Israel: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Stay alert
Overall verdict for Israel: Stay alert. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Israel: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Religion, Photo & video, Drugs
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
💊Drugs🎁 FreeAllowed, with limits
💉MedicinesAllowed, with limits
🛡️Theft & scamsAllowed, with limits
🐾AnimalsRelaxed
🚬SmokingRelaxed
🍺AlcoholRelaxed
❤️Sex & datingRelaxed
👕Dress codeAllowed, with limits
🕌Religion🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
🚗DrivingAllowed, with limits
📷Photo & video🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
🔪WeaponsAllowed, with limits
💶FinesRelaxed
🛂Visa & customsAllowed, with limits
🤝BehaviorAllowed, with limits
⛓️Jail riskRelaxed
⚖️ExtraditionAllowed, with limits
📡Internet & VPNRelaxed
🚁DronesAllowed, with limits
💵Cash & currencyRelaxed
🩺Vaccines & healthRelaxed
💻Remote workAllowed, with limits
🗣️Politics & protestAllowed, with limits
Get the exact rules for your trip
This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Israel, offline, in 23 languages.
Israel: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
How Israel compares
With 2 of 23 topics flagged red, Israel is more relaxed than 8 of the 11 other countries in Middle East & Caucasus (regional average: 7.0). Worldwide, Israel ranks #103 of 148 for strictness (tied with 28 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Religion: flagged red here, while only 22 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Fines: relaxed here, while 132 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
- Jail risk: relaxed here, while 127 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
What to watch most in Israel
- Blasphemy remains a criminal offence in dozens of countries, sometimes with very heavy sentences.
- Proselytising — including handing out leaflets or discussing conversion — is illegal in several countries.
- Tattoos of religious figures have led to deportations and arrests in South-East Asia.
- Military sites, police, airports, borders, ports and government buildings — this is the classic espionage accusation.
- People without asking, especially children, and above all in indigenous or religious communities.
- Protests and police operations: your phone can be seized and its contents searched.
Israel at a glance
CapitalJerusalem
CurrencyIsraeli New Shekel (ILS)
LanguageHebrew, Arabic
Emergency number100 police / 101 secours
Driving sideRight
Mains voltage230 V
Calling code+972
Time zoneUTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00
Plug typesC · D · H
Frequently asked questions
Is Israel strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Stay alert. 2 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Religion, Photo & video), 12 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Israel?
The strictest topics for travellers in Israel are: Religion, Photo & video. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Israel?
In LawsTravels: open Israel, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Israel?
In Israel, dial 100 police / 101 secours. Capital: Jerusalem. Currency: Israeli New Shekel (ILS). Main language: Hebrew, Arabic.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Israel?
In Israel, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 230 V. Calling code: +972. Time zone: UTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00. Plug types: C · D · H.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
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