ISRAEL – Updated Minimum Salary and Visa Application Fees
The Israeli government has updated the national minimum salary and visa application fees.
Effective 1 January 2018, the minimum Israeli salary has increased from NIS 5000 to NIS 5300. Employees working under a SEA/STEP visa must now receive a gross monthly salary of at least 5300 NIS.
The National Insurance Institute of Israel is expected to publish an updated average salary during January 2018. The prevailing wage for one-year B-1 work visas is double the average salary. Currently, most applicants must earn a monthly salary of at least NIS 19068, with certain high-earning occupations requiring higher minimum salary thresholds.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has updated work visa application fees, effective 1 January 2018. For B-1 work visas valid for at least six months the new fee is NIS 9675 (up from NIS 9655), due upon filing of the B-1 visa application at the Israeli embassy or consulate general abroad. Note that this does not include the work permit submission fee of NIS 1190, which remains unchanged.
Action Items
- Employers in Israel should take into account the new minimum salary and visa application fees.