Ben Gurion Airport: What to Know When You Arrive and Depart

Check your flight's terminal, prepare your entry documents and plan ground transport before you travel. Ben Gurion's two operating terminals have different roles, and Shabbat changes the transport options.

The most useful starting point is your exact flight number. The Israel Airports Authority warns that some airlines operate from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. A familiar airline name or the terminal used on your last trip is not enough to choose where to go.

Check Terminal 1 or Terminal 3

Under the authority's current arrangements, international arrivals use Terminal 3. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights to and from Ramon and selected international departures. Its international departure process includes security, airline registration, passport control, shopping and boarding within the terminal.

The authority lists both Wizz Air and El Al as using terminals 3/1. Check the airport's flight board and your airline's latest message for the individual departure. Other carriers' assignments should be checked the same way.

A free airport shuttle connects the terminals. At Terminal 3, the stop is on Level G near Gate 01; at Terminal 1, it is opposite Gate 4. The authority publishes an approximate frequency of 15 minutes. Leave additional time for the transfer, especially if arriving by train for a Terminal 1 flight.

Arrange ETA-IL Before Travelling

Visitors from visa exempt countries generally need an approved ETA-IL before departure for Israel. The Population and Immigration Authority's official application system charges NIS 25. Approval normally remains valid for up to two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Apply at least 72 hours ahead and use the official government service. The authority recommends applying before committing to flights and accommodation. Enter the passport details carefully, since the authorization is associated with that document.

ETA-IL permits travel to seek entry; border officers decide admission and the permitted stay. It is not a substitute for a visa where one is required. Israeli citizens and holders of Israeli residency should check the rules for their own status rather than use the tourist application as a default.

Allow Time for Security and Departure

The Airports Authority recommends reaching the airport three hours before departure for the security process. Keep your passport and ticket or boarding pass accessible. Security staff ask questions relevant to the flight, and luggage passes through screening.

Answer clearly and accurately, and know what is in your bags. Pack your own belongings, keep essential medicines and documents accessible, and check airline restrictions on batteries, sharp objects and liquids before leaving home. Remove a laptop from its bag when instructed.

At both terminals, passengers with hand luggage only, completed online check in and an issued boarding pass may use the designated Area W security route. Airlines that do not issue a boarding pass online require the ordinary route. The airline's boarding deadline still applies after security.

Keep Your Entry Card

At passport control, visitors normally receive a small blue entry card instead of an ink stamp in the passport. The Population and Immigration Authority's airport guidance tells travelers to keep this document.

Check the permitted stay recorded when admitted. Keep the card with your passport throughout the visit, including for accommodation and departure paperwork. A phone photograph is a useful backup, but retain the original.

The authority specifically requires the blue card for a tourist VAT refund at departure. Our guide to money, payments and tourist VAT refunds in Israel explains the broader shopping considerations.

Choose Transport and Check Shabbat

The airport railway station serves Terminal 3, with services toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Use Israel Railways' journey planner for the travel date, including any changes or engineering work. Its information center is available at *5770.

Bus options listed by the Airports Authority include route 445 toward Tel Aviv and route 485 toward Jerusalem, from Terminal 3, Level 2, Exit 21. Confirm the day's departures with the operator or the national public transport information service at *8787. The wider guide to getting around Israel without a car covers onward connections.

Trains stop on Friday afternoon and resume after Shabbat on Saturday evening; holiday schedules also change. Exact last and first services vary. Plan Shabbat travel before booking a tight connection.

Licensed taxis operate around the clock. The official Terminal 3 rank is outside Gate 03 on the ground floor, and the authority requires meter payment. Use the authorized rank. Rental car counters are in the Eastern Gallery on Level 1; confirm the company's collection point and allow time for the return shuttle.

Claim VAT Before Checking Your Bags

For qualifying tourist purchases packed in checked luggage, first take the goods and formal refund documents to the VAT counter in Terminal 3's departure hall on Level 3, opposite the information counter.

After inspection and stamping, take the stamped form to the refund desk in the duty free hall at the entrance to Concourse E. Keep the purchases accessible until the required check is complete. At Terminal 1, present the goods and documents at the VAT counter in the departures hall, Sector A, before checking bags. Keep the signed certificate for the refund. Milgam operates the service and can be reached at 03-7280123.