IsraelVisa

Work visa for experts in Israel

The work visa for foreign specialists is a permit to enter, live and work in Israel for those whose qualifications an employer cannot find on the local market: senior managers of international companies, university lecturers and researchers, doctors, artists and foreign correspondents. The employment permit is obtained by the Israeli employer through the Population and Immigration Authority, and the visa itself is issued by an Israeli consulate once the authority has approved it.

Source: Population and Immigration Authority of Israel (PIBA), gov.il

Who can obtain the B/1 work visa

The employment permit is applied for by the employer — for a specific category of foreign specialist.

Experts under contract

A specialist with unique qualifications not available on the Israeli labour market, on a basic salary of no less than two average employee salaries in the economy
For occupations requiring higher education, the initial permit is issued to the employer for up to 2 years
For occupations without higher education (for example, the chef of an ethnic restaurant) the permit is issued for up to 1 year and on special conditions

Company managers and representatives

A manager, senior representative or authorised agent of a foreign or international company — no more than two such employees per company
A senior employee of a foreign airline or shipping company
In both categories the permit is issued for up to 2 years at a time

Science, medicine and special categories

A lecturer or researcher at an institution recognised by the Council for Higher Education — a permit for up to 2 years
A trainee doctor or expert doctor at a hospital on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health — no more than 50 permits a year for medical staff other than doctors
A foreign artist of high standing — a permit for up to 1 year, usually for a specific performance of up to 3 months
Diamond cutters and dealers — the application is filed only through the diamond inspector of the Ministry of Economy
A foreign photographer or correspondent — the application is filed only through the Government Press Office

What it costs

Application fee (experts other than chefs)	1 420 ILS
Application fee (expert chefs)	1 060 ILS

Documents to gather

The employer attaches original documents certified by a lawyer or an accountant.

CV, diplomas and certificates on the specialist's education, experience, standing and qualifications; documents not in Hebrew or English are translated and notarised
Power of attorney for the applicant if the employer is a foreign company with no representation in Israel
An accountant's opinion confirming that the local employer company is active and does not have the status of an inactive legal entity
Copy of Form 102 filed with the National Insurance Institute for Israeli employees for the past three months
A letter setting out the need to hire a foreign specialist, with supporting documents
The expert's passport, valid for at least a year, and a copy of it — for issuing the visa and the residence licence
On renewal of the permit — an accountant's confirmation (appendix C) that the expert salary has been paid over the past 12 months

How the process runs

First the employer obtains the employment permit, then the expert obtains the visa itself and enters the country.

1
The employer files the permit application
An Israeli company (or a foreign company through an authorised representative) files an online application with the Permits Department of the Population and Immigration Authority, with documents on the specialist's qualifications and the justification of the need, and pays the fee.
2
The authority considers the application
a decision is usually taken within 30 working days of receipt of the full set of documents
If any documents are missing, the applicant has 21 working days to supply them; where an opinion from other bodies is required, time starts to run again from the moment that opinion is received.
3
The expert applies for the visa and the residence licence
With a copy of the employer's permit, the expert applies to a regional office of the authority or to an Israeli consulate abroad, submits a copy of the passport (valid for at least a year) and pays the annual fee and the licence fee.
4
Entry into Israel and issue of the work licence
The expert enters Israel only through Ben Gurion airport and receives the visa with residence and work status for the period stated in the permit.

Timelines and rights

Work

The stay is approved for a limited period specifically for work. The employment permit is requested by the employer — an Israeli company, or a foreign company through an authorised representative in Israel; the visa is issued only with the approval of the Population and Immigration Authority.

Who you can bring with you

Family members are not allowed to accompany the expert in every category; it depends on the type of permit the expert holds.

Spouse of an expert on an expert salary in an occupation requiring higher education

Receives a B/2 tourist visa for the period of the expert's licence; for the spouses of experts at hi-tech companies a separate procedure allows B/1 work status to be obtained

Minor children of the expert (under 18)

Receive the same type of visa as the spouse, or an A/2 visa, for the period of the expert's licence

Families of company managers and representatives, lecturers and researchers, doctors, artists, diamond dealers, photographers and correspondents

As a general rule, accompanying family members are allowed

Families of experts who have come for an urgent assignment of up to 90 days

As a general rule, accompanying family members are not allowed, except in individual cases decided by an official of the authority

Renewal and the grace period

The employer's permit and the expert's work licence may be renewed; the renewal application is filed no later than 60 days before the current period ends. The total period of stay on this visa cannot exceed 63 months from the day the expert first entered Israel. An extension beyond 63 months is possible only in special cases — by decision of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Economy in agreement with the Minister of Finance; the special request is filed no later than 6 months before the current licence expires.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation is applied for by holders of permanent residence.

Frequently asked questions about Work visa for experts

Who can obtain a B/1 work visa in Israel?

The visa is available to foreign specialists hired by an Israeli employer: experts with unique qualifications, senior managers and authorised representatives of international companies, university lecturers and researchers, hospital doctors and artists of high standing, as well as diamond dealers and foreign correspondents — under separate procedures of the same authority.

How much does the B/1 work visa cost?

The fee for considering the employer's application is 1,420 shekels for experts other than chefs and 1,060 shekels for expert chefs; payment is made at the end of the online application.

What is the minimum salary for a foreign expert?

For the category of expert on an expert salary, the basic salary must be no lower than two average employee salaries in the Israeli economy, which the National Insurance Institute publishes each January; for certain occupations the authority may require a higher salary.

For how long is the B/1 work visa issued and can it be renewed?

The initial permit to the employer is valid for up to 2 years for occupations requiring higher education (up to 1 year without it); it can be renewed, but the total period of the expert's stay on this visa does not exceed 63 months from the day of first entry. The renewal application is filed no later than 60 days before the current period ends.

Can the expert's family come with them?

For most categories, yes: the spouse receives a B/2 tourist visa, and minor children the same visa or an A/2 visa, for the period of the expert's licence. For experts invited for an urgent assignment of up to 90 days, accompanying family members are not allowed as a general rule.

How does this visa differ from the 45-day permit?

This procedure does not apply to foreign experts invited to Israel for up to 45 days a year who hold a passport of a country exempt from the tourist visa — a separate fast-track procedure, 5.3.0040 of the same authority, applies to them.

Other ways to move to Israel

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Israel.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.