Israel B/1 work visa: how the employer permit and visa work

PIBA grants B/1 visas to foreign workers in industry, welfare (caregiving), construction and agriculture, and a separate B/1 to foreign experts hired for a limited period. Israeli missions add that the work visa route is also used by persons eligible under the Law of Return and by foreign specialists, athletes and performing artists invited to Israel. Applicants must be over 18.

For sector workers the missions state an additional condition: no first-degree relatives living in Israel.

No work visa procedure can start at a mission before the Ministry of Interior has approved the request. The employer – a person, partnership or company – files it in Israel. For experts, a company or licensed business registered in Israel files online with the Experts Division of PIBA's permits department, attaching among other things the expert's CV and diplomas and an explanation of why the expert is needed; a foreign company without an Israeli branch acts through a representative with a notarised power of attorney.

Under PIBA procedure 5.3.0041 a foreign expert can accumulate up to 63 months of work in Israel on a B/1 licence. Short expert assignments of up to 90 days can be covered by ETA-IL for visa-exempt nationals.

After approval the worker submits an entry visa application, a passport valid for two years (three years for caregivers), two identical 5 x 5 cm colour photos, a criminal record certificate no older than six months, translated and certified, a translated and certified birth certificate, results of medical tests from a laboratory or hospital recognised by the mission, and a declaration agreeing to fingerprinting and photographs. Law of Return applicants add a certificate of eligibility from the Jewish Agency or Nativ.

Caregivers also provide the employment contract, a training certificate and confirmation from the local labour ministry that the recruiting agency holds a valid licence; their application is lodged by that agency.

The visa fee is paid by the inviting employer when the request is filed in Israel. If it was not paid there, the mission collects it according to its published fee schedule. Expert permits also carry an application fee in the online system and a licence fee according to PIBA's fee table.

The worker is invited for a personal interview at the Israeli mission in the country of residence and must book an appointment in advance. After arrival, experts obtain the B/1 visa and work licence at a regional PIBA bureau.