IMPACT – HIGH

Applicants for Israeli work permits will no longer need a “necessity confirmation” from the government of Israel in order to apply for a work permit.

Key Points:

  • The requirement for a “necessity confirmation” will be dropped to expedite work permits to foreign experts. ”Necessity confirmation” is a letter from the employer informing the government why there is an urgent and essential need for the entry of the foreign expert to Israel.
  • Foreign experts who arrive from a “red location” country for seven days or less will still have to meet the requirement.
  • Foreign experts with approved entry who are entering Israel from a “red location” country must self-isolate for 14 days. Those from “green location” countries do not have to self-isolate.
  • Self-isolation health forms need to be sent via email to the Ministry of Health prior to the arrival of the expert to the Israeli border control. Foreign experts from both “red” and “green location” countries need pre-authorization from the Immigration and Population Authority in order to board their flight to Israel.
  • In exceptional cases, a foreign expert from a “red location” country may be given special permission to leave self-isolation after entering Israel for the purpose of carrying out vital and essential work for the Israeli economy. This permission must be granted by the relevant government ministry and is limited to seven days.

Background: The “necessity confirmation” requirement was put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to limit infections.

Analysis & Comments: The change in requirements should make obtaining a work permit faster. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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