Dear Colleagues and Customers,

We would like to bring to your attention a number of important changes to the rules for employment of foreign experts that take effect as of January 2023:

A. Fee Changes:

Fees for work permit applications, visas for entry to Israel, and work licenses have been updated as of January 1, 2023 to the following:

1. Fee for a work permit application for a foreign expert: NIS 1,300
2. B1 working license fee per year: NIS 10,340
3. B1 working license fee per day (relevant for short periods, up to six months): NIS 51.7
4. B1 general fee – NIS 185
5. Multiple entry/exit visa fee: NIS 185

B. Update to Average Salary:

As of January 1, 2023, the average monthly salary for an employee is 11,730 NIS per month. Therefore, beginning with salaries for January 2023, an employer is required to pay a foreign expert, on expert wages, a minimum base salary (i.e., salary before overtime or other additional payments) of NIS 23,460 per month.

C. The Efficiency Plan of the Population and Immigration Authority:

As part of the efficiency plan adopted by the Population and Immigration Authority, a new procedure has entered into force which requires digital entry of applications for entry visas and licenses as well as payment of fees.

In keeping with this new procedure, after a permit to employ a foreign worker is issued, the employer submits the application for an entry visa and work license online.
The application will then be forwarded to the permit unit at the Population and Immigration Authority for examination, and after it is approved, an invitation letter addressed to the relevant Israeli consulate or embassy abroad will be issued.

After the foreign expert enters Israel, he will be issued a digital certificate which he will be required to keep together with his passport. It is no longer necessary to send the passport to our office in order for a visa to be added to the passport.

D. Update Regarding Increased Enforcement:

In accordance with the procedures of the Population and Immigration Authority, fees for a work license for an expert from a country exempt from the requirement to obtain an entry visa prior arrival to Israel and who will be present in Israel for a period of up to 90 days must be paid within two business days of the date the foreign expert arrives in Israel.

We have recently seen several cases in which the Population and Immigration Authority carried out proactive inspections to check if the above requirement had been fulfilled.
In cases where they found that the employer did not pay the fee for the working license, the authority demanded financial guarantees and personal commitments from that company’s CEO that the phenomenon would not recur.

Taking into account the transition to digital payment, we recommend paying the working licenses in advance, as far as and to the extent possible, before the foreign expert’s arrival in Israel.
We will of course continue to update you on further developments.

As always, we are happy to be at your disposal to consult on the topics brought up in this update, as well as on any other subject.

The Labour and Employment Department
Herzog, Fox & Neeman