Israelis became eligible to travel to the United States without a visa on Thursday, over a month earlier than the estimated date, the Israeli Embassy in Washington announced.
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Israel was admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program on Sept. 27, although authorities said at the time that it would take about two more months to put all the final measures in place.
Video: Netanyahu announces Israel's addition to the Visa Waiver Program / Credit: GPO
From now on, Israeli citizens with a biometric passport will be able to travel to the US by filling out an online Electronic System for Travel Authorization application 72 hours before the trip.
In practice, Israelis who have already applied for an ESTA application said they received an answer within hours.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East to be added to the US Visa Waiver Program, joining 40 other countries.
Israelis above the age of 18 without a biometric passport are not eligible for an ESTA application, neither are individuals who overstayed their visas in the past and those with a criminal record.
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