Key Facts
- Country Name: State of Israel
- Capital: Jerusalem
- Population: 8,541,000 (2016 estimate)
- Language: Hebrew, Arabic
- Time Zone: IST (UTC+2)
- Dialing Code: +972
- Currency: New Shekel (ILS)
This FAQ has been created as an introductory guide to immigration procedures for Israel. Since rules and requirements in every country are constantly changing and each case must be assessed on its own merits, for in-depth and up-to-date advice, please contact us.
Please note, we can only advise on matters relating to immigration and are unable support you with employment in a new region. We do however have a network of trusted partners that can support your move, so please visit Our Partners page for further information.
Israel is becoming a highly developed high-tech industry. The tech industry, service sector, finance and tourism industries offer employment for expats.
The main type of visa for entry into Israel is the B1 Foreign Expert Visa. There are several subcategories for this visa, the two main ones are B1’s for Academic Qualifications and B1’s for Professional Qualifications, and there is also a B1 Short Term Work Visa which can be used for work up to 45 days in a 12 month period known as Short Employment Authorisation or SEA.
Processes and requirements will vary according to the labour market at the time of application, the type of work permit being applied for, the nationality of the applicant, the country of application and personal circumstances of the assignee and any family dependants. We, therefore, recommend that you contact us for up-to-date information.
However obtaining a B1 involves an application to the authorities in Israel, a consular visa application and finally, post arrival, a conversion of the consular visa into a one-year multiple entry visa. For the B1 Short Term Work Visa, the process consists of an application to the authorities in Israel, and work visa application post arrival and is applicable to visa waiver nationals only.
Documentary requirements will vary according to personal and company circumstances and, as such, we would provide case-specific advice following receipt of a completed questionnaire. You will need to submit various documents which include, but are not limited to:
Your original passport, degree certificate and/or CV, passport photos, job description, as well as, marriage certificate and birth certificate for family dependants. The sponsoring and sending companies will also need to provide a number of support documents.
Some personal documents will also need to be legalised prior to submission. Some documents will also need to be translated. Newland Chase can assist with this.
The process typically takes 2 to 4 months until entry to Israel and a further 1 day before the whole process is completed.
The duration of the B1 visa is 2 years maximum. For a B1 Short Term Work Visa, the duration is 45 days.
Nationals from 96 specified countries can enter Israel under the visa exemption arrangement for tourism and business purposes, for short trips and restricted activities. Attention to previous travel across the Middle East should be taken as Israeli border authorities may interview travellers with such visa endorsements within their passports.
Check with Newland Chase before you travel to find out whether you will require additional support prior to entry and whether your travel may be considered work depending on the proposed activities to be undertaken.
Israel promotes settlement for persons with Jewish roots who may be eligible under the Law of Return. For foreign nationals without Jewish heritage, their eligibility will be considered under the Citizenship Law which sets out requirements under Clause 5 for foreign nationals considered ineligible persons initially.
Some supporting documentation will require legalisation, which, depending on the country of origin, may take several weeks.
As such, you would be advised to start the visa application process well in advance of the desired date of relocation. Check with Newland Chase for all up-to-date information on visa requirements and for assistance with ensuring a successful application.