Visa for Foreign Innovation Entrepreneurs in Israel

Introduction

Israel is known for its high-tech industry and innovative environment. To further enhance its status as a global center of technology, Israel has launched a special program/instruction to attract foreign entrepreneurs. This instruction, called the “Innovation visas for foreign entrepreneurs (Pilot),” is a joint effort of the Israel Innovation Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA). It offers a clear process for foreign entrepreneurs to obtain visa to stay in Israel and develop projects in high-tech industry. This article explains the main aspects and steps involved in the program.

Purpose of the program

The main goal of this initiative is to support and diversify Israel’s hi-tech industry. The program aims to strengthen the country’s position as a leader in global technological advancements by inviting foreign entrepreneurs with innovative technological projects to Israel. The program helps these entrepreneurs set up and develop their projects in Israel, thus enhancing Israel’s reputation as a hub for innovation.

Application process overview

The application process for the innovation visa includes several key steps:

  1. Eligibility and approval:
    • The applicant must be recognized as a foreign entrepreneur by the Innovation Authority.
    • The entrepreneur’s project should meet the principles and criteria set by the Innovation Authority.
    • The application must include a recommendation from the Innovation authority’s committee.
  2. Submission and documentation:
    • The entrepreneur must submit a completed application form and have a valid passport with at least 18 months of validity.
    • An original Certificate of good standing and a medical certificate are required during the initial application phase.
    • Personal attendance is required either at an Israeli consulate abroad (for those needing an entry visa) or at the PIBA office in Bnei Brak within 30 days of arrival in Israel (for those exempt from an entry visa).
  3. Approval and Permit Issuance:
    • Once approved, the entrepreneur will receive a B/2 visa, which is not a work permit.
    • This visa allows the entrepreneur to develop their project in Israel without forming an employer-employee relationship with any local company.
    • The permit is initially valid for up to one year and can be extended up to a total of 24 months.

Key provisions and conditions

  • Non-Work Permit Nature: The B/2 innovation visa is only a visitor’s residence permit and does not allow the entrepreneur to receive wages from any Israeli company. The entrepreneur must focus solely on developing their approved project.
  • Exclusive authority of PIBA: The processing and extension of the innovation permit are handled exclusively by PIBA, with the Innovation Authority only providing recommendations.
  • Permit extensions: To extend the permit, the entrepreneur must apply three months before its expiration. Extensions are granted based on continued compliance with the program’s conditions and recommendations from the Innovation Authority. The holder of the innovation visa may apply for the B/1 work permit close to the expiration date of the B/2 visa.
  • Family members: Spouses and children under 18 can accompany the entrepreneur to Israel under a B/2 tourist visa, which can be extended to match the entrepreneur’s permit duration.

Conclusion

The experimental “Innovation visas for foreign entrepreneurs” program is a significant step towards promoting global innovation in Israel. By providing a structured and supportive environment for foreign entrepreneurs, Israel aims to attract groundbreaking technological projects that will benefit its dynamic tech industry. This initiative not only strengthens Israel’s position in the global innovation landscape but also boosts its economic and technological development.

For more detailed information, please contact our office.

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Oleg Barbakov

I want to thank the team of professionals of Alex Zernopolsky! They helped my son in obtaining Israeli citizenship! The work was done in a timely manner, all obstacles were overcome, and the results were excellent! The staff themselves are responsive, kind people, always ready to help with any request! It’s a pleasure to work with them! Thank you to Alex for the help and to his entire team: Anna, Valeria, and Yana! I wish them health, and I’m confident that they will continue to help people for a long time!

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Miri and Sergey

We are a couple who came to lawyer Alex Zernopolsky after numerous rejections from the Ministry of Interior, during the process of obtaining citizenship for my husband. We had faced a very unpleasant experience and were literally shaken by repeated encounters with officials who were insensitive to people’s feelings, and their comments were inappropriate, to put it mildly. After turning to the Ministry of Interior, Alex and lawyer Anna from his office, who were always ready to listen to us and always there for us, my husband finally received citizenship a week ago. This happened thanks to the professional and humane approach of Alex Zernopolsky’s law firm. We are very happy that fate brought us together and we can recommend this office to everyone who wants to feel at home, and the lawyers will take care of your interests. This is the best that exists in today’s market in Israel. Alex delivers on what he promises, one hundred percent.

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Victor Vakhshtayn

A lawyer in Israel is not a luxury, but a guide through the bureaucratic hell that is the state apparatus. However, it’s hard to call it an apparatus because none of the circles of hell exchange information with any other, ordinary demons have far more authority than their superiors, and sinners can appeal to the law – earthly or heavenly – as much as they like, but in every district office of hell, there is an ‘internal instruction’ that contradicts each law. (And then another one that contradicts the previous one.) In the end, laws come and go with each government, but the demons stay at their cauldrons for generations. Perhaps this system was invented by the founding fathers themselves to prevent the usurpation of power in the future. Try to build totalitarianism in a country where every street-level bureaucrat is, at heart, an anarcho-syndicalist. Therefore, going to court in Israel is not a challenge to the state, but a normal way to start a dialogue with it. It’s all like at the market: if you don’t bargain, you don’t respect. If you don’t sue, it means you don’t acknowledge. So an Israeli lawyer is always a bit more than just a lawyer. He combines the skills of Virgil, a stalker, a dramatic actor, a social worker, an ethnographer, and a psychotherapist. At least, a good lawyer does. I was incredibly lucky with my lawyer. With Alex Zernopolsky, we not only won the case. I found thirty new research topics – so fascinating was the structure of the Israeli bureaucracy ‘from the inside’. Now we will write in co-authorship.

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