Lesse Passe
What is Lesse Passe?
Lesse Passe (laissez passer) or Teudat Maavar is an Israeli passport that confirms Israeli citizenship abroad and provides visa-free entry to 61 countries.
What rights Lesse Passe gives its owner, what is required to obtain it, and how it differs from the Israeli passport Darkon — about this and much more information below.
Since Israel is interested in the return of all Jews to their historical homeland, Darkon for a period of 10 years is issued only to citizens living in Israel on a permanent basis. And if a citizen spends most of the time abroad, then repatriate will get Lesse Passe.
The difference between Lesse Passe and Darkon
The standard passport in Israel is Darkon. Lesse Passe serves as an alternative to it in a number of cases, namely:
- If an Israeli citizen lives in the country for less than 183 days a year and ceases to be a resident.
- If Darkon is lost while the person is abroad.
Lesse Passe differs from Darkon in the color of the cover: it is red, not blue. Also, Lesse Passe is not biometric, but it is issued for 5 years with the possibility of extension.
Lesse Passe Israeli Passport Renewal
You can prolong Teudat Maavar at the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs or by contacting the Israeli representation in the country of current residence. You must personally send to the Embassy:
- Application for an extension. To be completed in Hebrew or English.
- Identity document.
- Lesse Passe, in need of extension.
- Appointments must be booked in advance.
When renewing a travel document through the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs, the algorithm of actions will be the same as when submitting a request for the extension of Darkon. Lesse Passe will be issued for a period of 5 years. When it is issued, the period of the applicant’s total stay in Israel is not taken into account.
Lesse Passe Receipts
The holder of a temporary pass can buy real estate and other assets around the world without restrictions, register companies, while doing business as an Israeli.
To obtain a Lesse Passe, you must personally submit an application with a request for this particular type of travel document. It is important that all items of the application are filled out correctly with real information. If some columns remain empty or the data is entered incorrectly, the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have the right to refuse to consider the package of papers for receiving Teudat Maavar. All information provided by the applicant is checked for false information. Registration of a temporary foreign passport takes from 6 to 10 weeks after submission of all documents to work.
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Colombia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Cyprus
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Denmark
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Estonia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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France
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Finland
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Greece
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Germany
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Hungary
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Iceland
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Italy
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Liechtenstein
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Latvia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Norway
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Portugal
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Poland
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Russia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Spain
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Sweden
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Slovakia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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Slovenia
embassy response 90 days visa-free
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USA
embassy response 0 days visa-free
Common Questions and FAQs
Our customers often ask questions regarding obtaining Lesse Passe and how it differs from Darkon. We explain to them the following:
- Lesse Passe – aka Teudat Maawar in Hebrew and laissez-passer in French – gives an Israeli citizen the same rights as Darkon. Although its validity is immediately from 1 to 5 years, it can be used to conduct business, open bank accounts, buy / sell real estate and more.
- Israel’s Lesse Passe document provides the same protection and security to a citizen of the country abroad as Darkon. The only difference is the validity period: Lesse Passe is issued for a period of 5 years (from 1 to 5 years), and Darkon for 1, 5 and 10.
- Teudat Maawar is limited in the number of countries you can visit without a visa. However, the list of 60 countries includes the most popular destinations.
One of the most important questions is – what is Israeli travel document visa free countries? Here it is:
- Almost all European countries are ready to let the owners of the Lesse Passe into their territory without a visa. They do not distinguish between Darkon and Lesse Passe.
- The United States of America also does not see the difference between the two types of Israeli international passports, but the issue of visa-free entry for Israeli citizens is still under discussion.
- The UK is a state where the authorities distinguish between Darkon and Lesse Passe, and a visa is required when crossing the border through Lesse Passe, but not through Darkon.
Benefits of Lesse Passe Passport
The travel document has a large list of advantages. The main ones include:
- Validity. Unlike Darkon, which can be issued for 1 year, 5 and 10 years, Lesse Passe is issued for 1 to 5 years and there is no need for permanent residence only in Israel.
- Although the list of visa-free countries is smaller than with Darkon, if you have a foreign passport, this disadvantage is compensated.
- Teudat Maavar opens the hottest destinations for its owner – this is the Schengen zone.
Teudat Maavar in Hebrew means a travel document. But the people most often use its French version of the name – Lesse-Passe. Teudat Maavar is an Israeli passport that confirms Israeli citizenship abroad and provides visa-free entry to 61 countries. It confirms Israeli citizenship abroad. To obtain it, permanent residence in Israel is not required, while all the rights of a citizen of the country remain.
The maximum validity period for Lesse-Passe is from 1 to 5 years, for Darkon it is 10 years.
Darkon can only be extended by meeting the requirements for the number of days of residence in Israel. There are no such requirements for Lesse Passe, it can be extended regardless of the length of stay in Israel.
Teudat Maavar has a list of benefits. The main ones include:
- Validity. Unlike Darkon, which can be issued for 1 year, 5 and 10 years, Lesse Passe is issued for 1 to 5 years and there is no need for permanent residence only in Israel.
- Teudat Maavar opens the hottest destinations for its owner – this is the Schengen zone.
For owners of Lesse Pass, there is a great opportunity to travel without a visa to almost all European countries.
If we consider the geography of the countries where every year people who have Lesse Passé on their hands went to rest, then it is quite wide.
The period of stay in countries with visa-free entry through Lesse Pass is rarely limited to 30 days (such as, for example, the Bahamas and the Falkland Islands).
Most states provide the opportunity to stay on their territory for up to 90 days, although there are also those where this period has been increased several times, for example, in Fiji it is 120 days, and in Georgia – 360.
According to Israeli law, 8 countries belong to the concept of “enemy state”, which means that entry into them without special permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is prohibited:
- Iran;
- Pakistan;
- Iraq;
- Libya;
- Lebanon;
- Saudi Arabia;
- Syria;
- Yemen.
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Hi! Can I enter Sri Lanka with a Teudat Maavar? Thanks!
I just received an email from the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem stating:
Holders of Israeli Laissez Passer require a visa.
Kindly find all the requirements on our website: Servicios consulares (exteriores.gob.es)
You would need to apply at the BLS office in Jerusalem or Ramallah (prior appointment required): https://jerusalem.blsspainvisa.com/spanish/contact.php
Hi, they said I get the darkon after 5 years with the Teudat maavar, but can I leave the country in these 5 years ? If so for how long?
Hi, Can i enter/fly to spain, france, and Italy on the Teudat Maavar without a visa? is anything else required to sign?
Hello! You can enter Italy, Spain and France with a Teudat Maavar (Lesse Passe) and stay there 90 days visa-free
Hello! Can you enter Singapore and China with Teudat Maavar? Thanks
Hello! China – no, Singapore – yes (30 days, required SG Arrival Card)
Hi, is it possible to enter Phillipines visa free on teudat maavar?
Phillipines are not in the official sources of visa-free countries, we advise you to double-check the information before visiting the country.
Hello! The whole internet has not got an answer if one can enter Taiwan with teudat maavar. Does anyone know the answer or has got similar experience?
Israeli passport holders can travel to Taiwan for up to 90 days even with provisional passport (teudat maavar). Conditions are: the passport still has to be valid for at least 6 more month from the day you enter Taiwan and you have to have plane tickets that prove of departure from Taiwan within 90 days
Hi! Is it possible to enter brussels on a teudat maavar?
Hello! You can enter Belgium with a Teudat Maavar (Lesse Passe) and stay there 90 days visa-free
Hello, is it possible to get a work visa on a teudat maavar/ laissez passer?
Unfortunately, we do not provide this services
Hello!
Is it possible to enter Canada with Teudat Maavar obtaining a eTA visa in it?
Hello! Holders of Lesse Passe will have to apply for a guest visa to visit Canada.
Hello! Is it possible to enter visa-free to Curacao with an Israeli Teudat Maavar? Thanks
Hello! You can visit this country visa-free only with Darkon
Hello! Is it possible to enter visa-free to Argentina with an Israeli Teudat Maavar? Thanks
Hello! You can enter Argentina with a Teudat Maavar (Lesse Passe) and stay there 90 days visa-free
Hello! I would be grateful if you could help me out and clarify whether an Israeli citizen with Laissez Passer/ Teudat Maavar is allowed visa-free entry to Taiwan/ Taipei. Thank you!
Hello! You can stay in Taiwan with a Darkon passport (90 days). With Lesse Passe you need a visa
Hello! Can I travel visa-free to Japan with lesse passe?
Hello! Yes, you are able to travel to Japan visa-free and stay there for 90 days
Lesse Passe is not a red little book. This little book’s name is Teudat Maavr. But Lesse Passe is a piece of paper for one-time travel to Israel.
Hello! Lesse Passe (laissez passer) or Teudat Maavar is an Israeli passport (little red book) that confirms Israeli citizenship abroad and provides visa-free entry to 61 countries.
I am a holder of Israeli provisional passport, could you please check if I can travel to Dubai visa free?
Hello! With Lesse-Passe you’ll need a visa.
Can the non-biometric provisional passport be used for obtaining work permits and work visas in Europe?
With a temporary Teudat Zeut — no, a foreign passport is required
With temporary Darkon — it depends on the country, where you want to get a work permit.
If you need an EU residence permit, we can work with you individually. To find out more, you can leave an application on our website
Is it possible to obtain a US tourist visa with Teudat Maavar?
Yes. You can get a visa, up to 10 years
Can you do an updated version of this please? (especially with the new USA visa-waiver for Israeli citizens)
Hello, of course, we update the materials with each new update, the most relevant information will be presented by the end of October!