Frequently Asked Questions Regarding B-2 Visitor Visa
1. What are the categories of visitor's visas available for foreign nationals in Israel?
Israeli law provides for one general type of visitors visa for foreign nationals: The B-2 visa. This visa covers Business travels.
2. What are the allowed activities during the business trip?
The term “business trip” is not specifically defined in Israeli law. Nonetheless, it is clear that if the purpose of the proposed travel to Israel entails productive work of any kind, a work permit must be obtained. This, regardless of the expected duration of the individual’s stay in Israel.
3. How can I know if my proposed visit in Israel is defined as work or business trip?
Because “business trip” is not specifically defined in Israeli law, the proposed activities of some foreign nationals may fall into a “gray area.” Examples include: (1) individuals seeking to participate in R&D groups; (2) install hardware; or (3) provide field service support. In such cases, we recommend that the company first consult with Kan-Tor & Schwartz with regard to appropriate visa options.
4. Do I need to issue a B-2 visa prior to my travel to Israel?
As a rule, nationals of the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and other nations are admitted to Israel without an entry visa. An employee seeking to travel to Israel on business, who is a national of a country not on Israel’s visa waiver list, must obtain an entry visa from the Israeli consulate with jurisdiction over his place of residence.
5. What basic procedure is used to obtain a temporary pre-entry visa?
For business travelers, B-2 procedure normally includes 3 separate bureaucratic steps: (1) Submission of a visa application with the MOI in Israel; (2) Issuance of the B-2 visa at the relevant Israeli consular post abroad, prior to entry into Israel; and (3) Extension of the B-2 visa at the MOI after arrival in Israel, if necessary
6. What conditions or restrictions apply to business visitors?
No employment of any kind is permitted during this period.
7. What is the validity of a temporary visitor visa?
As a rule, nationals of the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and other nations are admitted to Israel without an entry visa for a period of up to 90 days. Extensions of this initial 90 day period may be approved by the MOI for a maximum stay of six months.
Where the visitor is from a non-waiver country, entry visa will be provided for a period of up to 30 days. Extensions of this initial 30 day period may be approved by the MOI for a maximum stay of six months.
8. How long does it typically TPT for a B-2 visitor visa to be issued?
Total processing times for B-1 work petitions typically range between 2-4 weeks.
9. Is special consideration for visas given to persons of certain nationalities?
Generally, no. That having been said, nationals of countries listed by the Israeli government as "Hostile States" are subject to special security clearance procedures which extend the length of the process.
10. I am in the process of processing the 3 month visitor visa at the consulate. My passport will expire in 6 month from Today. Do I need to extend my passport?
To allow a full 3 month visa, your passport must be valid for at least 9 months form the day of initiation of the process.Therefore, in case the passport is valid for less than 9 months, it is required to extend or to issue a new passport.
11. I've been issued with a B-2 visitor visa at the consulate. The visa is valid for 1 month, what does it mean?
This means that you can travel to Israel within 1 month period form the day the visa was issued at the Israeli consulate. Upon entry into Israel, you will obtain new visa. The new visa duration will be decided by the border control officer (normally for up to 30 days). During this period KS will submit a relevant application to the Ministry of Interior to extend your visa for the full duration of your expected business trip in Israel. Work of any kind is not allowed during this period.
12. One of the expected business visitors holds both US and Indian passport (as he is dual national). Indian nationality requires a pre-entry visa to Israel and US nationality doesn't. Is there a requirement for the visitor to apply for a pre-entry visa?
If the visitor will travel to Israel with his waiver list country's passport(countries that aren't required to obtain a pre-entry visa, such as the US), he will not need to apply for a pre-entry visa prior to the travel. Please see the full waiver list countries on KS web site.
13. What type of visa is required for dependents of foreign national in Israel?
Any foreign national must obtain a visa in order to enter to Israel. Nationals of countries included within the pre-entry visa waiver list (US, most European countries ,Japan, Korea, etc.) are not required to be obtained with a pre-entry visa for the purpose of visit or business in Israel. Those nationals normally will be issued with a B-2 visitor visa for 3 months at the airport.
Nevertheless, It is recommended that dependents of foreign nationals will be obtained with a B-2 visitor visa for the full duration of the expat visa in Israel, as well as a multiple entry visa. For visa waiver nationals, the process involves only the Ministry of Interior and usually being processed by our office together with the application for a multiple entry visa for the expat him self .
Traveling out of the country every 3 months (Due to the expiration of the visa) can arise suspicious at the border control which can be resulted in unpleasant results (investigations, denial of entry) that in addition to the inconvenience and the high costs.