Business FAQs | Consulate General of the United States Jerusalem

I want to invest in the Palestinian Territories. What should I do first?

Read the 2011 Investment Climate Statement on the West Bank and Gaza for an overview of the foreign investment climate.

I want to invest in or import to the U.S. What should I do first?

Visit the SelectUSA.gov website to obtain general information about investing in or importing to the United States. SelectUSA seeks to highlight the many advantages the United States offers as location for business and investment. From a vast domestic market, to a transparent legal system, to the most innovative companies in the world, America is the place for business. On the website you can browse business incentives offered by different states and territories.
Contact the Economic Section and the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Consulate General to discuss your interests and needs.

How do I get a business visa to visit the United States?

For information regarding business visas please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/ or http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/visas.html for detailed information.

Do I need a visa to visit the West Bank or Gaza?

Business Visas
For information on entry and
exit procedures for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, visit http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t /cis/cis_1064.html#entry_requirements.
Most business visitors enter the West Bank through Allenby Bridge/King Hussein
Crossing between Israel and Jordan or through Ben Gurion Tel Aviv International
Airport. The Government of Israel
controls entry and exit through both, as well as the crossing points located
between Israel and the West Bank. The Gaza Strip has one crossing point
with Israel (Erez) and one crossing point with Egypt (Rafah). Entry and exit requirements change
frequently. Travelers who enter the Gaza Strip through
the Rafah crossing from Egypt must also exit through the Rafah crossing. The Israeli authorities do not permit
such travelers to exit through the Erez crossing into Israel except in
situations of extreme humanitarian need. A no-charge, three-month Israeli tourist
visa may be issued upon arrival and may be renewed, and foreign nationals
wishing to invest in the West Bank can apply for a longer term investment visas
from the Government of Israel.
Additional information is available on the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s
Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories website: http://w ww.cogat.idf.il/Sip_Storage/FILES/9/3079.pdf.
The Government of Israel at times has declined to admit U.S. citizens wishing
to visit, work, or travel to the West Bank or Gaza. Information on business
visas to Israel can be found at http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Consular_affairs/Visas.htm#B/1

When is the next Palestinian investment conference?

The PA has hosted several large investment conferences, most recently in Bethlehem in June 2010, which attracted over 1,000 potential investors and business representatives. Over 100 projects were presented at the conference, and further information on these and other projects is available at www.pic-palestine.ps. The PA has tentative plans to host another investment conference in 2012.

Additional information on trade shows is available at www.pipa.gov.ps

How do I contact the Palestinian Authority (PA)?

The Palestine Investment Promotion Agency and the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy are the best PA contacts for Americans seeking additional information on doing business with Palestinian companies.

Consulate General of the United States Jerusalem