Published: 15.10.2026

• 2026-10-15Collective protection for Ukrainian citizens in Israel extended through the end of 2026

  Israel’s collective protection regime for Ukrainian citizens in the country has been extended until 31 December 2026 or until the end of the war in Ukraine. Some Ukrainians are nevertheless being refused extensions of their individual 2A5 status and issued departure orders, whose enforcement is suspended by the collective protection regime.

• 2026-10-12Israel Clarifies Residency Recognition Conditions for A-Visa Holders

  Holders of A/1, A/5, A/2 and A/4 visas may be recognized as residents after at least 183 days of lawful stay in Israel and proof of a center of life there. Applicants must submit questionnaires and evidence such as housing, family, education, employment and other ties to Israel; residency is counted from the date the qualifying visa is received.

• 2026-09-14Visa-exempt travelers to Israel require an ETA-IL

  Nationals of visa-exempt countries may travel to Israel and receive a B-2 visitor visa on arrival if they obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization ETA-IL in advance. Nationals of visa-required countries must obtain a B-2 visa before business travel, and the activities permitted under that visa are limited.

• 2026-09-08Israeli authorities expand support for new immigrants and returning citizens

  Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration provides pre-arrival consultations and post-arrival assistance with practical matters, including enrolling children in schools and adapting to life in Israel. For returning citizens who lived abroad for more than five years, the source mentions simplified National Insurance procedures, retraining vouchers, and payments for the first three months of job seeking.

• 2026-09-04Israel’s Entry Refusals Can Be Challenged Through a Formal Appeals Process

  Israeli law allows border officials to delay a foreign national while examining their eligibility to enter, and then refuse entry and arrange removal. The decision should be provided in writing with reasons; it may be challenged before the Appeals Tribunal within 30 days and subsequently before the Administrative Affairs Court within 45 days.

• 2026-09-04Israeli Permanent Residence Can Lapse After Extended Settlement Abroad

  Israeli permanent residence has no fixed expiration date but may lapse under conditions set by the regulations. The status may be lost if a person has lived outside Israel for at least seven years, obtained permanent residence in another country, or naturalized there.

• 2026-09-03Israel exit tax for individuals is calculated at the capital-gains tax rate

  According to the source, Israel’s 2026 exit tax for individuals is calculated at the capital-gains tax rate of 25%. A higher rate of 30% applies to substantial shareholders.

• 2026-09-03Israeli Citizens Gained Access to the US Visa Waiver Program

  The source reports that Israel was included in the US Visa Waiver Program. This allows Israeli citizens to consider short-term travel to the United States without applying for a regular visa, subject to the program’s conditions.

• 2026-08-17An Israeli passport does not replace an EU residence permit for long-term stays

  Israeli citizens can visit the Schengen Area visa-free for short-term trips. However, visa-free access does not grant the right to reside long term and does not replace a residence permit in an EU country.

• 2026-07-29Israeli Citizenship by Descent Can Be Obtained Without Relocating

  Israeli citizenship by descent can be obtained while keeping one’s home and work outside Israel, although some steps require time in Israel in person. The process does not require surrendering U.S. citizenship, and citizenship taken as a non-resident is generally understood not to create Israeli tax residency on its own.

• 2026-07-27Israel Tightens Enforcement of Visa Conditions for Foreign Nationals

  Foreign nationals in Israel may face detention, deportation, and future entry restrictions for overstaying, working without authorization, or violating visa conditions. Employers may also face fines, criminal sanctions, and increased scrutiny for employing foreign workers without proper authorization.

• 2026-07-21New immigrants may import personal belongings duty-free within the applicable allowance

  New immigrants to Israel are entitled to three duty-free shipments of household goods and personal belongings within three years of the arrival date recorded in their oleh certificate. Returning residents may use the duty-free allowance after Israeli Customs confirms their status.

• 2026-06-29Israel Taxation of Foreign Residents’ Income and Capital Gains

  Employment income earned by a foreign resident for services performed in Israel is subject to Israeli taxation unless an applicable tax treaty provides an exemption. Capital gains are generally taxed at 25%, with a 30% rate for shareholders holding at least 10%; Israeli residents are generally taxed on gains from assets worldwide.

• 2026-06-29Israel Tax Treatment for Active Shareholders of Closely Held Companies

  From 2025, profitability above 25% for a closely held company’s business activity may result in the relevant share of excess profitability being included in an active shareholder’s taxable income. The amount is taxed at the shareholder’s marginal tax rate.

• 2026-06-18Israel cancelled the residency status of 35,625 people in 2025

  According to Israel’s National Insurance Institute, 35,625 people lost Israeli residency status in 2025, including 20,011 new immigrants. Residency may be cancelled at the person’s request or automatically after five years abroad; people classified as non-residents are not eligible for National Insurance benefits and allowances.

• 2026-06-15Israel Tightened Movement and Access-to-Funds Restrictions Affecting Palestinians in the West Bank

  According to the International Crisis Group, Israel introduced new economic penalties affecting the West Bank after the Hamas attack in October 2023. The restrictions affect Palestinians’ ability to move around and access funds, against the backdrop of broader controls over borders, commerce and resources.

• 2026-05-23Green card processing rules tighten for Israelis in the United States

  According to the source, Israelis in the United States applying for a green card through employment, study, or family-based routes may be required to return to Israel and complete immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy. Departure could create re-entry problems for people who overstayed a visa, worked without authorization, or have other immigration violations.

• 2026-04-13Israel maintains separate visa routes for work and temporary residence

  Foreign nationals working temporarily in Israel may use B1 or B4 visas, with the applicant and employer applying for a work permit valid for 90 days or one year. A B1 visa is generally issued for up to one year and may be renewed annually, while the A1 visa for eligible Jewish applicants may remain valid for up to five years through renewals.

• 2026-03-05Israel Automatically Extended Visas Expiring from February 22 to March 31, 2026

  Israel automatically extended by three months a range of visas and permits expiring between February 22 and March 31, 2026. The measure covers, among others, tourist, work, student, volunteer and temporary-residence visas; no application or visit to PIBA is required.

• 2026-02-17Israel Extends Permission for Dual Citizens to Travel on a Foreign Passport

  Israeli citizens who also hold another nationality may leave and re-enter Israel using a valid foreign passport until 30 September 2026. They must carry an Israeli identity card or Israeli passport, even if expired, and do not need to obtain an ETA for these trips.

• 2026-01-30Children of foreign workers challenge exclusion from IDF service due to lack of legal status

  Children of foreign workers who have lived in Israel permanently but lack citizenship or recognized permanent-resident status are challenging their exclusion from military service. Current rules allow the enlistment of citizens, permanent residents, and certain visa holders, while families whose permits expired or were revoked may remain without legal status and face detention or deportation.

• 2026-01-08Israel denies entry to a US citizen holding a valid residence visa

  A Jewish US citizen holding a three-year Israeli residency visa was denied re-entry on a police recommendation. Authorities linked the decision to alleged political activity and said he had been placed on an entry-refusal list in September 2025.

• 2025-12-15Israel Maintains a Strict Immigration Detention and Entry-Control Framework

  According to the Global Detention Project, Israeli law provides for immigration detention, fines, and imprisonment for migration-related violations. The Law of Return gives Jews, their spouses, and people with Jewish parents or grandparents a route to move to Israel and claim citizenship, while irregular entrants may face detention and removal measures.