HOW TO GET A WORK VISA TO ISRAEL
Working in Israel on a B-1 work visa is the only legal way for foreigners to find employment in the "promised land" in 2024. Of course, if you do not take into account the presence of Jewish roots, allowing you to obtain Israeli citizenship, or marriage to an Israeli passport holder and moving to the country on this basis. All of these also entitle you to legal employment.
Issues related to the issuance of a work visa to Israel, today more relevant than ever. Over the past few years, the number of those wishing to find a vacancy in Israeli companies has increased markedly. This is not surprising. The standard of living in many countries is deteriorating, while Israel demonstrates steady economic development and stability.
For a general understanding of the attractiveness of employment in Israel, let us give a few examples. The minimum monthly wage for local workers is 5,880.02 shekels (1,595 dollars). The average salary in Israel in 2024 exceeds 3,600 dollars per month. Unemployment in the country is in the neighborhood of 3%. It is true that rental prices are also quite significant.
In Israel, the high-tech sector and medicine is very developed. Major international companies are actively opening offices in the country. Israeli universities are famous not only for quality training programs, but also outstanding scientific developments and research. This creates prerequisites for attracting qualified specialists and scientists to the country.
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Registration of a work visa to Israel
To begin with, we note the fact that to get a work visa to Israel in 2024 is very difficult, and sometimes even impossible. Experienced applicants from third countries note the high rate of refusal of visas and huge difficulties in finding vacancies. Although, officially, the Israeli authorities declare their readiness to provide jobs for foreigners in some sectors. For example, in the social sphere (caregivers), construction, agriculture and industry.
Of the positive sides of the process of labor migration to Israel can be highlighted practically equal conditions for all foreigners. The requirements for a work visa apply to any applicant regardless of the country of origin. For example, unlike the European Union, whose citizens have the right to free employment in any member state of this association.
Moreover, many foreigners can stay in Israel for up to 90 days without prior registration of a visa. This is a significant plus. If there are no problems with border crossing, then for 3 months there are good chances to find an employer, to pass the interview and settle other procedural issues. We warn you right away – do not try to work in Israel without a work visa. In other words, illegally.
Procedure for obtaining a work visa to Israel
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Search for a vacancy in an Israeli company.
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Passing an interview and signing an employment contract.
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Obtaining a work permit in the local and national office of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of Israel. The latter office makes a decision and gives a written recommendation to the Israeli Ministry of Interior on the appropriateness of the visa.
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Sending the application for a work visa to the Israeli branch of the Ministry of Interior (Misrad Hapnim).
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Submitting the list of required documents for a B-1 work visa to the Israeli Consulate in the country of residence (see below).
The issuance of authorization documents, with the active participation of the applicant in the preparation of documents, is handled by the employer. The final decision on issuing work visas to foreigners is made by the local Ministry of Interior, which has full discretion in this matter. The application review process can take from 2 to 4 months.
Initially, employees of the diplomatic department of Israel issue a temporary work visa, valid for 30 days. After moving a foreigner receives a permanent visa for 1 year with the right to extend up to 5 years (plus 3 months). The document is strictly tied to the workplace.
Documents for a work visa to Israel
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Interview and application for a work visa.
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Original and a copy of a passport, the validity of which exceeds the date of expiration of the visa by at least 6 months.
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Two standard size color photographs (5x5 cm).
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Written consent for fingerprinting.
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Certificate of no criminal record.
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Certificate of medical examination (blood test, fluorography, absence of diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis).
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A copy of the employment contract with an Israeli company.
In each specific case, the staff of the Israeli Consulate may require additional documents.
Note. Officially, foreigners are not charged for a B-1 work visa to Israel. The financial costs are borne by the Israeli company at the time of obtaining a work permit and granting the visa application.
Reasons for denial of a work visa to Israel
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Having a criminal record in Israel or any other country.
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Illegal crossing of the Israeli border, residence and illegal labor.
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Health condition does not allow to carry out professional activities or in principle to enter Israel.
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Attempt to forge documents when applying for a work visa.
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Incompetence of the employer who is processing a work permit for a foreigner.
Working in Israel without a work visa
Unfortunately, a huge number of foreigners abuse the possibility of a short-term visa-free visit to Israel and try to use this time for illegal earnings. Many even manage to stay in the country for a long period of time. As they say, "until they are covered".
Moreover, there are other "gray" schemes. For example, Israeli "businessmen" for a certain fee (very substantial) help foreigners to obtain refugee status, while providing a temporary visa that allows them to work in Israel. It should be noted that often applicants receive refugee status quite legally.
Summarize. To work in Israel without a work visa is categorically not recommended. In connection with the large-scale influx of migrant workers, and more frequent attempts to penetrate the Israeli territory for the purpose of illegal earnings, employees of the local Interior Ministry often conduct raids and take tough measures to violators.
Even at the airport, employees of special Israeli agencies very carefully check the documents and the purpose of entry into the country. If something is not to their liking, they "return home". In general, for illegal employment in Israel, local employers are issued huge fines or imprisoned, and applicants are deported and banned from visiting Israel for 10 years. Other states may impose similar entry ban measures.
