The government has approved a reform led by Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer to fast-track professional licenses for those moving to Israel.
The decision will allow license holders to begin applying for their Israeli license before arriving in the country.
The ministry announced that this change was designed to help reduce the labor shortage the economy is facing and that the expected increase in immigration could boost the economy by up to NIS 3.8 billion by 2034.
“This is a precedent-setting and historic decision that will help quickly integrate new immigrants into the labor market, strengthen the Israeli economy, and address the shortage of essential professions in the economy,” Sofer said.
Reforming the licensing system
Until now, license holders have faced a six- to 12-month delay for approval when arriving in the country, leading to periods when they were unable to be employed in their fields.
Now, professional licenses for jobs such as engineering, social work, education, finance, and healthcare will be able to be approved from abroad, allowing them to begin working in their expertise as soon as they arrive.
The reform will allow the submission of documents from abroad, in principle, before even receiving a national ID, which is expected to dramatically reduce wait times, the ministry said.
It will also shorten internship periods across various fields; engineers will have theirs shortened by six months, land surveyors’ internships will be shortened by a year, insurance agents by three months, and doctors and vets will be given temporary licenses.
The Justice Ministry announced that accountants with over two years of experience will receive special “new immigrant accountant” status, allowing them to begin work immediately and granting them recognition by Israel’s Certified Public Accountant Council.
The Social Affairs Ministry will also begin recognizing licenses from abroad so it will be clear whether they have been approved before they arrive. In particular, vets will receive special dispensation exempting them from exams if they have over 10 years of experience.
Financial professionals such as insurance agents and pension consultants will be able to begin their internships before passing their exams, and land surveyors will be allowed to take the exams during the internship.
The government will also provide individual assistance to immigrants throughout the process until their integration into the labor market.