Last reviewed: August 31, 2026

How to Pay the U.S. Visa Fee in Israel

Q: Do Israelis need a U.S. visa at all?

Israel participates in the Visa Waiver Program, so most citizens use ESTA for tourism or business up to 90 days. You need a visa — and this fee — for study, work, exchange programs, journalism, longer stays, or if you are not VWP-eligible.

The DS-160 itself has no submission fee. Applicants in Israel and the West Bank pay the separate nonimmigrant visa application (consular) fee through the official appointment service before an interview can be scheduled.

Many Israeli citizens travel visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA for tourism or business up to 90 days. This fee applies to purposes outside the VWP — study, work, exchange, journalism — and to applicants who are not VWP-eligible.

Payment methods in Israel

The official Israel payment options page currently lists two methods:

Debit or credit card online in ILS: paid from the payment screen in your profile. Print the receipt and save the transaction number — it is required to schedule and cannot be replaced.
Cash at Cairo Amman Bank, VFS, or the Ramallah VAC (Aramex): generate and print the Cash/EFT deposit slip from the Payment Details page, then pay in person and keep the receipt.

Pay in shekels only. The official page warns explicitly: do not pay in USD. A payment made in dollars will be rejected and you will be liable for the costs. The ILS amount follows the consular exchange rate published on the service's home page.

Step-by-step payment process

Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page.
Create a profile on the official Israel visa service and continue to the payment screen.
Verify the visa category and ILS amount — paying the wrong amount for your visa class can block scheduling.
Pay by card in ILS, or print the deposit slip and pay cash at one of the listed locations.
Print and save the receipt with its transaction / CGI reference number — it cannot be replaced, and you cannot schedule without it.
Schedule the interview once the payment has processed.

Israel-specific rules

The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not a visa is issued.
Never pay in USD — such payments are rejected and the costs fall on you.
The CGI reference number only works once the payment has finished processing.
Amounts follow the State Department's consular exchange rate, not a bank or bureau rate.
F, M and J students and exchange visitors also owe a separate SEVIS fee on fmjfee.com.

Questions commonly searched in Israel

Do Israelis need a U.S. visa at all?

Israel participates in the Visa Waiver Program, so most citizens use ESTA for tourism or business up to 90 days. You need a visa — and this fee — for study, work, exchange programs, journalism, longer stays, or if you are not VWP-eligible.

How much is the fee in shekels?

The fee is set in U.S. dollars — $185 for B visitor and F/M/J student visas, higher for petition-based categories — and converted to ILS at the consular exchange rate shown on the service's home page. Confirm the dollar amount on the Department of State fee schedule.

Can I pay in dollars if that is easier?

No. The official page states a USD payment will be rejected and you will be liable for all costs. Pay in ILS.

Where can I pay cash?

Cairo Amman Bank, VFS, or the Ramallah Visa Application Center (Aramex), using the printed Cash/EFT deposit slip from your profile.

I lost my receipt. Can I get another?

No. The receipt and its transaction number cannot be replaced, and you cannot schedule without them. Photograph the receipt as soon as you pay.