Middle East - Registering for Biometric Passport - Israel

What is the process for registering for the expedited service at TLV, that allows you to pass through passport control using your handprint?
Can this be done on a "Teudat Ma'avar" as well?

Does this change anything regarding security?

Gosh. I hope someone overrides me here because I am going back many years with my experience, and it certainly could have changed.

In my experience, it was not possible for a teudat maavar, which I had for a period while my paperwork was getting sorted out. That could be different nowadays (and hopefully it is, so you can make things easier on yourself).

I did not find that it had really any impact on check-in security once they got to know me. (I traveled so much with my job and at such regular intervals that I saw the same people quite often. I also think as the number of stamps collected in my passport and the little stickers on my luggage, so did the ease of passage in a little bit of a "trusted traveler" sense.) Their eyebrows do go up when they initially see that orange booklet (is it still bright orange?), but then you chat with them and it's no big deal at all.

Also, for someone who isn't an Israeli passport holder, would one be able to bypass passport control by using a Global Entry passport?

Gosh I don't know. That would probably be sketchy and frowned upon at best and disallowed at worst. (I am also not super up-to-date on the Global Entry program.)

I am totally making assumptions here, but I assume you have a teudat maavar (as did I) while your citizenship papers are getting processed? It is not legal for an Israeli citizen to enter and leave Israel NOT on the Israeli passport. You could argue that you're not officially a citizen YET, but I think that might be splitting hairs more that is worth it. Not worth the potential balagan, IMO.

What is the process for registering for the expedited service at TLV, that allows you to pass through passport control using your handprint?
Can this be done on a "Teudat Ma'avar" as well?

Does this change anything regarding security?

You give the person at the desk on the left your passport, they scan your hand ~5 times, that's about it. This is true as of a month ago.
Don't know about the maavar, but there's no reason not to just check yourself as the process takes about a minute either way.

Didn't change anything regarding security.

Gosh I don't know. That would probably be sketchy and frowned upon at best and disallowed at worst. (I am also not super up-to-date on the Global Entry program.)

I am totally making assumptions here, but I assume you have a teudat maavar (as did I) while your citizenship papers are getting processed? It is not legal for an Israeli citizen to enter and leave Israel NOT on the Israeli passport. You could argue that you're not officially a citizen YET, but I think that might be splitting hairs more that is worth it. Not worth the potential balagan, IMO.

First off, Israel and the USA signed some sort of agreement that allows GE members to benefit in Israel, but I still don't quite understand what the benefit is.

I personally don't yet have a Ma'avar. I will be getting it in October. In the meantime, I still fly and am a GE member and would like to know if I can benefit. (I'm not yet a citizen.)

You give the person at the desk on the left your passport, they scan your hand ~5 times, that's about it. This is true as of a month ago.
Don't know about the maavar, but there's no reason not to just check yourself as the process takes about a minute either way.

Didn't change anything regarding security.

So I can just do that anytime I fly out?

OK. I thought you already had your teudat maavar, which is why I said I thought they'd frown upon your having it but not using it. I see where you're coming from now, and the GE thing might make sense for you in the meantime. I have no idea about the Israeli benefit angle on that, either.

Let us know what you find out! It's interesting.

So I can just do that anytime I fly out?

Yes, after dealing with Israeli bureaucracy for a while I was surprised as well :)

My experience with obtaining one was pretty good.

As mentioned, upon arrival the registration desk is on the left before you come to the row of machines for the "quick entry". I was asked for my Israeli passport, which I thought was a requirement to getting the card.*

http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/government-offices/post-aliyah-travel/918-teudat-maavar-traveling-abroad-as-a-new-oleh.html


Scanned my palm two or 3 times as well to get it right. The card is processed on the spot, and you get to use it for the first time with the person who processed you. Oh, and it is free.

Since that time, I have never had to even take my passport out of my pocket. So now, I have a US passport with exit and entry but no other country visited, and I have an Israeli passport that is completely empty.

BTW, If you have a "B'Hatsda'ah card", it includes large discounts on Teudat Zehut and Darkon.

My experience with obtaining one was pretty good.

As mentioned, upon arrival the registration desk is on the left before you come to the row of machines for the "quick entry". I was asked for my Israeli passport, which I thought was a requirement to getting the card.*

http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/government-offices/post-aliyah-travel/918-teudat-maavar-traveling-abroad-as-a-new-oleh.html

(Emphasis mine)

What do you mean you thought it was a requirement? How could you get the card without a passport? (Unless, do you mean as opposed to a Teudat Ma'avar?)

Scanned my palm two or 3 times as well to get it right. The card is processed on the spot, and you get to use it for the first time with the person who processed you. Oh, and it is free.

Since that time, I have never had to even take my passport out of my pocket. So now, I have a US passport with exit and entry but no other country visited, and I have an Israeli passport that is completely empty.

What's the card? Do you scan a card as opposed to your passport? For GE, I scan my passport and my fingers...

BTW, If you have a "B'Hatsda'ah card", it includes large discounts on Teudat Zehut and Darkon.

What's a B'Hatsda'ah Card?

What's a B'Hatsda'ah Card?

You get this if you do enough Milluim...
I just used it when getting a new passport. I got a 64 page one for 190 NIS instead of 440...

About golbal entery - it didn't start yet.

You get this if you do enough Milluim...
I just used it when getting a new passport. I got a 64 page one for 190 NIS instead of 440...

About golbal entery - it didn't start yet.

Don't start my Miluim till Aliyah. (Though I may be going back to sadir! :eek: )

Any news on when GE starts, and once it does, what will the process be like? I've never used GE outside of a US airport

To use the quick entry, you will get a plastic card that you swipe, and then place your hands on a glass surface for scanning. You do not use your passport, though of course you need to have it with you. Your entry document to get you into the luggage claim are a pops out upon completion.
There are seldom any lines and the process can take as little as 45 seconds.

Olim who have a Teudat Ma'avar, while considered citizens, are not eligible for the card. Yes, that is what I meant.

With apologies, as you had talked about the army before, I thought you were doing miluim already. The "Bhatsda'ah" card gives you discounts at a myriad of places, including museums, hotels, restaurants, events and even government documents.

With apologies, as you had talked about the army before, I thought you were doing miluim already. The "Bhatsda'ah" card gives you discounts at a myriad of places, including museums, hotels, restaurants, events and even government documents.

Judging by the name of it, I figured it was an army card, but I wasn't sure what. I did finish the army, but haven't made Aliyah, so I haven't started Miluim yet.