Israel to ease immigration red tape with faster professional licensing
The reform will allow new immigrants in certain fields to start working on accreditation before arriving in Israel and speed up procedures that now take 6-12 months or longer
Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
A new government reform approved Sunday should speed up the licensing process allowing new immigrants to work in their professional fields, removing a frustrating obstacle many face in the process.
The reform, led by Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, will allow professionals in certain licensed fields to start the licensing process before arriving in Israel and fast-track procedures that currently take months.
The plan will apply to specific licensed professions listed in the reform. Other professions, including law, will not be affected.
“This is a groundbreaking and historic decision that will accelerate the integration of olim into the job market, strengthen the Israeli economy, and help address shortages in essential professions,” Sofer said, referring to new immigrants.
He said the decision could generate up to NIS 3.8 billion ($1.1 billion) for the Israeli economy by 2034 and save NIS 2.1 billion in lost labor and training costs.
Immigrants have long complained that Israel’s lengthy licensing processes for professions like medicine, engineering, social work, education, and finance prevent them from finding jobs in their fields, and in some cases, discourage them from moving to Israel. Some 10-15% of potential immigrants decide against it due to concerns about employment in their fields, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry said.
Currently, getting a professional license from abroad recognized in Israel can take 6-12 months, and for some professions, entail long, low-paid internships and challenging Hebrew exams. This is true even for people with many years of experience in their home countries.
The reform will alleviate job shortages in critical fields like medicine and engineering and bring Israel in line with fast-track processes in other OECD countries, the ministry said. Israel’s current physician-to-population ratio of 3.7 per 1,000 residents is significantly lower than the OECD average of 5.0, it noted.
Once the reform is implemented, immigrants will be able to submit their licenses and receive preliminary approval before obtaining citizenship, cutting wait times dramatically.
Certified public accountants with more than two years of experience will have their credentials recognized automatically for a “New Oleh CPA” license, and social workers can have their qualifications evaluated before arriving in Israel. Veterinarians with more than 10 years of experience can be exempted from licensing exams.
The reform will reduce internship times for engineers, veterinarians, and insurance agents. In financial professions such as insurance agents and pension advisers, new immigrants will be allowed to begin their internships before passing exams. In surveying, exams can be taken during the internship period.
In addition, government ministries will provide individual guidance throughout the licensing process, ensuring a smooth transition into the workforce, the ministry said.
