1. To obtain a permit to employ senior foreign employees in Israel, international firms must file a request with the Foreign Workers Unit in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor ("the Unit").  Senior employees are defined as senior managers or managers of firms as defined in Israel's commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services, in the framework of the World Trade Organization (GATS), or specialists whose monthly salary is at least twice the average monthly wage in Israel, as published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (currently 14,000 NIS).
2. The appropriate application forms (may be obtained from the Unit) detailing the request, must be submitted to the Unit by the firm's legal representative or branch in Israel. The forms must include all relevant information about the applicant, including the nature of position in Israel, the position within the organization, skills, expertise, education etc. In addition, an attached letter detailing the nature of the firm's activity in Israel must also be submitted. In the case of specialists, the firm must also provide written commitments stating that the requested specialist will be earning a monthly salary of at least double the average monthly wage in Israel.
3.  The applicant may pay the processing fee of 504 NIS per requested employee via the internet at: http://ecom1.gov.il/ecom/tamat/default.htm (Hebrew site).
4. Applications regarding senior employees of international firms are forwarded by the Unit to the Foreign Trade Administration in the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor for examination and verification. The Administration submits its recommendations to an advisory committee in the Unit. The advisory committee then submits its recommendations to the Unit's director who has final authority to approve or to reject applications.
5. Upon approval, the Unit will issue the requested permit to the applicant firm.
6. The firm must then apply to the Ministry of Interior for a working visa for the requested employee. The visa itself is issued by the consular representative of Israel in the relevant country. The fee for each working visa is 4000 NIS per year (there is an additional processing fee of approximately 150 NIS). 
7. The visa issued in the applicant's country is valid for a period of one month. After entry to Israel, the visa is extended by the Ministry of Interior for the remainder of the employment period defined in the employment permit.

For additional information, contact the Foreign Workers Unit at:

 02-6229848/50/52, Sunday, Monday or Wednesday between 8:30-12:30 AM.