International Companies – Bringing in Senior Leadership or Representatives
Frequently, foreign or international corporations with operations in Israel seek to assign a representative from the parent company to oversee and manage the Israeli branch. In some cases, the assigned individual is entrusted by the global management to supervise local activities; in others, they are responsible for setting policies or managing personnel. Even when there is no Israeli subsidiary, international firms may request to send a senior manager or representative to evaluate or oversee a project in which they have business interests or involvement.
Israel’s laws and regulations provide a pathway for obtaining work permits for foreign experts serving as representatives of international companies, as outlined below.
The procedure guidelines for processing employment permit and residency/work visa applications for foreign experts explicitly acknowledge the possibility of hiring a representative or manager. According to the definition, the representative or manager must be “an individual who sets the goals of an organization or its departments, holds a senior position, is responsible for the organization’s service delivery through supervision and control, has the authority to hire and fire employees or recommend such actions, or has authority over other personnel-related matters.”
Applications for senior manager/representative visas from foreign or international companies are submitted based on the specific circumstances. Generally, it is expected that the expert, as a manager or representative, holds an academic degree, and if they are a senior representative of an international company, they will be compensated at a salary level twice the average wage in Israel.
Each company is permitted to invite up to two representatives/managers under this provision.
When an Israeli company will employ the foreign representative, the connection between the Israeli company and the foreign/international company must be detailed and explained, with supporting documentation provided. Such requests undergo thorough scrutiny by the Permits Unit of the Population and Immigration Authority, and it is advisable to seek professional assistance to ensure a successful application.
The application is submitted online and will first be reviewed for approval by the Ministry of Economy and Industry before a permit to employ the foreign national can be granted. The initial request must be submitted while the requested expert is outside of Israel; otherwise, the application will be immediately rejected. The expert cannot enter Israel, even for a short tourist visit, until the request is approved.
Various documents must accompany the application, including: the foreign company’s certificate of incorporation, affidavits from the foreign company and sometimes the Israeli company if applicable, the expert’s CV and educational certificates, agreements related to the foreign/international company’s operations in Israel, and more.
As part of the request, the international company must detail the requested expert’s experience and the specific reasons for requesting their employment. If there is a particular project the expert will be involved in, it needs to be described in detail.
The expert cannot change employers or projects within the employer under the granted visa and permit.
After the permit is granted, the Population and Immigration Authority can be approached to issue the appropriate visa. It is also possible to obtain accompanying visas that do not allow employment but permit a stay in Israel (B2) for the expert’s spouse and children.
Applications for the employment of a foreign representative or senior manager in a foreign or international company with business or a branch in Israel tend to be highly detailed and have direct relevance to corporate law. It is advisable to consult with an attorney specializing in this field before submitting the application to avoid potential complications that may be difficult to resolve later. Our office can be approached for consultation on these matters.