This guide was written prior to the 2026 conflict between the US, Israel and Iran and related hostilities. Non-essential travel to Israel is not advisable due to the risks related to military action in the broader Middle East area. Please consult official government travel advisories and exercise extreme caution before considering travel to the region.
Foreign nationals moving to the country for work must obtain a work permit for Israel and an appropriate entry visa before arriving. The B/1 visa category is the main work permit in Israel, and the process is employer-driven – your sponsoring company handles much of the heavy lifting on your behalf.
Applying for a B/1 work permit for Israel
Applying for a B/1 work permit for Israel starts with a concrete job offer and supporting evidence such as an employment contract, proof of financial support, and other required documentation. There are four steps to getting a B/1 visa:
- Submitting an initial work permit application to the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), which operates under the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
- Filing a subsequent visa application with the MOI
- Issuing of a short-term B/1 visa, before entry into Israel
- Extension of the B/1 visa at the MOI after arrival in Israel, and being granted a multiple-entry visa for the entire B/1 approval period
In particular cases, you may also be regarded as an ‘Approved Specialist’, enjoying substantial tax benefits, including a reduced maximum income tax rate for an initial period with the possibility of extension.
Work permit application
An Israeli employer (or a well-known global/foreign company) must be the official sponsor of a work permit application. There is no provision for a traditional self-employment work permit in Israel, although alternatives include the Innovation Visa (also known as the Start-Up Visa) for foreign entrepreneurs and the Expert Visa for foreign specialists.
A work permit application must contain a detailed description of the job offered and provide all the information relating to the prospective employee, including educational background, professional experience and proposed salary in Israel. Processing times for work permit applications are typically four to eight weeks, although the total end-to-end process – from initial submission to being cleared to work – usually runs closer to 12 to 14 weeks.
If the application is approved, the relevant PIBA branch will submit a B/1 recommendation letter to the head office.
Upon receiving the recommendation letter, you must file a subsequent B/1 visa application at the Israeli consulate in your country of residence. You may be required to tender medical certificates and criminal background checks.
After a processing period of two to four weeks, you will be issued a single-entry B/1 visa that is valid for 30 days.
Visa extension
Following entry into Israel, you must apply for an extended B/1 visa, which is valid for up to one year and allows for multiple entries into Israel. B/1 work visas are now issued electronically upon arrival, although it’s wise to keep a physical copy for ease of travel.
Any departure from Israel before the extended visa is provided will invalidate your 30-day B/1 visa. You will then need to repeat the consular application step, applying again through the Israeli consulate in your home country.
B/1 visas can be renewed after their initial period. Bear in mind that B/1 work permits are tied to a specific employer – changing jobs in Israel means your new employer must apply for a fresh work permit. The maximum cumulative stay in B/1 status is five years and three months.
Useful links
- Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Work Visa Application
- Population and Immigration Authority: Information for Foreign Workers
Applying for a B/1 STEP work permit for Israel
The B/1 STEP (Short-Term Expedited Process) work permit for Israel is a special type of B/1 visa for foreign workers entering the country for up to 90 days to perform specialist work. The chief advantage of the STEP route is speed – approvals can come through in as little as one to two weeks, and applicants are exempt from the standard prevailing wage requirement (double the average Israeli salary) that applies to longer-term B/1 expert visas. STEP workers must still be paid at least Israel’s national minimum wage.
The B/1 STEP visa cannot be extended beyond its 90-day duration. If you need to stay longer, you will need to leave Israel and apply for a standard B/1 work permit through the full process. The visa also does not cover dependents – spouses and children cannot be included under this track.
Both foreign and Israeli companies can sponsor a foreign national under the STEP process. To qualify, you must possess unique knowledge and expertise relevant to your proposed work activities, and the sponsoring company must demonstrate why your specific skills are needed. The application follows a similar path to the standard B/1 – a work permit application to PIBA’s Work Permit Unit, followed by consular visa processing – but the timeline is significantly shorter.