Passport
PassportFlash 90

The Knesset's Finance Committee on Sunday morning approved Interior Minister Aryeh Deri's (Shas) proposal to exempt certain passengers from paying for temporary passports.

The exemption would apply to those who submitted a request for a biometric passport and whose flight leaves before October 20, 2017.

Under the exemption, travelers would be able to immediately receive a free non-biometric temporary passport at their local Interior Ministry office. Temporary passports will be valid for a period of one year.

However, those requesting a temporary passport must appear in the Interior Ministry at least two days before their flight in order to be eligible to obtain one.

"This decision was made in order to make things easier for citizens who wish to travel abroad, but did not receive their passport in time," Deri said. "I see no reason why they should pay double."

The new exemption is temporary, and valid until October 3, 2017.

In February, Israel passed a law requiring all new identification to be biometric. In July, the Population and Immigration Authority slashed prices for emergency passports issued at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.