Charleston to Beersheba (CHS–VTM) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Israel visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), security screening begins before you reach immigration. Expect questions about your trip purpose, accommodation, and contacts in Israel. Immigration issues a small entry slip instead of a passport stamp, so your passport stays clean for travel to countries that do not admit visitors with Israeli stamps.

The 90-day stay can be extended at the Population and Immigration Authority in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Israel's entry slip system means no physical evidence of your visit appears in your passport. Keep the entry slip until departure, as you need it for hotel check-ins and if asked by authorities. The EAL-1 form (electronic entry authorization) is being phased in for visa-exempt travelers from certain countries, but as of early 2026, US citizens do not need to apply for the EAL-1 before travel.

Direct flights from New York JFK to Tel Aviv run about 10 hours 30 minutes on El Al, Delta, and United. Newark (EWR), Miami, Boston, and Los Angeles also have nonstop service. Israel uses the Israeli new shekel (ILS), trading at roughly 3.65 ILS per $1. The Rav-Kav card works on Egged and Dan buses, the Jerusalem Light Rail, and Tel Aviv's Red Line metro (opened 2023). Ben Gurion Airport's Train Station connects to Tel Aviv HaHagana in 20 minutes for ILS 13.50 ($3.70) and to Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon in 24 minutes for ILS 22 ($6). Card payments work everywhere. Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) shuts down most public transport and many businesses.