an Israeli visa or stamp on it.ISRAELI PASSPORT STAMPS - EXPLAINED
More answers regarding is it possible to avoid getting an Israeli passport stamp?
Answer 2
Yes.
I worked in the United Arab Emirates and traveled to Israel twice. Naturally, I didn't want a stamp in my passport, since I worked and traveled often to Lebanon, Yemen, etc.
Simply ask nicely and they'll put a stamp on a slip of paper for you. I never even asked, but you might want to, just in case.
Do not lose that paper, as it needs to be stamped for your departure.
PS - If I can find that paper, I'll update this question with an image of it.
Answer 3
Germany has been willing to issue multiple passports for such situations. (German wikipedia link)
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Images: Ekaterina Belinskaya, cottonbro, Taryn Elliott, RODNAE Productions