Arriving at Ben Gurion Airport: from the plane to your ride
A walk-through of Terminal 3 for first-time visitors, in the order you will meet each step.
Every international flight lands at Terminal 3. From the aircraft you go to border control, where visitors with a foreign passport receive a small entry card instead of a passport stamp. Then come baggage claim and the customs lanes, green for nothing to declare and red for goods to declare, and the exit to the greeters’ hall. From there you can take the train or bus, or meet the driver of a taxi you booked in advance.
From the aircraft to the exit
- Off the plane
Depending on where the aircraft parks, you walk through an air bridge or ride a bus to the terminal. Follow the signs for arrivals and passport control.
- Border control
Have your passport ready. Visa-exempt visitors also need the ETA-IL travel authorisation, required since 1 January 2025 and obtained before you fly. The self-service kiosks at the end of each pier are for Israeli passports only, so with a foreign passport you queue at the staffed counters. Instead of a stamp you receive a small card with your details, called the electronic gate pass by the Ministry of Tourism and the blue entry card by the airport.
- Keep the card
It is your proof of visa status and identification while you are in Israel, and you need it at departure to claim a VAT refund on purchases, so put it somewhere safe.
- Baggage claim
Screens in the hall show which belt your flight is on. This is a good moment to switch on your phone and check that WhatsApp is working.
- Customs lanes
Take the green lane if you have nothing to declare and the red lane if you do. Walking through the green lane with goods you should have declared can lead to a fine and prosecution.
- The greeters’ hall
After customs you walk out into the hall where friends, family and drivers wait for arriving passengers.
Ways to leave the airport
- Train
The station is on the lower level of Terminal 3, with trains towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Trains do not run on Shabbat.
- Bus to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv
Line 485 to Jerusalem and line 445 to Tel Aviv leave from Terminal 3, level 2, exit 21.
- Shuttle to Terminal 1
A free shuttle links Terminal 3 with Terminal 1, useful if you continue on a domestic flight. It leaves from level G, near Gate 01.
- A taxi you booked in advance
The driver follows your flight and coordinates the meeting with you by phone or WhatsApp after landing. This is how our airport taxis work.
How meeting a pre-booked driver works with us
You give us the flight number when you book. The driver follows the flight, so a delay moves the pickup time with it. Once you are through customs, the driver calls you or sends a WhatsApp message and you agree together where to meet. Keep your phone on with data or roaming as you leave the baggage hall.
If you would like to be met inside the arrivals hall by a driver holding a sign with your name, that is part of our VIP service, with a luxury car or limousine, booked in advance.
Tips for a smooth arrival
- Write your destination down
Have the full address, ideally in Hebrew as well as English, ready to show a taxi driver or type into an app.
- Know your luggage count
Large suitcases and trolley bags decide which vehicle fits. A family with a lot of luggage may need a large taxi.
- Children
Child seats need to be arranged before you land. Ask for them when you book; see taxi with a child seat.
- Check the board before you land
The Ben Gurion flight board shows the updated landing time and the terminal for every flight.
- No Uber here
Ride-hailing with private cars is not available in Israel. Our guide Is there Uber in Israel? explains what works instead.
Sources, checked on 18 October 2026
- Israel Airports Authority, notice of 24 June 2026
All international arrivals at Terminal 3; domestic flights from Ramon at Terminal 1. Ben Gurion notifications and updates (opens in a new tab)
- Israel Airports Authority: border control
Kiosks for Israeli passports only, staffed counters for visitors, and the blue entry card. Population and Immigration Authority at the airport (opens in a new tab)
- Israel Ministry of Tourism
The ETA requirement since 1 January 2025, the electronic gate pass and the green and red customs lanes. Passports and visas (opens in a new tab)
- Israel Airports Authority: getting to and from the airport
Buses 485 and 445 from level 2, exit 21, and the free shuttle to Terminal 1. Directions to Ben Gurion (opens in a new tab)
- Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality
The train station on the lower level of Terminal 3 and no trains on Shabbat. Visit Tel Aviv, getting from the airport (opens in a new tab)
- Kol Zchut: customs declarations
What happens if you use the green lane with goods to declare. Declaring goods at customs, in Hebrew (opens in a new tab)
Questions and answers
Do I still get a stamp in my passport?
No. With a foreign passport you receive a small entry card with your details instead, known as the gate pass or the blue card. Keep it for the length of your stay.
I have no mobile data in Israel. How do I reach the driver?
Connect to the terminal Wi-Fi and send a WhatsApp message. WhatsApp voice calls work over the same network.
Where will a driver I booked with you meet me?
The driver contacts you by phone or WhatsApp once you are through customs, and you agree on the meeting point together. A name sign in the arrivals hall is part of the VIP service.
I landed at Terminal 1. Is anything different?
Only domestic flights from Ramon Airport land there; every international arrival uses Terminal 3. A free shuttle links Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 and the train station, and our Terminal 1 guide covers the building. If you booked with us, write the terminal in the booking; the driver arranges the meeting by phone or WhatsApp as usual.
Can I take the train on a Saturday?
No. Trains do not run on Shabbat, from Friday afternoon until Saturday night.
Book on WhatsApp or by phone
Send us where from, where to and when on WhatsApp, and the taxi will be there on time.