In May 2023, India and Israel agreed to send 42,000 Indian workers to Israel for work, including 34,000 construction workers. While Israel has been experiencing a labor shortage for some time, the situation has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict with Palestine. Israel has revoked the work permits of Palestinians, leading to a labor shortage in Israel.

If you are considering working in Israel, you will be attracted to Israel's productive economy and lucrative business opportunities. However, obtaining the necessary work visas and permits may be challenging unless they possess highly specialized skills.

Types of Work Visas in Israel
The Israeli government offers several types of visas to foreign nationals. The options available are as follows:

Immigration visa
A/1 Temporary Resident Visa
A/2 Student Visa
A/3 Clergy Visa
A/4 visa for spouses and children
B/1 work visa
B/2 Visitor Visa

Foreign workers are required to obtain a B/1 work visa before traveling to Israel. This visa is valid for a period of 30 days. To work in Israel for more than 30 days, employees are also required to obtain a work permit. They can apply for an Israeli work visa and permit at the same time.

Requirements for obtaining Israeli work visas
Exact requirements vary based on the country of residence of the employee. However, foreign workers will be asked for the following basic documents:

A signed employment contract with a company located in Israel
A valid passport
Two passport photos
A criminal background check from the applicant's country of residence, issued within the last year
Proof that the applicant has submitted their fingerprints
Medical certificate stating that the applicant is in good health
Duly completed visa application form
Applicants must also undergo an interview with officials at the consulate in their country of residence.

Application Process
The application process for an Israeli work visa is a collaboration between the employer and the foreign employee. As an employee, you must submit the required documents to the Israeli consulate in their country of residence. At the same time, your employer must submit an application to the Ministry of Interior in Israel.

If you are applying for a work permit and visa, you must submit a preliminary application to the Israeli Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor. Processing usually takes four to eight weeks, after which the ministry makes a recommendation to the Ministry of Industry.

After receiving approval from these branches of the Israeli government, a work permit is issued and the employee can move to Israel and begin working for the employer's company. Israeli work permits are valid for an initial period of one year and must be renewed annually as long as the employee continues to live and work in Israel.

Other important considerations
As an employee, you should be advised that you are legally required to carry their work permit along with their passport at all times whether you are at work or not. Employees working without a visa face stiff fines and penalties, including the possibility of deportation.

Some employees may wish to bring family members with them to Israel, so your company should be aware of the process for doing so. Spouses and dependents must apply for a B/2 visa at the same time the employee is applying for a B/1 visa. The B/2 visa is valid for temporary residence and is usually issued for the duration of the employee's working visa.

You must activate their B/1 work permit through the Israeli Ministry of the Interior within 90 days of your start date. If you fail to do so in time, their permits will be revoked and they will have to reapply, subject to additional fees.

ECR or ECNR Passport:
You can travel to various nations for business, study, or pleasure if you have an Indian passport. The Indian passport serves as evidence of citizenship and, based on your emigration status, will be given an ECR (Emigration Check Required) or ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) status. Your passport may need to be checked for emigration when you travel. You do not need an emigration check when traveling with an ECNR in your passport. All passports issued after 2007 have an ECNR Status by default; if the passport holder needs to clear an emigration check, they will be issued an ECR check.

 Eight Hours A Day Working time.

As agreed upon, that works out to 8.6 hours per day for four days and 7.6 hours on a workday. Employers are required by Israeli labor legislation to provide a minimum of 36 hours of uninterrupted rest every week. Thus, a workweek of six days is permitted.