Visas for Foreign High-Tech Experts Incentive Program, Israel

As part of the efforts to contend with the shortage of skilled high-tech personnel in Israel, starting 2018 the Innovation Authority together with the State Population and Immigration Authority launched a specially designated visa program for foreign high-tech experts.

Goal of the experts' visa incentive program: to alleviate the bureaucratic process involved in bringing a foreign expert from abroad for high-tech companies in Israel.

Who is the incentive program for?

• High-tech companies seeking skilled personnel in various fields.

Foreign high-tech experts receive:

• A work visa for up to 1 year, with the option to extend it each year for up to 5 years.
• A work visa for the expert’s spouse upon receipt of the foreign expert visa.
• An expedited processing of the request (6-10 business days).

Criteria for receiving a visa:

In order to process a visa request, the expert must meet the following criteria:

• The foreign expert must be a citizen of one of the countries that are exempt from the requirement to issue a tourist visa to Israel.
• The expert’s salary will be at least double the average wage in Israel.
• The company submitting the request is a high-tech company authorized by the Innovation Authority.

More information about programs that support innovation, here: https://innovationisrael.org.il/en/page/programs?term_node_tid_depth=All&tid_1=All&persona=All&field_division_target_id=All&page=3