Israel is changing its entry visa policy and introducing entry restrictions for Ukrainian citizens.
Starting July 1, citizens from countries with visa-free access to Israel, including Ukraine, must apply for an ETA-IL permit for stays up to 90 days. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel announced this change on its Facebook page on Friday.
In response, Ukraine will introduce similar pre-approval requirements for visas for Israelis. This change will particularly affect the thousands of religious pilgrims who visit Ukraine each year.
Ukraine and Israel have enjoyed close ties since establishing a visa-free policy in 2010. However, recent Israeli actions, such as restricting Ukrainian refugees and denying entry to many Ukrainians, have strained this relationship. The latest requirement effectively ends the visa-free regime. In response, Ukraine will impose similar pre-approval requirements for Israeli citizens, including pilgrims.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk commented that Ukraine will be forced to respond accordingly but remains open to dialogue with Israel on this issue.
Ukraine’s Passport Progress
Ukraine has made significant strides in global passport rankings over the past decade. According to the Henley Passport Index 2024, Ukraine is among the Top 5 countries with the most improved rankings, gaining a net total of 21 places over the past 10 years. In the past year alone, Ukraine has climbed an additional two ranks.
Ukraine now holds the 32nd place in the index, offering its citizens visa-free access to 148 destinations worldwide. This improvement reflects Ukraine’s efforts to enhance its international relations and ease travel restrictions for its citizens.
