Travel to Israel safely and compliantly

To work legally while in another country, employees generally need a valid work title. It's important to keep in mind that the consequences of entering without the proper documentation can be significant for both the employee and the employer.

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For those planning work-from-anywhere trips to Israel, here's a quick overview:

• ETA IL: required for citizens from visa-exempt countries. See if you're eligible here.
• Z Visa: Required for most work activities
• Tourist Visa (B/2): Not suitable for any work activities
• Digital Nomad Visa: Israel does not currently offer a specific digital nomad visa program

Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.

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For those planning business trips to Israel:‍‍

• ETA IL: required for citizens from visa-exempt countries. See if you're eligible here.‍
• Tourist Visa (B/2 Visa) with business intent: For short business trips involving activities like attending meetings, conferences, negotiating deals, or conducting site visits (without direct employment or paid work within Israel), a standard B/2 tourist visa might be sufficient for citizens of many countries.
• Activities not covered by tourist visa: If your business trip involves activities that could be construed as actual work or employment within Israel (even short-term), a B/1 work visa and permit might still be required.

Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.

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Most employees in Israel work from Sunday through Thursday, with a standard workweek consisting of 42 hours. The workday typically starts between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM and ends between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM, including a lunch break of about 30-60 minutes.

Israel observes Jewish holidays, with nine national holidays per year:

• Passover: 2 days (date varies; late March to late April)
• Yom HaAtzmaut: 1 day (late April to early May)
• Shavuot: 2 days (Mid-May to mid-June)
• Rosh Hashanah: 2 days (Early September to early October)
• Yom Kippur: 1 day (Mid-September to mid-October)
• Sukkot: 1 day (Mid-September to mid-October)
• Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret: 1 day (Late September to late October)

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Depending on the region you're visiting, there may be additional region-specific public holidays. For more information about these holidays, please check here.‍

When considering travel for work purposes—whether for a workation or a business trip—it is crucial to understand the implications of Permanent Establishment (PE) and associated tax risks. PE is a significant compliance concern for companies and can become costly due to the administrative burden if the compliance requirements for employees working abroad are not properly managed. To help mitigate these risks, here are a few guidelines to follow.

If you are traveling for a workation, please:

• Refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during your trip.
• Avoid visiting clients or any office, including your employer's local office in the destination country.

Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risks related to Permanent Establishment for your employer.

If you are a business traveller, it may be difficult to avoid the activities mentioned above. In this case, please ensure you inform your employer's compliance department about this matter. If you and your organization are WorkFlex users, this topic is addressed through the WorkFlex platform.

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Data protection

Data protection is fundamentally about keeping our information safe from unauthorized access, breaches, theft, or damage. This responsibility is important for everyone, regardless of where they are working.

When employees work from abroad, data protection involves ensuring continued coverage and compliance with the data protection regulations of both the home country and the destination country. For data protection, Israel has introduced Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, 5752 -1992; the Protection of Privacy Law, 5741-1981 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the 'PPL') and the guidelines of the Israel Privacy Authority. Its level of regulation and enforcement is characterized as heavy. That means the country enforces strict, comprehensive data protection laws with robust regulatory oversight. These laws cover all aspects of data privacy and impose severe penalties for non-compliance, either adopting or aligning closely with frameworks like the GDPR, learn more about it here.

For WorkFlex users, a comprehensive list of data protection activities is available in the profile, but here are some general data protection guidelines to keep your data safe:

• Adhere to Your Company's Internal Data Policies: Familiarize yourself with and follow your organization’s specific data protection protocols.
• Use Secure Network Connections: Always connect through secure networks, especially when accessing sensitive information.
• Be Aware of Phishing: Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the authenticity of emails and messages before clicking on any links.
• Utilize Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication: Create complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
• Keep Your Devices in a Secure Location: Always store your devices in safe places to prevent unauthorized access.
• Lock Your Screen Whenever Applicable: Ensure your screen is locked when you're away from your device to protect your information.

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When traveling to Israel for work—whether for a short business trip or an extended workation—it's essential to have comprehensive health insurance coverage to ensure access to medical care.

For business trips, the employer typically arranges the employee's travel health insurance. However, for workations, these responsibilities can be less clear. WorkFlex takes care of travel health insurance for trips worldwide to ensure there are no costly consequences for either the employee or the employer if accidents occur while working abroad.

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For travelers using WorkFlex

If you’re traveling with WorkFlex, comprehensive health insurance is automatically included if your employer has activated this feature. For more details, please refer to your trip request on the WorkFlex platform.

Ensure you have travel health insurance with worldwide coverage, whether for a workation or business trip, so that you can receive adequate medical treatment in case of an emergency.

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV)

• Location: 15 km southeast of Tel Aviv
• When to use: Israel's main international gateway, serving most international flights .

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Ramon Airport (ETM)

• Location: Near Eilat, southern Israel
• When to use: Serves domestic flights and some international routes to southern Israel
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Haifa Airport (HFA)

• Location: Haifa
• When to use: Serves limited domestic flights

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Israel has a well-developed train network connecting major cities, with the main stations being:
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Tel Aviv HaHagana Railway Station

Main connections: Central hub connecting to Jerusalem, Haifa, and Ben Gurion Airport
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Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon Station

Main connections: Express train to Tel Aviv and other major cities
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Haifa Hof HaCarmel Station

Main connections: Routes along the coast to Tel Aviv and northern Israel

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• Gett
• Yango