B1 Visa to Israel — A work visa for experts and highly trained professionals, hi-tech workers, and those with skills that are uncommon in Israel.

The B1 visa provides a solution for companies looking to recruit global talents or expanding their operations into Israel and requiring an on-the-ground foreign workforce presence in the country. It is also suited for those looking to employ specialists with specific expertise across all domains under contracts that need to be executed in Israel.

The visa allows experienced professionals, IT experts, engineers, academics, and more to work or open businesses in Israel smoothly.

The process consists of two stages:

1. Obtaining a work permit.
2. Obtaining a work visa once the work permit has been issued.

Criteria required for the company:

1. Active Israeli/non-Israeli company/international NGO
2. Certificate of incorporation from the country of origin
3. Ability to pay the expert a salary twice exceeding the average market wage (around of 23,460 NIS as for 01.01.24) or employ the expert in position of trust and to cover government fees (around 13,000 NIS as for 01.01.24)

Criteria required for the expert:

1. Academic degree/expertise hard to find in Israel
2. Over 18 years old
3. A citizen of a country with which Israel has diplomatic relations

To apply for an expert visa in Israel, both the employer and the employee must meet the criteria outlined in the instructions. Both the company and the expert must prepare all the required documents for the application process. It’s important to emphasize that the list of necessary documents can vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on the field of expertise of the expert and the category of the employer. Additionally, please be aware that a non-Israeli company must have an Israeli representative in order to submit the application.

First the employer must to obtain the work permit and only than the expert can get an expert work visa.

The process of obtaining an expert visa in Israel comprises two stages:

First Stage — Obtaining the Work Permit: To initiate this stage, all applications must be submitted online through the permit department. It’s important to note that the application should be submitted by the company (employer) or its authorized representative. This application should include documents confirming the legitimacy of the company and the expertise of the individual seeking the visa.

A crucial point to remember is that the expert must remain outside of Israel until the permit department makes a decision on the application. Once the work permit is granted, the process moves on to the second stage.

Second Stage — Issuing the Work Visa: The visa process is overseen by the visas department of the Ministry of Interior. The initial expert work visa will be sent to the Israeli embassy based on the expert’s place of residence. The expert should collect the visa from the embassy before their arrival in Israel. Please be aware that the visa issued at the embassy is valid for only 30 days.

During the embassy visit, the expert will be required to submit a criminal background check from their home country. Once the expert arrives in Israel, the initial visa will be extended for up to one year. At the end of each year, the employer will need to apply for both permit and visa extensions.

This detailed explanation aims to provide a clear understanding of the two-stage process involved in obtaining an expert visa for Israel.

We’re experienced immigration lawyers. We offer advice on visa eligibility and prepare and lodge applications for visa applicants.

We can provide you with professional free initial consultation on:

1. The correct visa application process
2. The requirements for the expert visa type
3. The list of the necessary documents

Our services include:

1. Free zoom consultation of your/ your company’s eligibility to obtain the expert work permit
2. A competitive Fixed Fee proposal with no hidden ‘surprises’
3. Guiding you through the fastest, most economical visa pathway appropriate to your circumstances
4. A easy to follow checklist of information required for your application
5. Preparing your application for submission
6. Lodging your visa application in accordance with legislative requirements
7. Managing the application from start to finish, keeping you updated regularly throughout the visa decision.