The Allenby Bridge, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is the land crossing between the West Bank near Jericho and Jordan, and the shortest route between central Israel and Amman. This guide covers current opening hours, the departure fee, visa and document rules, how to reach the terminal, and how the northern Sheikh Hussein (Jordan River) crossing compares.
Every figure comes from the Israel Airports Authority (IAA), which operates both terminals, or from another official source listed at the end. If you are still planning your trip, see our practical guide to crossing into Israel.
| Date | Allenby Bridge (passengers) | Sheikh Hussein / Jordan River (passengers) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 29 – Wed 30 Sep | 08:00–17:00 | 08:30–18:00 (last admission 16:30) |
| Thu 1 Oct | 08:00–18:30 | 08:30–18:00 (last admission 16:30) |
| Fri 2 Oct (Hoshana Raba) | 08:00–15:30 | 08:30–16:00 (last admission 14:30) |
| Sat 3 Oct (Simchat Torah) | Closed | Closed |
Important: The IAA holiday schedule ends on 3 October. From Sunday 4 October, the regular hours in the next section apply. Check the IAA Allenby notifications page on the morning you travel.
Allenby Bridge opening hours
These are the regular passenger hours published by the IAA. Since 26 July 2026 the hall for arrivals into Israel stays open longer on Sundays and Thursdays.
Day | Arrivals into Israel | Departures to Jordan |
Sunday and Thursday | 08:00–18:30 | 08:00–17:00 |
Monday to Wednesday | 08:00–17:00 | 08:00–17:00 |
Friday | 08:00–15:30 | 08:00–15:30 |
Saturday | Closed | Closed |
The IAA asks passengers to arrive about three hours before the closing time, and Palestinian passengers travelling by bus about 2.5 hours before. For a Sunday departure to Jordan, when the hall closes at 17:00, that means reaching the terminal by around 14:00. On Fridays, aim for 12:30.
Departure fee: what you pay to leave Israel
Every traveller leaving Israel through a land terminal pays a crossing fee. The IAA rates below apply from 15 April 2026 to 31 December 2026 and are updated each January.
Terminal | Fee per departing passenger |
Allenby Bridge | NIS 208 (NIS 182 with a Palestinian passport) |
Sheikh Hussein / Jordan River | NIS 120 |
Children under two are exempt. You can pay on the Milgam website by credit card, at the Milgam desk inside the terminal for an extra NIS 7 desk charge, or at an Israel Postal Bank branch, where the voucher is redeemed at the Milgam desk. Leaving Jordan is charged separately: the Jordan Tourism Board lists a departure tax of JOD 10 at land crossings.
Visa and document requirements
- Passport: valid for at least six months. East Jerusalem residents also need a laissez-passer and ID card.
- Jordan visa at Allenby: the Jordan Tourism Board states that visas cannot be obtained at the bridge, so arrange yours before you travel.
- Jordan visa at Sheikh Hussein: the IAA states that the Jordanian entry visa is issued at the Jordanian terminal.
- Israeli entry: visa-exempt tourists need an ETA-IL approval, which the Ministry of Tourism says does not guarantee entry. Israel normally issues an entry card instead of a passport stamp. Keep it with your passport until you leave.
- Cash: the Ministry of Tourism lists a limit of 2,000 Jordanian dinars in cash at the Allenby Bridge.
- Israeli citizens: the IAA states that Israelis may not cross via the Allenby terminal.
What the crossing involves
The Allenby terminal has four halls: exit and entry halls for Palestinian passengers, and exit and entry halls for tourists and East Jerusalem residents. Tourists use their own hall. A typical departure to Jordan follows this order:
- Reach the terminal at least three hours before closing and pay the departure fee.
- Complete passport control at the Population and Immigration desk and the customs check for luggage.
- Take the shuttle bus across to the Jordanian terminal.
- Present your passport and pre-arranged visa to Jordanian immigration.
Cafeterias operate in each passenger hall. The terminal is accessible, wheelchairs are free of charge, and staff assistance can be arranged in advance by phone on 02-5482604. See also our disabled passengers assistance page.
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| Allenby / King Hussein | Sheikh Hussein / Jordan River |
Location | About 5 km east of Jericho; roughly 54 minutes’ drive from Amman | Northern crossing near the Sea of Galilee, about 90 km from Amman |
Regular hours | Mon–Wed 08:00–17:00; Sun and Thu see table above; Fri 08:00–15:30; Sat closed | Sun–Thu 08:30–18:00; Fri 08:30–16:00; Sat closed |
Last admission | About 3 hours before closing | Sun–Thu 16:30; Fri 14:30 |
Israeli departure fee | NIS 208 | NIS 120 |
Jordan visa | Not issued at the bridge; arrange in advance | Issued at the Jordanian terminal |
Israeli citizens | Not permitted | Permitted, with an arranged Jordanian guide and printed hotel booking |
Between terminals | Shuttle bus | Shuttle every 45 minutes (NIS 8); private vehicles and tour buses may cross; rental cars and taxis may not |
Closed on | Saturday, Yom Kippur, first day of Eid al-Adha | Saturday, Yom Kippur, Islamic New Year |
For Jordan-bound travellers who prefer to receive their visa on arrival, Sheikh Hussein is the crossing that issues it. Allenby is the shorter route between Jerusalem, central Israel and Amman.
Getting to the Allenby terminal
Egged bus lines 961 (from Jerusalem and Tiberias) and 966 (from Jerusalem and Katzrin) stop on Route 90 near the terminal’s upper entrance gate. From the gate you can reach the terminal by taxi only. The Elnagama taxi station offers paid transfers on 02-6273003.
To collect an individual passenger, coordinate your arrival in advance with the IAA pick-up form; parking is allowed only for pick-up and drop-off. Visiting Jericho on the way? See our Jericho tour.
Sheikh Hussein: rules worth knowing
- Crossing by rental car or taxi is not permitted. Passengers can use the shuttle, a private vehicle, an organised tour bus or a motorcycle.
- Israeli citizens must arrange a Jordanian escorting guide in advance and show a printed hotel booking at the Jordanian terminal.
- Jordanian authorities prohibit weapons and ammunition, navigation devices and objects with religious characteristics, according to the IAA.
- The terminal is closed on Yom Kippur and on the Islamic New Year. You can also phone it on +972 4 6093410.
VIP border service with Israel Welcome
Israel Welcome’s VIP Border Service is available at both the Allenby Bridge and Sheikh Hussein. A representative meets you at the terminal entrance, assists with document checks and luggage (up to two bags), arranges the private shuttle across the bridge and escorts you to your waiting driver.
Pricing starts from $219 per person. You can reserve the border VIP service online, or call +972-52-917-1710 (Israel) or 1-888-500-4414 (USA and Canada) to confirm the current crossing status.
Practical tips
- Arrive about three hours before the terminal closes, as the IAA advises.
- Pay the departure fee online in advance to avoid the NIS 7 desk charge.
- Sort your Jordan visa before travel if you are using Allenby.
- Check the IAA notifications page before you leave. The UK government notes that land crossings to Jordan can close at short notice. For wider context, see is Israel safe to travel.
- Plan around Saturday closures and shorter Friday hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Allenby Bridge operates six days a week and is closed on Saturdays, Yom Kippur and the first day of Eid al-Adha, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Hours change around Israeli holidays, so check the IAA Allenby notifications page on the morning you travel. Current hours are in the status box at the top of this page.
Monday to Wednesday 08:00–17:00. On Sundays and Thursdays the hall for arrivals into Israel runs 08:00–18:30, while departures to Jordan close at 17:00. Fridays 08:00–15:30. Saturdays closed. The IAA advises arriving about three hours before closing time.
Departing travellers pay NIS 208 at Allenby (NIS 182 with a Palestinian passport) from 15 April to 31 December 2026. Children under two are exempt. Pay online through Milgam, at the Milgam desk for an extra NIS 7, or at a Postal Bank branch. Jordan separately lists a JOD 10 departure tax.
The Jordan Tourism Board says visas cannot be obtained at the bridge, so arrange yours before you travel. Passports must be valid for at least six months. If you want a visa on arrival, the IAA states that the Sheikh Hussein crossing issues Jordanian entry visas at the Jordanian terminal.
The IAA asks passengers to arrive about three hours before the terminal closes, and Palestinian passengers travelling by bus about 2.5 hours before. For a Sunday departure to Jordan, when the hall closes at 17:00, that means reaching the terminal by around 14:00.
No. The IAA states that Israeli citizens may not cross via the Allenby terminal. Israelis can use the Jordan River (Sheikh Hussein) crossing, where the IAA says they must arrange a Jordanian escorting guide in advance and carry a printed hotel booking.
Allenby is about 54 minutes’ drive from Amman and does not issue Jordanian visas. Sheikh Hussein is in the north, issues visas at the Jordanian terminal and has a lower Israeli departure fee (NIS 120 versus NIS 208). Sheikh Hussein also admits Israeli citizens, which Allenby does not.
Egged bus lines 961 and 966 run from Jerusalem and stop on Route 90 near the terminal’s upper gate. From the gate you continue to the terminal by taxi only. To collect an individual passenger, coordinate the pick-up in advance with the IAA pick-up form.
A representative meets you at the terminal entrance, assists with document checks and luggage (up to two bags), arranges the private shuttle across the bridge and escorts you to your driver. It is available at Allenby and Sheikh Hussein from $219 per person. See the full VIP Border Service details.
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