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The Return of The Business Visitor Process
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The Israeli government published regulations for
permitting foreign national business personnel entry. This new version of the exception
is more lenient than the previously advised exceptions. It is not yet clear if the
regulation will allow business visits from red countries.
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The Ministries of Health and Economics are once
again, permitting companies to submit applications for travel exemptions under
extraordinary circumstances, for business persons during the current entry ban.
In this capacity, applications can be submitted
for the entry of a foreign business person. Permitted activities must be of a
pure business nature (for example negotiations, signing a contract on new
transactions for procurement, sales or investments in Israel, etc.). An application
of this nature should not be submitted for visits of a technical and/or
engineering nature.
It is mandatory to attach a clear photocopy of
the visitor’s certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination or a COVID-19 recovery certificate,
originated by an official body in the country of origin of the intended visit,
to the application.
Official government processing time is up to 20
days.
If approved by the Ministry of Health, the
entry of the foreign business person man will be permitted, subject to the
various COVID-19 restrictions provided by the Ministry of Health, including but
not limited to the individual’s Eligibility for a Green Pass and isolation
requirements.
Although no specific process guidelines were
provided as to distinctions made between arrivals from red and orange countries,
it is expected that business visitors from red countries will not be allowed to
travel to Israel unless they have stayed in the orange country for at least 14
days immediately preceding travel to Israel.
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Israel to Ease Entry
of US National Palestinians
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According to Senior Officials,
Israel’s Minister of Interior has recently updated the US Ambassador on the
decision to ease entry requirements into Israel and the West Bank through Ben
Gurion Airport for Palestinian-Americans.
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This announcement was made as a positive response to the US demand in talks with Israel on joining the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), planned to be implemented in 2023.
It is not yet clear
what new mechanism will be put in place to allow U.S. citizens of Palestinian
descent to travel through Ben Gurion Airport with greater ease, or when will such
mechanisms will be implemented.
Currently, US
nationals registered in the Palestinian Authority population registry,
including those whom Israeli authorities believe may have a claim to a
Palestinian ID card, are prohibited from entering Israel through Ben Gurion
Airport, without advance permission, regardless of whether they hold other
nationalities, including U.S. citizenship, or place of residence.
These individuals are
permitted to enter the West Bank but are required to enter and depart from
Jordan, through the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, using either a valid
Palestinian Authority (PA) passport without an exit permit or a PA ID card
together with an exit permit.
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30% Raise in Aliyah to Israel on 2021
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A
rise of 30% in numbers of new Olim (obtaining Israeli Citizenship under the Law
of Return) was reported in 2021, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for
Israel, and Nefesh B’Nefesh.
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4,000
olim were reported to have made Aliyah from the United States, arriving in
Israel with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh. These numbers represent the
highest annual number of olim from the USA since 1973.
·
3,500 arrived from France,
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400 from Canada,
·
7,500 from Russia,
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3,000 from Ukraine
·
1,636 immigrants from Ethiopia,
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900 olim from Argentina,
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650 from the United Kingdom,
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550 from Brazil;
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550 from South Africa
·
290 olim from Mexico
55
percent (14,620 olim) of all of this year’s olim were under the age of 35.
The
city welcoming the most olim in 2021 was Tel Aviv, where 2,870 Olim chose to
make their new home, followed by Jerusalem, with 2,760 Olim, Netanya with
2,710, and Haifa with 2000. Other cities where new olim arrived in 2021
included Ashdod (940), Bat Yam (920), Raanana (880), Beit Shemesh (860),
Nahariya (825), and Be’er Sheva (750).
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Best Regards,
Amit Acco, Senior Partner , amit@ktalegegal.com
KAN-TOR & ACCO
Global Site: www.ktalegal.com
Disclaimer: The content herein is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. Readers are advised not act upon the contained information without professional advice. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without express permission. © Kan-Tor & Acco law firm
The COVID-19 information is gathered from various public media sources at the courtesy of KTA to its own clients and website visitors. Due to the rapid, sometimes daily changes in policy, we urge any traveler to get updated at the official government website by clicking here prior to planning or taking any international travel to or from Israel.
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