Dear Clients,
As part of its efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), on March 18, 2020 Israel issued a blanket ban on the entry to the country of foreign nationals who are neither citizens nor residents of Israel. Entry is not permitted even if the foreign national has a pre-arranged place for self-quarantine. This blanket ban does not include foreign nationals whose lives are centered in Israel such as spouses and children of Israeli citizens.
On March 31, 2020 the Population and Immigration Authority announced that B-1 work visas for foreign experts, nursing care professionals, agricultural workers and chefs, which have or will expire between March 10, 2020 and May 10, 2020, will be automatically extended for a period of two months from the expiration of the original visa. B-1 foreign workers covered by this rule will not be required to file an application or pay a fee.
Notwithstanding the ban on entry of foreign nationals, the Government issued emergency guidelines for the limited admission of foreign technicians to Israel. Foreign technicians will be permitted to enter Israel in two situations: (1) repairing equipment in an essential enterprise; and (2) repairing equipment in a medical facility.
The Population and Immigration Authority has set up a COVID-19 hotline for foreign workers in Israel. The hotline number is 1-700-707-889. It will operate 08:00-16:00, Sunday-Thursday.
Our Corporate Immigration practice remains at your service throughout the current crisis to address questions or issues relating to Israeli immigration law.
About the Corporate Immigration Practice
The Corporate Immigration practice provides guidance and assistance to a broad range of foreign and domestic business clients. Our work in the Israeli corporate immigration field focuses on B-1 Foreign Experts, 90 day short-term expert visa, the 45-day expedited work visa, the B-1 High Tech/Cyber work visa and the B-5 investor visa for American citizens.