There are various types of residence visas for foreigners who wish to be and live in the country, which are regulated by the Entry into Israel Regulations, 1974.
A foreign worker may not be employed in Israel without the appropriate professional visa. Every company, corporation (and its officers) has a legal obligation to act proactively to ensure that the foreign worker, who is an expert in his field, operates in accordance with the permit issued to him at all relevant sites.
Issuing a visa involves a number of bureaucratic processes. It is important to note that an error in the bureaucratic process may result in the cancellation of the visa application. Therefore, when interested in issuing a professional visa to a foreign worker, one should contact the professional authorities who will handle the matter, expedite the process, and take all the appropriate steps required due to the sensitive nature of the issue, in order to obtain the required professional visa.
Our firm, Shemer-Halevi, Shamir & Co., is a leader in the field of foreign worker law and specializes in legal assistance and advice, starting from the initial stages of the procedure, to the receipt of all types of residence and work visas for foreign workers, which will be detailed below.
Professional information :
Residence visas in Israel consist of two groups:
“Visit” tourist visas – marked with the letter “B “ :
B/1 – Work visa : A time-limited visa granted to foreign workers (who are not eligible under the Law of Return) and allows them to work in Israel and nothing more. This visa is granted to employers in accordance with quotas set by the government and under the required conditions.
Work permit application : The initial application is submitted online on the website of the Immigration and Population Authority in the Permits Unit of the Service Directorate for Foreign Employers and Workers, even before the foreign worker enters Israel. When submitting the application, the employing company is required to provide details about the need for the worker and provide details about his professionalism and field of expertise (with supporting documents to approve the application).
Once the company provides all the required approvals mentioned above, it will receive an approval which will be sent to the Permits Unit, in order to issue a one-year work visa (type B/1). The visa is usually granted for a full year, and can be extended up to a cumulative period of five years. It should be noted that in exceptional cases, the visa can be extended for more than five years.
After receiving approval from the Ministry of the Interior for the employer, the consulate in the worker’s country of origin (closest to the worker’s place of residence) issues the work visa, along with the required documents. It should be noted that if there is no Israeli representation in the foreign worker’s place of origin, it will not be possible for the employer to submit an application.
From the moment the permit is received (the visa becomes valid), the skilled worker will be able to enter Israel . At the moment of entry, he will receive a type B/2 tourist visa in his passport, which must be exchanged at the Ministry of the Interior for a type B/1 work visa that allows the worker to work in Israel. However, it is important to note that it is not possible to arrive in Israel with a tourist visa and only then, in Israel, apply for a work permit. At the time of submitting the application for the work visa at the Ministry of the Interior, a multiple entry and exit visa from Israel must be requested so that the worker can leave and enter Israel without canceling the work visa.
It should be noted that if a work visa was issued for employment in a specific industry, it cannot be used for a field of employment other than that specified in the work permit that was issued. Also, upon expiration of the visa, the worker must immediately leave the country.
B/2 – Tourist visa : This visa is for the purpose of visiting Israel, such as: tourism, business meetings, studying at a Hebrew school, etc. It is issued to most tourists entering Israel and is usually limited to three months. This visa can be extended for an additional period and under certain conditions (exceptional situations of family ties/medical reasons/legal proceedings, etc.). However, the person eligible for this visa is not permitted to work in Israel.
There are tourists from certain countries who can arrive at the airport (or any other border crossing) in Israel and receive a visa upon entering Israel. On the other hand, there are tourists from other countries who must apply for a tourist visa in advance at the Israeli embassy in their country of origin. (The countries whose citizens are exempt from applying for a visa in advance before arriving in Israel are listed in the Entry into Israel Order [Visa Exemption], 5734-1974).
It should be noted that In certain cases, the Border Control Officer has the authority to deny entry to Israel even to citizens of countries that are exempt from applying for a visa. Therefore, if there is any doubt about the possibility of being denied entry, it is recommended to consult a lawyer before booking a flight, in order to avoid an unpleasant situation in which the foreigner is imprisoned immediately upon arrival in Israel and deported back to his country.
B/3 – “Conflicted Entry ” visa: This visa is a permit for a visit to “Conflicted Entry” for a person whose status regarding entry into Israel and residence there is complex and unclear. For example: people who intend to immigrate to Israel, but whose personal situation is not clear enough, or people who wish to regularize their temporary status in Israel due to marriage, etc. This visa is usually limited to a period not exceeding one month.
In addition, the recipient of this type of visa must contact the Immigration and Population Authority office to clarify his status before the end of his stay in Israel.
B/4 – “Volunteer ” visa: This visa is issued to those seeking to volunteer in Israel (as opposed to paid work, which is not permitted under this visa). An organization in Israel may submit such an application on behalf of a foreign resident who wishes to volunteer with it.
B/5 – “Investor ” visa: This visa allows people who wish to invest money in Israel to come to Israel and stay there for a period of time. By virtue of this visa, the person residing in Israel can also allow his children to come to Israel and stay with him (the visa that his children or his spouse will receive is called a B/52 visa).
Our firm, Shemer-Halevi, Shamir & Co., specializes in issuing professional visas for foreign experts and senior managers who are intended to work and live in Israel, on behalf of international and Israeli companies. This is in a variety of fields such as: technology, high-tech, industry, medicine, construction, agriculture, nursing and restaurant management.
The best experts in our offices guide the process and ensure that it is carried out in an orderly, simple and quick manner, which will increase the chances of obtaining professional visa approval as soon as possible, while saving money and unnecessary hassle. We will be happy to assist in all stages of the process.
“Temporary” residence visas – marked with the letter “A “ :
These visas grant the recipient the right to stay in Israel for longer periods. These visas are usually granted to people who wish to immigrate to Israel and are in the process of regularizing their status/reviewing their status or in the citizenship process.
A/1 – Granted to anyone who is eligible to immigrate to Israel by virtue of the Law of Return, 5710-1950. This is a visa granted to an immigrant and allows him to stay in Israel for a certain period in order to review the decision to settle in Israel as an immigrant, until official aliyah. This visa is also granted to people who are eligible to immigrate to Israel, but still wish to settle their affairs in their country before making official aliyah.
A person who receives this type of visa can both work in Israel and benefit from social services (the same status will also be granted to family members, including a wife and minor children).
Holders of this type of visa are allowed to work in Israel and receive full rights from the National Insurance Institute like any regular Israeli resident after a waiting period. They are also allowed to register with the Population Administration to receive a temporary identity card. However, this visa does not require recruitment into the security service. (To find out the length of the waiting period, please refer to the National Insurance Institute’s guide for foreign residents).
The visa is usually granted for up to three years and can be extended for a cumulative period of up to five years.
A/2 – This visa is granted to those who wish to come to Israel for the purpose of studying (at a recognized institution in Israel) in elementary and secondary schools, academic institutions, yeshivahs and youth institutions of the Jewish Agency.
Holders of this type of visa are not permitted to work in Israel, but those eligible for the Law of Return will be permitted to work part-time under certain conditions under this visa. Holders of this visa are entitled to receive full rights from the National Insurance Institute after the waiting period. (To clarify the length of the waiting period, please refer to the National Insurance Institute’s Guide for Foreign Residents).
The visa is usually granted for up to three years (without restrictions on entry and exit from the country) and can be extended for an additional period depending on changing circumstances.
A/3 – This visa is granted to religious figures who come to fulfill a role in a religious institution in Israel, upon invitation from a recognized religious institution in Israel (regardless of religion). After the cleric’s role in the institution ends, the institution will be responsible for his departure from Israel. (A cleric who comes to Israel for visiting purposes and requires an entry visa will receive a regular B/2 type visitor visa.)
A/3 visa is granted for the first time to the clergyman who applies in his country. It is not possible to come to Israel and change the status from tourist (B/2) to an A/3 visa. The inviting institution is required to be present at the immigration office, while submitting the relevant forms. The answer will be received at the Israeli mission in the clergyman’s country of origin.
A/4 – In accordance with A/2 and A/3 visas, this visa is granted to first-degree relatives (spouse or minor child) of a student with a visa (A/2) or of a cleric with a visa (A/3) to come to Israel for a visit.
Holders of a type A/4 visa are not permitted to work in Israel. However, a companion (who is eligible under the Law of Return) will be granted permission to work in Israel, subject to special approval from the Ministry of the Interior, which will be presented on the visa.
A/5 – This visa is a general permit for temporary residence, usually granted to foreigners (who are not eligible for the Law of Return) who are in the process of obtaining citizenship or permanent residency in Israel. This is mainly in cases of marriage to an Israeli citizen, or for humanitarian reasons. In addition, this visa is granted to a person who is in the process of regularizing their status in Israel; i.e., a person who is married to an Israeli citizen and seeks to regularize their status under the Citizenship Law.
Recipients of this type of visa are entitled to receive a temporary identity card. Holders are also granted the right to work in Israel, receive full rights from the National Insurance Institute as any Israeli resident (after a waiting period), and even receive tax benefits.
Additionally, visa holders are not required to enlist in the security service, are not eligible to participate in Knesset elections, but can participate in elections for the local authority where they are registered residents. The visa is usually granted for three years and can be extended each time for up to two years without restriction.
Note : A person residing in Israel on a temporary residence permit described above (except: A/1, A/2, A/5) who wishes to visit abroad and then return to Israel, must obtain a re-entry visa (“Inter Visa”) in advance from the Ministry of the Interior. In the absence of a re-entry visa, the validity of the visa in his possession expires immediately upon his departure from Israel.
Our firm, Shemer-Halevi, Shamir & Co., has extensive contacts with all the authorities and institutions responsible for handling new immigrants and immigrants (such as: the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, the National Insurance Institute, the Tax Authority, and more). We will be happy to assist with all stages of the bureaucratic process from beginning to end.
