Immigration Law Update – Israel, January 11, 1016

    Update to the Average Salary, Government Fees and Permitted Deductions for Foreign Experts in Israel

    We wish to inform you of a new update regarding the average salary in the Israeli economy, as well as updated government fees and permitted salary deductions applicable to foreign experts.

    Average Salary and Double Salary Requirement
    Based on the latest data published by the National Insurance Institute, effective January 1, 2026, the average salary in Israel is: 13,566 ILS (average salary pursuant to Section 1 of the National Insurance Law)Accordingly, the minimum required gross salary for foreign experts employed under work permits exceeding three months is: 27,132 ILS (double the average salary) This double average salary requirement applies only to foreign experts employed in long-term positions and does not apply to other categories of foreign workers, such as industrial workers or employees in designated technological or machinery fields, which are subject to different salary thresholds.

    Updated Government Fees for foreign experts’ category
    The following government fees currently apply:

    • Work permit fee: 1,420 ILS
    • Annual visa fee: 11,525 ILS
    • Multiple entry visa fee: 205 ILS

    Permitted Salary Deductions for Foreign Workers
    Under current regulations, employers may deduct certain expenses from a foreign worker’s salary, subject to statutory ceilings and conditions, for example:

    • Maximum monthly housing deduction amounts (2026):
    • Jerusalem: 508.62 ILS
    • Tel Aviv: 578.36 ILS
    • Central District / Haifa: 385.61 ILS
    • Southern District: 342.80 ILS
    • Northern District: 315.41 ILS

    Where the housing is owned or rented by the employer, the deductible amount is generally limited to 50% of the above ceilings.

    • Employers may deduct a fixed amount for housing-related utilities (such as electricity, water, gas, and municipal charges), currently up to approximately 109.80 ILS per month, subject to regulatory conditions.
    • Medical insurance:
    • The employer may deduct part of the cost of the medical insurance from the employee’s monthly salary, subject to the ceilings set forth in the regulations: For a foreign expert: the deduction may not exceed 147.11 ILS per month (January 2026 cap).

    Please note:

    • Payment Commencement: The salary must be paid from the employee’s first entry into Israel under the B-1 work visa, regardless of the actual work start date.
    • Nature of Salary: The mentioned salary is a gross amount and does not include overtime or expense reimbursements.
    • Allowable Deductions: Fixed deduction amounts are permitted from the employee’s salary as per regulations. These are generally minimal, and consulting an Israeli CPA specializing in immigration law is recommended for specifics.
    • Food and Beverages Deductions: These can only be deducted from the salary with the employee’s prior written consent and must not exceed 10% of the salary.

    All deductions may not exceed 25% of the foreign worker’s salary.

     


     
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