Studying at a West Bank university: the student permit

COGAT's Procedure for Entry and Residence of Foreigners includes a student category for foreigners who want to pursue degree studies at the higher education institutions in the West Bank recognised under the procedure. The version used here is the revision of 21 December 2022, which took effect on 20 October 2022 as a two-year pilot and was still the text published on the Israeli government portal in June 2026.

As with other purpose-specific permits, the request must be made in advance even by nationals of countries whose citizens can visit Israel without a visa. Citizens of states without diplomatic relations with Israel, and of Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and South Sudan, fall outside this procedure and need a Palestinian Authority visit permit. Foreigners married to a West Bank resident cannot use this permit and must follow the spousal procedure.

Requests for each academic year must be filed by 1 April preceding that year, with an official invitation from the Palestinian Authority. If the documents are in order, the student's details are placed on a list of foreigners approved in principle, compiled by the authorised COGAT official. If the official suspects the permit may be misused, the student can be asked to attend an interview at the Israeli representative office in their own country before a decision.

As with every advance permit, approval lets the student travel to the Allenby Bridge crossing, where the final decision on entry is taken after questioning.

A student permit is valid for one academic year, matching the student's and institution's dates. Several extensions may be approved for the same degree up to 27 months; studies lasting longer require a new application after leaving for abroad. The cumulative stay may not exceed four years for a degree, or five years for a doctorate or post-doctorate.

Extension requests go through the representative of the Palestinian Registrar of Population in Ramallah at least two months before the new academic year starts. They must show the previous year's studies and their continuation, means of support, payment of tuition fees, a place of residence and medical insurance for the requested period.

As a rule the student permit holder may not work. Students in a master's programme or higher may work part-time in teaching or in their field of study at the university where they study, and within that limit the permit counts as a work permit.