e-Visa, ETA, and Arrival Cards — What Israelis Actually Need
Last updated: · Prepared by the visaforisraelis.com team
Not everything is a visa. An e-Visa is an authority decision (Vietnam, India). An ETA/ESTA is a lighter travel authorization (UK, US) — not a visa. TDAC is Thailand's arrival form, mandatory even when there is no visa. Filing the wrong one will not get you in.
Why the names get mixed up
In Hebrew people say "visa" for all of it. In practice there is an electronic visa (an authority decision), a lighter travel authorization (ETA/ESTA), and an arrival form that's mandatory even when there's no visa (TDAC). Filing the wrong one won't get you in.
Electronic visa (e-Visa)
Required when Israelis need prior entry permission for destinations like Vietnam, India, or Azerbaijan. There is a government fee, document checks, and sometimes a strict passport photo. Without approval you usually can't board.
Digital arrival card (TDAC and similar)
No visa for tourism, but there is an online immigration form. In Thailand that's the TDAC — free, and only inside a 72-hour window before arrival. Without it you can be held at the border even if the visa exemption applies.
How to choose what to file
Start with the "do I need a visa?" country guide. If we offer filing for that destination, the product page states clearly whether it's a visa, an ETA, or an arrival card, and links the official portal.
FAQ
Is an ETA a visa?
No. An ETA (and ESTA) is a lighter travel authorization than a visa, but it is still mandatory before flying to destinations like the UK and the US.
Is Thailand's TDAC a visa?
No. The TDAC is a free digital arrival form. Israelis on tourism enter visa-exempt, but the form is still mandatory inside the 72-hour window.
Entry rules change frequently and the final decision always rests with border authorities. Always verify with an official source close to your travel date.