Israel is a country with an ever-growing economy, i.e., the best option for work enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to explore various job opportunities. So, if you want to travel to Israel for work purposes, make sure to understand the requirements and eligibility criteria first.
Moreover, it is mandatory to learn several visa types when applying for an Israel work visa for Indian.
The following article will highlight the work visa requirements and the types according to the job market of the target country.
What is an Israel Work Visa for Indian?
An Israeli work visa allows Indians to travel to the destination country for work purposes. The alternate term for a work visa is a B/1 visa.
Usually, Israeli law provides this type of general work permit to foreign nationals to legally enter and work in the target country.
Besides, the first application step of this visa is completed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor (MOITAL). Whereas, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) is involved in the second step.
Validity
You must apply for a B/1 work visa before traveling to Israel, as without it, you cannot work with any employer in the country. In addition, this visa allows you to stay for almost one month (30 days). However, you can extend it in case you want to stay and work for longer.
Furthermore, for longer stays, you are supposed to apply for a work permit as well. You can do this after landing in the destination country or starting the visa application and work permit process at the same time.
How can I be a permanent resident of Israel?
Foreign nationals such as Indians can open an Aliyah file to receive citizenship of Israel. For this purpose, you should submit certain documents including a passport, birth certificate, family status, character certificate, proof of connection to Judaism, etc.
Moreover, make sure to visit the Jewish Agency’s Global Center to start the process. Also, note that with a PR, you can stay and work in the country for as long as you want.
Types of Israel Work Visas
Only one visa type, i.e., B/1 visa for employment purposes, can be used to get a work visa for Israel. However, it is further divided into two sub-categories including,
- expert
- caretaker employment
If you, as an Indian, want to work with an Israeli employer, you must apply for this visa. After that, you can start the work permit application process to continue working in the target country.
Moreover, the subclass ‘expert’ has another name, i.e., Category 1. On the other hand, Category 2 is for caretaker employment.
Furthermore, both these visa categories are valid for up to 30 days. So, make sure to exit your destination before your current visa expires or you can apply for a work permit to continue staying and working in Israel till the duration of your contract.
Processing time
After you submit the application and receive approval from the Ministry of Interior in Israel, it may take at least 3 working weeks to process your B/1 work visa.
On the other hand, the standard processing time for these two categories of B/1 work visas is 10 to 12 working days when done on an urgent basis. The time starts after the application is submitted.
Who Can Apply for a Work Visa?
Anyone, who has a job offer in Israel, can apply for a work visa. Please note that the employer or sponsor along with the applicant is involved in the application process of the work visa and the work permit.
Is it easy to get a job in Israel?
Usually, foreigners have to compete with the locals of the country to get the desired job. So, searching for employment in Israel is rather difficult. Therefore, it is advisable to hunt for the target job before leaving your home country.
Popular job categories under B/1 work visa
You can apply for any of the following popular job categories for Israel when traveling to the country on a B/1 work visa.
- Specialists in the academic fields such as engineers, auditors, senior supervisors, specialized workers, and senior executives in different industries or research and development categories.
- Moreover, the job position of specialists in non-academic fields. This may include welders, equipment installers, carpenters, mechanical installers, and any other job. This category does not need a certificate of education.
- If you have received vocational training or a certificate of higher education, you can stay in Israel as an expert employer (STEP) for almost three months (90 days).
- Furthermore, high-tech and cyber companies may offer you employment while traveling to Israel from India on a high-tech work visa (HIT).
- You can also work in Israel for up to 45 days (SEA). This visa type permits you to enter and work in Israel easily for the specified time. Moreover, you only need a work permit to enter Israel on this visa. After landing in the target country, you can apply for a visa through the Ministry of Interior. Besides, applicants who cannot enter Israel on a visitor visa are only eligible for this visa type.
Required Documents to Apply for an Isreal Work Visa for Indian
Irrespective of the category of work visa you have applied for when traveling to Israel from India, make sure to submit the following standard documents.
Passport
The passport should be valid for almost six months after you leave Israel. Moreover, it must have one blank page to affix the visa stamp.
Older passport
Furthermore, ensure that you submit your older passports to the authorities as well. This may include passports that are expired, canceled, or old.
Proof of identity
In addition, Indian citizens are also required to provide proof of their identity to show that they are legal residents of the country. For this purpose, submit an Aadhaar or PAN card.
B/1 visa application form
Another requirement is to fill out the work visa application form. Make sure that you complete it by providing accurate and detailed information to ace the application process.
Photographs
Furthermore, your work visa application also requires you to submit two passport-size pictures for identity purposes. Therefore, they must have,
- A white color background
- Dimension of 5.5 cm X 5.5 cm
- White or blue background
- Taken from the front
- The mouth must be closed
- Face and shoulders should cover 70-80% of the photo
- Sharp, not blurred
Proof of flight reservation
Traveling to Israel from India also requires you to reserve a seat on a flight. Therefore, you must provide proof of flight reservation. This will show the officials the details about your flight and seat number, airport names, travel dates and times, etc.
Also, it is advisable to choose a trusted travel agency such as RFV Travels to get this document at the best-reduced price.
Proof of accommodation
Submitting proof of accommodation for your stay in Israel will help the embassy know that you have a place to stay in the host country. For this purpose, you can either submit a hotel reservation or a rental contract for an apartment/house.
However, if your trip is sponsored, you are required to attach an invitation letter as proof of your accommodation.
You can get these documents easily from RFV Travels, as we are the leading service providers around the world.
Cover letter
Another document is a well-drafted cover letter that will help the officials learn about your travel plans in detail. For this purpose, you can include information related to the duration of your stay, the intended set of activities, when you will come back to your home country, etc.
Visa payment receipt
You also have to attach your visa payment receipt with the rest of the documents to show that you have paid the specified amount to the officials.
Proof of financial stability
Your stay in Israel during the entire length of your work contract requires you to provide proof that you can support yourself financially. Thus, you can submit documents such as bank statements or salary slips to satisfy this need.
Civil status
Moreover, you have to demonstrate your civil status by submitting documents such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, and death or divorce certificate of the spouse.
Language certificate
Moving to Israel requires you to learn Hebrew or Arabic to fulfill the visa requirements. You can get this document from the relevant authority in your home country.
Work contract
You also need to attach the work offer letter from the Israeli employer, stating your position, salary, and the duration of the contract.
Medical certificate
Moreover, make sure that you submit your medical certificate stating that you do not have any disease such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, or AIDS. Besides, you can also show that the results of blood tests are clear.
Police clearance certificate
Lastly, a police clearance certificate can be used to show that you do not hold any criminal charges against you. You can get it from the local police station of the country of your residence.
Additional Documents Required as per Your Visa Category
Other than the standard documents, the officials may ask you for the following supporting documents as well.
Expert employment
- Letter of invitation from an Israeli employer
- Letter of employment from an Indian employer
- Experience letter or company resignation from the previous job
- Government identification card of parent or spouse
- The identification card of the applicant issued by the government
Caretaker employment
- Letter of recruitment
- Training certificates
- Copy of contract from the employer
Make sure that all the documents are in Hebrew or English language.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for a Work Visa
Make sure to follow the steps mentioned below to apply for an Israel work visa for Indian.
- Before applying for a visa, make sure that your employer has applied for a work permit on your behalf. They can submit the application to the MOITAL.
- After receiving confirmation from the employer, you can fill out the work visa application form by visiting this website.
- Furthermore, collect all the required documents as discussed above.
- Moreover, either through an embassy or consulate in your home country, you are supposed to attend the visa appointment. On the same day, you can answer the interview questions and submit your documents.
- The next step is to pay the application fee for a B/1 work visa.
- Then, wait for the processing time which may take 12 to 14 weeks in rare cases.
- Once you get your work visa, you can travel to the country. However, please note that it is valid for a month only. So, after arriving in Israel, apply for an extension of the visa.
Where Can I Find an Embassy or Consulate of Israel in India?
You can apply for an Israeli work visa through any of the following embassies or consulates of Israel in different countries of India.
Embassy of Israel, New Delhi
| Name | Embassy of Israel, New Delhi |
| Location | New Delhi – 110011, 2, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road |
| Phone | (+91) 11-3041-4561, (+91) 11-3041-4538 , |
| Fax | (+91) 11-3041-4555 |
| Mailing address | consular2@newdelhi.mfa.gov.il |
| Working hours | 08:30 – 15:00 (Monday – Friday) |
Israel Consulate, Mumbai
| Name | Consulate of Israel in Mumbai, India |
| Location | A Wing NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Marathon Futurex, 1301, Mumbai 400013 |
| Phone | (+91) 22-6160-0500 |
| Fax | (+91) 22-6160-0599 |
| info@mumbai.mfa.gov.il | |
| Working hours | 09:00 – 12:30 (Monday – Friday) |
Israel Consulate, Bengaluru
| Name | Consulate of Israel in Bengaluru, India |
| Location | 1&2 Murphy Road, Halasuru, Millenia, Tower A, 8th Floor, Bangalore 560055 |
| Phone | (+91) 80-6793-5320 |
| Fax | (+91) 80-6793-5317 |
| cg-assistant@bangalore.mfa.gov.il | |
| Working hours | 08:30 – 15:00 (Monday – Friday) |
Israel Work Visa Fee for Indians
When applying for an Israel work visa for Indian, you should pay the application cost as well. Besides, this is a mandatory step of the entire application process.
The fee structure for both categories is as follows:
| Visa category | Fee in Euro | Fee in Indian Rupee |
| Expert (category 1) | 41 Euros | 3,806 ₹ |
| Caretaker (category 2) | 56 Euros | 5,236 INR |
Furthermore, if you have applied for a visa through the visa application center, then they may ask you for service charges as well. You can pay the specified amount in cash at any Israeli center in India.
Some of the common service charges are mentioned below:
| Fee type | Charges in INR |
| Optional courtier facility | 575 INR |
| Form-filling facility | 300 Indian Rupee |
| Optional video conference facility | 3,000 ₹ |
| Application pick up from home facility | 3,500 INR |
| Optional SMS service facility | 150 Indian Rupee |
Work Visa Rejection
Your Israeli work visa application can be rejected due to some of the following reasons.
- The first and most important reason for work visa rejection is the lack of proper documents or missing paperwork.
- Secondly, you may have submitted an incorrect work visa application form, which may lead to the visa rejection. Moreover, this step also includes the attachment of all the necessary documents.
- Furthermore, in case your academic qualifications do not match the job role advertised by the Israeli employer, your visa will be rejected instantly.
- Lastly, if you fail to prove your financial stability to the authorities, it may lead to the rejection of your visa application.
FAQs
- What is the length of a B/1 work visa in Israel?
With a single entry, a B/1 work visa in Israel is valid for up to one month (thirty days). However, once you arrive in the target country, you can apply for an extension of its validity through the Ministry of Interior. As a result, they will stamp your passport with a multiple-entry B/1 visa.
Besides, the length or validity of this visa type depends on your purpose of visiting the destination country. But, please note that B/1 visas are usually valid for up to twelve months. You can also extend it for up to one year. Moreover, the total amount of time you can spend in Israel on B-1 work status should not exceed five years and three months.
- Is it possible to change my employer once in Israel?
Considering the terms and conditions of the approved contract, you can only work for that employer who has sponsored your trip. Therefore, it is not possible to change your employer once you land in Israel.
However, in case you want to change your employment, wait till your visa expires or you can apply for a new work visa for Israel.
- How can I extend my B/1 work visa?
After spending a month, you can extend your B/1 work visa. For this purpose, make sure to follow the steps discussed below.
- The first step requires you to submit the extension application for the work permit to the Work Permit Unit.
- Moreover, make sure that you submit this application at least sixty days before the expiry of your current work visa.
- Furthermore, wait for the processing time till the Work Permit Unit approves your application.
- Lastly, submit this extension application for a B/1 visa and passports to MOI (Ministry of Interiors).
Read Also: Indonesia Visa On Arrival for Indians