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Change Place Ltd. provides currency exchange and VAT refund services for tourists, as well as other financial  services, at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and at other border terminals and branches across the country.

Here, you can

        ·            Order foreign currency for your trip abroad

        ·            Get information concerning VAT refunds for tourists

        ·            Learn about Change Place Ltd.’s services at the company’s branches throughout Israel and at border terminals.

About Change Place Ltd.

Founded in 1996, Change Place Ltd. deals with foreign currency services and VAT refunds for tourists in Israel and offers other financial services for tourists and travelers.

The company is a registered company and licensed by the Israel Finance Ministry.

Change Place Ltd. provides currency exchange services for a wide variety of currencies, most of which are available in Israel by Change Place Ltd. only. Currencies can be exchanged from New Israeli Shekel directly to the currency of your choice.

The company is licensed exclusively to operate the VAT refunds system, for goods purchased in shops that are VAT registered.

Change Place Ltd. services are also available at all terminals for passengers traveling to Jordan or Egypt. Services include foreign currency exchange, VAT refunds, toll payment and purchase of insurance policies for passengers and vehicles.

Currency exchange

Change Place Ltd. provides currency exchange services for a wide variety of currencies, most of which are available in Israel by Change Place Ltd. only. Currencies can be exchanged from New Israeli Shekel directly to the currency of your choice.

Change Place Ltd. is a registered company and licensed by the Israel Finance Ministry.

Currency exchange is also possible if you wish to use credit cards for the transaction.

Currency exchange at Ben Gurion Airport:

Since 1997, Change Place Ltd. provides currency exchange services at Ben Gurion Airport and at the new Terminal 3.

Four Change Place counters are located at Ben Gurion Airport terminal: at the public check-in lounge (‘SHCHAKIM’ lounge), Duty Free lounge, arrival lounge and reception lounge. All Change Place counters are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

At Change Place counters, you will find a wide variety of currencies available for every destination.

For a full list of currencies click here.

Foreign currency reservation

Change Place enables you to order foreign currency prior to your flight and pick it up on the day of your departure at any Change Place counter at the terminal, at any time, 24 hours a day.

Currency exchange orders may be placed by phone, fax or online, using the Internet, 24 hours a day, any day of the week.

For foreign currency orders call 1-700-509-700 or send a fax to 03-9757033.

To order foreign currency online, click here.

VAT refunds for tourists:

Change Place Ltd. is licensed exclusively to operate the VAT refunds system, for goods purchased in shops that are VAT registered.

Refund services are available at Ben Gurion, Ovda and Eilat airports, at border crossings and at all Israeli ports.

For more information about the VAT refund process click here.

VAT refunds for tourists

Since 1998, Change Place Ltd. is the sole provider for tourist VAT refunds services in Israel, working in cooperation with customs and VAT authorities and the Ministry of Tourism, in accordance with regulations especially issued for this purpose.

Services enable tourists to receive the VAT refunds when they purchase goods in VAT-registered shops throughout Israel. VAT Refund procedure is simple, safe and reliable.

VAT refunds are dealt with at Change Place counters at airports, border crossings and ports. You can choose one of the following options for your refunds: cash, credit refund to your credit card account, a check mailed to your home address or transfer to your bank account.

The procedure is secure and controlled by the company at all stages.

It is the company’s aim to encourage more shops in Israel to join their existing list of VAT-registered enterprises.

For information about joining the arrangement click here.

VAT refunds for tourists – Instructions

1. VAT refunds are allocated to tourists who do not have Israeli citizenship and who have stayed in Israel on a transit visa or visitor’s visa (visas of type  B2, B3 or B4) that has been stamped in their passport or on an AL-17 form, which needs to be presented together with the refund claim.
2. VAT refunds are paid for the purchase of goods acquired in shops that are part of the VAT refund arrangement. Minimal purchase $100 per invoice, including VAT calculated according to the rate published by the Bank of Israel at the day of purchase.
3. The owner of a VAT-registered shop within this arrangement and his or her employees must inform the tourist of this arrangement.
4. Refunds will be given for the purchase of goods for personal use only, in a quantity that has not been determined as commercial quantity, provided the goods will be taken out of the country.
5. Goods entitled for VAT refunds do not include tobacco products, food and drinks, with the exception of wine purchased at wineries and wine dealers that have been approved for the VAT refund arrangement.
6. Refunds will be paid upon presentation of the goods, a refund claim form and the original invoice of the purchased goods.
7. The invoice must state a description of the goods and must match the goods presented.
8. VAT refunds will be paid against the refund form and the invoice, providing they were issued later than the date of the tourist’s last visa to enter Israel.
9. Goods intended to sent be with the tourist’s luggage at Ben Gurion Airport, will be checked and approved before luggage can be stored in the aircraft. The VAT  refund application (application form, invoice, and the goods) will be checked at Change Place counters either at “Buy & Bye” lounge or on the middle floor of the Check-in lounge and the actual refund payment will be dealt with at the Change Place counter located in the Departure lounge.(Duty-Free Lounge)

What you need to know about VAT Refund

Financial services at border crossings

Change Place Ltd. services are also available at all terminals for passengers traveling to Jordan or Egypt. Services include foreign currency exchange, VAT refunds, toll payment and purchase of insurance policies for passengers and vehicles.

For the list of Change Place branches and service counters at border crossing terminals click here.

List of Change Place counters:

Ben Gurion Airport – Terminal 3:

Service counters: Tel. 03-975 7030

VAT refund to tourists: Tel. 03-975 4030

Foreign currency orders: Tel. 1-700-509-700

Jerusalem, 44 Jaffa St., Tel. 02-622 2631

Jerusalem, 2 Ben Yehuda St., Tel. 02-524 6385

Haifa Port, Departures’ lounge

Hussein Bridge crossing (Jordan River), 
     Tel. 04-606 0368

Allenby Bridge, Tel. 02-940 9416

Rabin Crossing (Arava Terminal),
      Tel. 08-637 7897

Taba Crossing , Tel. 08-634 0502

Rafiach (Raffa) Crossing, Tel. 08-673 4205

Karni Crossing, Tel. 08-674 8438

Frequently asked questions:

1. Is it possible to get VAT refunds for everything I have purchased in Israel?

According to the VAT refund regulations, a tourist will only receive VAT refunds for the purchase of goods which have been personally bought by him or by her, for personal use and at a quantity that is not determined as commercial. Goods need to be purchased in VAT-registered shops participating in the VAT refund arrangement. Refunded goods do not include food, drinks and tobacco, but they do include wine that has been purchased at licensed businesses (see above). Minimal purchase amount per invoice should exceed 100$. As you will only be given refunds for goods that you yourself will take out of the country, you must present the goods at the Change Place counter prior to leaving the country. The VAT refund arrangement includes goods only and does not apply to general services or tourist services such as hotel accommodation, car rental, entrance fee to tourism sites, etc.

2. How is the VAT refund processed?

VAT refunds are paid in NIS, US Dollar or in the currency with which the goods where purchased. Refund can be done at Change Place counters either by credit to your credit card, by check mailed to your home address or by transfer to your bank account. You should therefore verify that all details are written clearly and accurately on the VAT refund claim form, including your full mailing address, type and number of your credit card and its expiry date.

3. How do I know if a business is part of the VAT refund arrangement?

Look for the ‘TAX REFUND’ logo on the shop window or near the cash till.

When you purchase goods in such a shop, it must provide you with a VAT refund claim form with the 'Change Place TAX REFUND' logo. You will only be given a refund upon if you present this form, an invoice and the goods themselves.

4. Why do you recommend that I change currency at the airport?

Change Place exclusively supplies all currencies of the countries that are registered as destinations for flights leaving the airport. Therefore, you can have your NIS directly converted to your chosen currency, thus saving time and hassle. style='mso-special-character:line-break'

5. Why should I order foreign currency before my trip abroad?

When you order foreign currency before you leave for your trip abroad, you will benefit from a reduced exchange rate which differs from the regular exchange rate at airports. You will also save time when you pick up the currency you ordered at the Change Place special pre-order counter.

6. Should I pay for the foreign currency in US Dollar or in Euro?

To save costs, we recommend that you convert NIS directly to the currency of your destination. You can pay for your foreign currency in cash or by credit card. Change Place also agrees to payment in installments and honors all credit cards accepted in Israel.

Change Place has agreements with all the credit cards companies, which will offer you discounts and gifts from time to time as part of their special deals. We recommend that you ask for information about these before your departure at Change Place counters at airports and border crossings.