Client Payment Portal

ISRAEL: Limitations on Short Term Assignment Duration and Increase in Government Fees for Working Visa

Dec 30, 2019 | Global

Short Term Assignment Update  

The Israeli Ministry of Interior advised that all short-term assignments will be limited to not more than 90 days within a 180 day period.

The short-term visa categories affected by this change are the following: 

  1.  Short Expert Assignment (SEA) 45 days;

  2.  Short Term Employment Authorization (STEP) 3 months;

  3.  Hi-Tech 90 day visa (HIT 90)

Until recently, companies were able to apply for a new work visa valid at the start of the next year for assignee’s that were employed during the last 3 months of the calendar year in Israel (September – December). By doing this, the company was able to retain the assignee’s for a continuous 6-month period (also known as “The Continuity Effect”). 

In an effort to avoid the Continuity Effect, the Ministry issued this directive to take effect immediately, by which the stay of an assignee on a SEA, STEP or HIT 90 visa is limited to the maximum of 90 days within the six-month period starting from the date of entry. 

For example: if an assignee entered Israel under the STEP visa and worked for 60 days, the employer would only be able to apply for an additional visa of up to 30 days within the six month period. 

 

Israel: Increase in Government Fees for Working Visa in 2020

 

The Ministry of Interior has published the list of government fees for 2020 reflecting a slight increase from 2019. Government fees for a B-1 work visa for more than 6 months will be increase to NIS 10,000 from NIS 9,970 (2019).

In addition, work permit submission fees will be increase to NIS 1,210 from NIS 1,190 (2019).

Related Posts:

BELGIUM: Immigration reform aims to expedite single permit application processing

Summary of the Issue – After much lobbying, the Belgian government is taking actions to reform the single permit application process with the goal of improving processing timeframes. Implemented on January 1, 2019, the single permit application allows non-EU employees to work in multiple branches of an EU-based multinational company. The single permit replaced a two-sided process for obtaining residence and work permits each with their own rules and procedures. Policy Reform – The reforms focuses on increasing the number of immigration bureaucrats, streamlining internal processes, and taking advantage of technology efficiencies. Impact – Upon implementation, the reforms promise to expedite immigration processing by allowing single permit holders (including first-time applicants, renewal applicants, and those changing employers) to start or continue employment upon approval of regional authorities.  First-time applicants must still obtain approval from federal authorities, but can begin working upon approval from local authorities. More Information – “Single Permit as of January 1, 2019 – AN Analysis” “Single Permit Application Procedure”  

Read More

Swiss Permit Quotas for 2021

The Swiss Federal Council has decided upon the following permit quota numbers for 2021: Work permit quotas for assignees from EU/EFTA: L permits: 3’000 B permits: 500   Work permit quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals: L permits : 4’000 B permits : 4’500 For these categories the numbers will remain the same as they currently are for 2020. Due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the UK will no longer apply from 1 January 2021. In order to enable companies in Switzerland to recruit skilled workers from the UK in the coming year, the Swiss Federal Council today decided on separate quotas for employed UK nationals for one year. In 2021, up to 3,500 workers can be recruited from the UK: L permits: 1’400 B permits: 2’100 This has been decided to ensure the necessary flexibility for the Swiss economy. These maximum figures for the UK are valid for one year for the time being and are released to the cantons on a quarterly basis. This measure takes into account the exceptional situation in relation to the UK and represents a one-year transitional solution and […]

Read More