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B/1 Work Visa — professional athlete

IsraelSport

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Which athletes, coaches, technicians, officials or other sports professionals does the pathway cover?

The Israeli mission in Los Angeles lists invited athletes among the people for whom its B/1 work visa is intended; it does not state a separate rule for every sporting-event role.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page identifies athletes generally; it does not define event-specific roles.
  • Who may apply
    This visa is also intended for persons eligible under the Law of Return and for foreign specialists, athletes and performing artists who have been invited to Israel

What club, federation, governing body or recognised organisation relationship is required?

The work-visa application is submitted on the applicant's behalf and must be approved by the Population and Immigration Authority before the visa procedure starts, and it must include a recommendation letter from the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Culture and Sport. The official source does not identify a required club or agent.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No specific club, event organiser or contract form is stated.
  • Who may apply
    Those eligible to receive the service are foreigners over age 18 with no first-degree relatives in Israel, on whose behalf an application for a work visa has been submitted and whose application has been approved by the Population and Immigration Authority.
  • Introduction
    A work visa procedure can start only after receiving approval from the Ministry of the Interior in Israel
  • https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/policy_request_entry_sports_players_groups_referee/he/5.3.0017.pdf
    5( מכתב המלצה ממינהל הספורט במשרד התרבות והספורט המאשר, בין היתר, כי הספורטאי הינו בעל מומחיות או כישורים מיוחדים, כי כישוריו מתאימים למשרה המבוקשת, וכי הבקשה להעסקת הספורטאי אינה חורגת מהקבוע בתקנון ההתאחדות, וכי אין בה פגיעה בספורטאים ישראלים. כן רשאי הממונה לבקש המלצות של גורמים אחרים להנחת דעתו.
  • https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/policy_request_entry_sports_players_groups_referee/he/5.3.0017.pdf
    **ד.1.ב.ענף** <u><strong>הכדורסל:</strong></u> ליגת העל – ללא הגבלת שחקנים זרים לקבוצה ליגה לאומית – עד 2 שחקנים זרים בקבוצה <u><strong>יתר הענפים:</strong></u> **בליגת העל בלבד** וע"פ המלצה של ההתאחדות הרלבנטית.
  • https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/policy_request_entry_sports_players_groups_referee/he/5.3.0017.pdf
    **יובהר כי המכסות שנקבעו ע"י ההתאחדויות הן בגדר המלצה למכסה המירבית המותרת ואינן מחייבות את רשות האוכלוסין וההגירה,** ומתן ההיתרים נתון לשיקול דעתו הבלעדי של הממונה כמפורט בסעיף ד.2.

What sporting level, achievement, professional status, recognition or other sports-specific condition distinguishes the pathway?

The application must include a recommendation letter from the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Culture and Sport confirming, among other things, that the athlete has expertise or special skills suited to the position, that the request does not exceed the federation's rules and that it does not harm Israeli athletes. Federations set foreign-player quotas: basketball premier league without limit on foreign players, national league up to 2 per team; other sports only in the premier league and on the relevant federation's recommendation. Quotas are recommendations and do not bind the Population and Immigration Authority.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Football quotas (section D.1.a) are in a text-reversed extraction and were not used.

What sporting/work activity is permitted, what club or activity restrictions exist, and what is the family position?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the permitted sporting activity, club restrictions and family position.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched 416dad1c5f36fbdc.txt (full text) for club, team, transfer, employer change, activity restrictions, spouse/children/family; none found beyond the generic 'athletes invited to Israel' line (protected r1).

How long does the status last, how does renewal or change of club work where stated, and what longer-term residence possibilities exist?

A first employment permit is valid for up to one year or the requested period, whichever is lower; each extension is likewise up to one year or the requested period, whichever is lower. An athlete in Israel who passed trials and received an employment permit must apply within 7 working days to change from B/2 status to a B/1 stay-and-work licence, without leaving the country. No longer-term residence direction or club-change rule is stated.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Long-term residence and change of club not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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