Are you struggling with getting out of quarantine or getting a GREEN PASS? If so, this blog is for you.
You came to Israel to enjoy yourself with your family and thought it would be easy to get out of quarantine, but in the end, you realize it's not that easy. In this blog, we will explain everything, but above all, how to solve this problem.
After receiving the official directive of the Director of Public Health Services of the Ministry of Health, we can now confidently state who is eligible for a Green Pass. The following people will be eligible for the new Recovery and Vaccination Certificates:
Green Pass Eligibility:
People with a valid Recovery or Vaccination Certificate or who underwent rapid (antigen) testing in the past 24 hours are eligible for a Green Pass. Additionally, people with a valid Recovery or Vaccination Certificate do not need to isolate after entering the country (must isolate for 24 hours or when the arrival PCR test at the airport returns negative, whichever is first) or after contacting a confirmed case (if their certificate is no longer valid, they will have to isolate isolation is required).
Recovery Via PCR Test in Israel:
People who are confirmed to be recovered (a positive PCR test followed by a negative PCR test) via a PCR test in Israel and were are not vaccinated (before or after) are eligible for a Recovery Certificate for six months after recovery.
If they did receive a vaccine was received before or after infection, the Recovery Certificate is valid until March 31st (it may be extended by then)
Children under the age of 12 years and three 3 months who have recovered are eligible for a Recovery Certificate until they reach their 12th or 3rd birthday, or until March 31st, whichever is sooner
Recovery Via Serology in Israel:
People over the age of 12 years and 3 months who only confirmed the previous infection who have had a serological testing in Israel are eligible for a Recovery Certificate if they received at least one vaccine dose after the test. It will be valid until March 31st
Children under the age of 12 years and 3 months who were infected are eligible for a Recovery Certificate until their 12th or 3rd birthday, or until March 31st, whichever is sooner
Recovery/vaccination certificates cannot be extended via serological testing.
Vaccinated in Israel:
People vaccinated with at least two doses in Israel are eligible for a Vaccination Certificate valid for six months after the last dose.
Recovered Abroad:
People who recovered abroad (via PCR, antigen, or serology test) will be eligible to receive a Recovery Certificate after undergoing serological testing in Israel. These individuals must include their positive PCR result AND a post-recovery negative PCR result in their submission to the Ministry of Health to be deemed recovered from COVID.
Vaccinated Abroad:
People with an international Vaccination Certificate recognized by Israel will have it verified digitally and will be eligible to receive an Israeli Vaccination Certificate
People without an international Vaccination Certificate recognized by Israel but who are fully vaccinated by a vaccine recognized by the World Health Organization will receive an Israeli Vaccination Certificate after undergoing serological testing in Israel.
Vaccines not recognized by the World Health Organization will not be recognized in Israel.
It appears that there is no time limit from vaccination/recovery abroad to be eligible for a Green Pass. This fact will likely anger many Israelis whose passes will expire if they are more than six months past vaccination/recovery (besides people who are both recovered and vaccinated). This decision was likely made with tourism/diplomacy in mind. The EU and countries not in the EU probably wouldn't agree to mutual vaccination recognition only by Israeli standards and not their own.
People may exploit the lack of a time limit on foreign recovery by receiving a foreign recovery certificate abroad via serology testing, followed by getting it recognized in Israel with serology testing here.
The only certificates that will be digitally recognized by Israel and not require serological testing (until further notice) will be those issued by participating countries in the EU Digital COVID Certificate as can be seen here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en
Now that you know all the rules for getting a green pass or getting out of quarantine, you need to submit your documents to the Israeli Ministry of Health. This can be challenging as the Israeli Ministry of Health can be difficult to get a hold of and might not speak your native language. They are often hard to reach, which is why EMA care is here to help you. We can take care of the administrative side.