Types of Work Visas in Israel and Project Execution Challenges in Light of Bureaucracy and the Security Situation – The Iron Swords War

Types of Work Visas in Israel:

1. B/1 Work Visa:
   This visa is issued to foreign workers intended for temporary work in sectors such as agriculture, construction, caregiving, industry, and services. A professional opinion from the Ministry of Economy is required.
2. Foreign Expert Visa:
   Designed for workers with unique expertise that is unavailable or scarce in Israel. The visa includes restrictions on the duration of stay (up to 63 months) and a minimum base salary (before overtime) set at double the national average wage, amounting to 26,306 ILS.
3. Hi-Tech Visa:
   Part of a special track aimed at facilitating the employment of foreign experts in the high-tech industry. This visa also includes restrictions on the duration of stay (up to 63 months) and a minimum base salary (before overtime) set at double the national average wage, amounting to 26,306 ILS.
4. Industrial Sector Work Visa:
   Granted based on a quota system. Often, quotas are opened for submitting work permit applications in the industrial sector for only a few days. These openings are not well-publicized, and most factories and industrialists are unaware of this option.
5. Seaman Visa:
   Intended for workers in the maritime industry, usually for temporary border crossings.
6. Special Permits:
   Granted in exceptional cases according to government and security needs, including national and regional projects.

Challenges in Project Execution in Israel:

1. Complex Bureaucracy:
   The process of obtaining work visas in Israel involves dealing with numerous bureaucratic regulatory requirements, approvals from multiple government agencies, and stringent security checks.
2. Changing Regulations:
   Laws and regulations change rapidly, often without proper public notification or with only brief announcements on government websites. Additionally, the procedures of the Population and Immigration Authority frequently change without prior notice.
3. Impact of the Security Situation:
   Wars, especially the Iron Swords War—the longest in Israel’s history—along with security emergencies, cause significant project delays, logistical issues, including the suspension of flights to Israel.
4. Manpower Challenges:
   Israel faces a severe shortage of hundreds of thousands of workers in various sectors, including construction, industry, and infrastructure. The lack of local workers in these fields, combined with difficulties and restrictions in employing foreign experts, creates challenges in recruiting skilled labor, significantly increases costs, and leads to project delays or cancellations.
5. Coordination Between Authorities:
   The need for coordination between different government bodies, such as the Population and Immigration Authority, the Ministry of Economy, and other ministries, causes delays and often results in a lack of clarity in the processes of issuing permits and work visas for foreign workers and experts.

Conclusion:

Proper management of the work visa application process for foreign experts and workers, alongside a deep understanding of the bureaucratic and security complexities, is key to the successful execution of projects in Israel.

At Iftach Hanan & Co. Law Firm, we specialize in obtaining permits and work visas for foreign experts. Our expertise will assist in striving for excellence, achieving project goals, and efficiently and swiftly issuing permits and work visas.