Visa for Israel

The general rule is that everyone needs an entry visa for Israel. However, Israel has mutual exemption agreements with many countries, according to which tourists and visitors from those countries do not require a visa to enter Israel. A foreign citizen requesting to enter the State of Israel must have an entry visa according to the Entry into Israel Law. A foreign citizen requesting to work in Israel must have appropriate entry and work visas (except for legal exceptions).

Entering Israel with a legal and valid visa is significant and of great importance in subsequent Interior Ministry procedures, in cases where one wishes to later receive a residence visa or permanent residency permit in the country.

Who needs a visa for the State of Israel? Answering the question of who needs a visa for the State of Israel involves answering additional questions regarding the nature of entry into Israel and the purposes of arrival, such as:

• What is the reason for arrival?
• How long do you intend to stay in Israel?
• Are you coming for tourism? Living? Work?

The general rule is that everyone needs an entry visa for Israel. However, Israel has mutual exemption agreements with many countries, according to which tourists and visitors from those countries do not require a visa to enter Israel. Nevertheless, even citizens from visa-exempt countries who stay in Israel for more than 90 days will need a visa. Visas are classified according to the purpose and nature of the stay, and they are determined by the Entry into Israel Law.

Aliyah Visa – The Law of Return states that every Jew is entitled to immigrate to Israel. However, in order to realize this eligibility, every Jew who wants to immigrate and live in the country for more than three months also needs a visa for Israel.

Temporary Resident Visa – A/1 visa given to a new immigrant after immigrating to the country and before receiving citizenship.

Student Visa A/2 – Visa for those wishing to enter Israel for study purposes in high school, yeshiva, university, other academic institutions, and Jewish Agency institutions.

Clergy Visa – Visa granted to a clergy member to fulfill their role in the country, in accordance with an invitation from a recognized religious institution.

Temporary Resident Visa for Spouse – Residence visas for spouses of recipients of the visas described above.

Work Visa B/1 – Work visa granted to foreign workers (“a worker who is not a citizen or resident of the State of Israel”, as defined), including experts and artists, for a limited stay for work purposes in Israel; or for foreign spouses of Israeli citizens.

Visit Visa B/2 – Visit visa for up to three months not for work purposes, for visitors from countries that do not have visa exemptions for Israel.

A B1 visa is a work visa in Israel, which grants the holder a residence permit with a temporary work permit in Israel. In fact, this visa is given to various applicants: for example, to those eligible under the Law of Return, or to foreign spouses residing in Israel and waiting for a permanent decision on their case. However, the main population eligible to receive a B1 visa for Israel is the foreign worker population.

A foreign worker in the fields of nursing, construction, restaurants, agriculture, industry, as well as an expert worker in the high-tech field and so on, who wishes to work in Israel, can only enter the country with a B1 visa. They cannot come to the country with a regular tourist visa and then request a work permit, as this request will not be accepted.

A B/2 or B/2 visa for Israel is a tourist visa, the simplest and most common visa for entry into Israel. This visa is given to those who wish to enter Israel for visiting purposes and is limited to a period of three months. However, sometimes this visa can be extended for up to two years depending on the circumstances.

The process of applying for a visa to Israel goes through several stages, and sometimes includes a consular process, various document submission procedures, and more. Our role at Zari Hazan & Co. Law Office is to ensure the best possible outcome in your case. The unique circumstances of each foreign citizen upon arrival in Israel and in applying for a visa to Israel are different from case to case, and require extensive knowledge of Interior Ministry procedures as well as individual in-depth examination of each case’s circumstances in order to assist in the most correct and efficient manner.

Our office has experience with many different cases, and long-standing expertise in handling the issuance of appropriate visas at the Ministry of Interior, at its various bureaus throughout the country.

Our office specializes in the laws of entry and stay in Israel, and in all types of different visas, and knows how to match each foreign citizen with the right visa for them and handle their case thoroughly, from beginning to end, while providing personal attention and consideration to the different circumstances of each individual.

Our office has experience with many different cases, and long-standing expertise in handling the issuance of appropriate visas at the Ministry of Interior, at its various bureaus throughout the country.

We will accompany you and assist you with every request, procedure, and meeting with the Ministry of Interior and the Population and Immigration Authority, whether you are in the country or abroad, and ensure that the process is legal, correct, and as efficient as possible.