Work Visas for Foreign Experts – Up to 3 Months

Work Visas for Foreign Experts – Up to 3 Months

Foreign Expert Procedure 5.3.0041 allows for the short-term employment (up to 3 months) of a foreign academic expert with a unique expertise that cannot be found in Israel. The procedure for issuing such a work permit is the same as it is for the one-year procedure, including the duration of the process, which is about 6-8 weeks.

This work permit is intended for companies which require foreign experts being in Israel for a relatively short amount of time. However, the extension of such a permit is only permissible in exceptional cases. If the foreign expert’s period of employment is expected to exceed three months, we recommend applying for a longer work permit than the 3-month permit.

It should be noted that this work permit is issued for specific arrival dates, with the foreign expert also having to visit the Israeli consulate before arriving in Israel. Therefore, in practice the foreign expert will stay in Israel for a period of less than three months, depending on the consulate’s schedule, and on whether or not the foreign expert has collected all the required documents in advance.

It is important to note that a significant difference between the visas of different durations is the salary  that must be paid to a foreign expert during his employment in Israel. While a foreign expert employed in Israel for more than three months must be paid the same salary as double the average Israeli salary, ie NIS 20,278 per month (as of 2021), a foreign expert employed in Israel for a period of up to three months must be paid only Israel’s minimum wage.

Employment of foreign experts requires the employer to have type B/1 work permits issued, as well as matching work visas. This entails a long bureaucratic procedure which consists of several stages. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for a company to receive such visas, with significant consideration given to which company is submitting the applications, the documents submitted by the company, and the information submitted regarding the need for the foreign experts in Israel. Applications which are submitted without all of the required documentation and/or details attached may be delayed or even rejected.

The steps in the procedure for obtaining a foreign expert work permit and visa:

Step 1: Submitting an application for a work permit in the Population, Immigration and Border Crossing Authority’s Work Permits Unit in Jerusalem.

Step 2: Submitting an application for a B/1 work visa and entry visa to Israel at the Ministry of the Interior, and sending the authorization to the Israeli consulate abroad.

Step 3: Issuing a work permit at the Israeli consulate of the foreign expert’s country of origin (usually, a B/1 work permit is for one month only).

Step 4: Extending the work permit’s validity to the desired duration upon the foreign expert’s arrival in Israel’s airport, and applying for a multi-entry visa at the Ministry of Interior. 

The steps above relate to the standard and orderly procedure- however, depending on different circumstances and evolving policies, the steps in the process may be shortened or lengthened, and at each stage a requirement for additional documents, reports and relevant information for the Authority may be received. In addition, most of the procedures involve the payment of government fees.

Please note: It is possible that for foreign experts without a higher academic education, the company will be required to deposit a bank guarantee in the amount of 20,000 NIS per employee.

Please note:

Working in Israel without a valid work visa is a legal violation which may result in severe penalties, including: substantial fines (more than 5,000 NIS per business day), the arrest and deportation of the foreign expert (which may result in the possible impairment of the foreign expert’s ability to be employed in other countries), and even criminal proceedings against company executives in Israel and abroad.

Referring to a law firm that specializes in Israeli commercial immigration law (and specifically in the immigration of foreign experts) will allow the visa applicant to be issued a work visa quickly and professionally, and will significantly increase the chances of obtaining desired results.

Are you interested in employing foreign experts in Israel? Contact us today, and we will be happy to assist you in obtaining the necessary permits and visas!