Many of our clients ask if owning a business in Israel can grant them a business visa or residency. The truth is that Israel has stringent immigration policies, and only specific categories of foreigners, as defined by law, are eligible for residency or special visas. Unfortunately, simply running a business in Israel, regardless of its size, is not a valid reason to obtain any status, unlike other countries like the USA or the UAE.
Options for business owners to stay in Israel legally for a long time
The tourist visa (B/2) allows its holder to stay in Israel for a maximum of 90 days. After this period, the foreigner must leave Israel or apply for an extension, provided he has a sufficiently good reason for doing so.
1. Investor visa for US Citizens (B/5):
US citizens are the only category of foreigners who can obtain an investor visa in Israel. If an American citizen invests a significant amount of money in an Israeli business and owns at least 50% of the company’s shares, they can apply for a B/5 Investor Visa. This visa allows them to run their business in Israel without limitations on the number of extensions. Additionally, holders of this visa can enjoy the benefits of governmental insurance.
2. Expert visa for non-US Citizens:
For business owners who are not US citizens or do not plan to make a substantial investment in an Israeli business, applying for a B/1 Work Visa as a manager of their own business is an option. However, it is important to note that the Ministry of Interior (MOI) is generally cautious about applications where the business owner is seeking a work visa for themselves. Therefore, such applications need to be well-prepared and well-grounded.
If you plan to run a business in Israel but do not hold Israeli citizenship and do not qualify for the investor visa, you should consider applying for an expert work visa. Our team is happy to assist you with this process and ensure that your application is as strong as possible.