Israel business visa application, requirements, price, and processing time

An Israel business visa is granted to business visitors to Israel for business purposes. This visa is a short visit visa with a brief validity period. If you are looking to invest in Israel, have an upcoming business conference, or want to visit suppliers or partners, this is the visa to apply for.

The Israel B/2 Visa

The business visa in Israel is also called a B/2 visa and a short-stay visa. This visa is not a work visa for commercial activities that will not earn direct visitor payment for services rendered. Due to the flexible nature of the visa, it can also be used for tourism or family visits, but it is mainly for business trips. This visa is valid for three months, and the validity starts counting from the day it is issued. It is also extendable for a few more months, but the visitor must have valid reasons for seeking an extension.

This extension is done at the administrative offices of Israel’s Ministry of the Interior, and once it is approved, the visitor can remain in the country for a few more months to conclude their business. You should also know that the number of days one can stay in Israel is not cast in stone but initially decided by the border police, which may be just for a few days to a few weeks.

Who Needs An Israel Business Visa?

This business visa is required for those who are not exempt from holding a B/2 visa to enter Israel. Israel, like most countries, has their visa-exempt list, which is a special list of countries whose citizens do not need visas to enter the country. So whether you need a visa or not is dependent on your nationality. If you don’t come from a country on the visa-exempt list, you definitely need a visa, but if you do, you don’t need a business visa to enter the country to pursue your commercial interest.

When To Submit Your Application?

You should submit your application for this visa at least 1 month before the day you plan to travel. If you can do it 2 months before your trip, please do so. The last thing you want is the visa issue to come days or weeks after your planned trip.

Where Can You Obtain An Israel Business Visa?

You can obtain an Israel business visa at the Israeli embassy in your country. Submitting your documents at the embassy or consulate is a prerequisite for obtaining this visa. Fortunately for visitors, Israel has an extensive collection of foreign missions in most countries, and in countries where they don’t have missions, they outsource it to third-party application centers. Submit your application to the visa application center licensed by the Israeli authorities.

Israel Business Visa Requirements

You will need to submit these documents to the consulate, embassy, or visa center to get this visa.

Form: You need a completed and signed visa application form bearing your personal details. Forma that are incorrectly filled will be rejected.

Flight Reservation: A copy of a flight reservation showing the arrival and departure dates. You will need reservations for the two-way trip to and from Israel.

Proof of Accommodation: Proof of accommodation lies in a hotel reservation or a confirmed house address in Israel where you will stay.

Passport: A passport that will remain valid beyond your stay in the country. The standard is for the passport to have a minimum of six months of validity. If you stay for more than six months, the passport must have more than a year of validity.

Photos: Two passport photographs taken recently.

Health Insurance: A health insurance policy for international trips

Employer Letter: Employed travelers must submit a letter issued by their employer stating their position and guarantee that you will continue to work with them.

Visa Fee: A visa fee for document processing must be paid

Aside from these documents, note that extra documents may be required by the embassy depending on your nationality, occupation status, and the purpose of the trip.  

These documents should be arranged in a file and brought to the embassy on the day of your visa interview. Apart from the documents which will be taken from you, the embassy official will ask you relevant questions concerning your trip—endeavor to answer the questions as confidently and honestly as possible.

When preparing for a trip to Israel and you have already been issued an Israel business visa, ensure you don’t overstay. Visitors who overstay will be fined before they are allowed to leave the country or may be deported and not allowed to return in the future. Bear this in mind and set a reminder once you set foot on Israeli soil, so you don’t violate the immigration laws.