In recent years, Ukraine has experienced many upheavals. It is not surprising that many Ukrainians are looking for earning opportunities in other countries, including those in the Middle East. Unfortunately, this is often used by scammers who offer help in finding a job. And even those who successfully get a job do not always manage to earn the expected amount. Therefore, it is worth considering what work is available in Israel for Ukrainians in 2021 and what is the real average income to count on.
The prospect of working in Israel
The main reason why Ukrainians are looking for work in Israel is the high salary level, even in many EU countries, and the favorable economic situation. In terms of GDP growth, the country is ahead of the United States, Germany and France.
New technologies are actively developing in the country, so here you can not only make money on your skills, but also actively develop them. Working efficiently and diligently, you can count on promotion, even if you start from a not very prestigious position.
It is customary to comply with the laws in Israel, therefore, with legal employment, you have the right to count on social protection and the employer's compliance with all obligations.
The complexity of processing all the documents necessary for crossing the border and issuing work documents is slightly lower than for other countries with a comparable level of income. This is due to the fact that not all documents require translation into Hebrew; moreover, the Israeli government has gradually introduced a number of preferences for Ukrainians.
Another undoubted advantage of working in the Promised Land is the huge number of migrants living there from the countries of the former USSR, who speak Russian and sometimes Ukrainian. Among them, you can always find new friends, which will facilitate adaptation to new living conditions.
Here are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Beit Guvrin caves and other historical sites. The country's seaside resorts, such as Eilat and Netanya, are very well developed and known all over the world. So in your free time you can visit the sights and plunge into the warm waters of the Mediterranean or Red Seas. And the climate of this country is much milder and warmer than in many European countries.
Thus, Israel has a lot to offer the potential migrant. Therefore, we will consider how to travel to Israel on your own from Ukraine to work in more detail.
Job search
Due to the growing popularity of work in the Middle Eastern countries, in Ukraine and other countries of the former USSR, many agencies have appeared that offer assistance in finding a job and preparing all the documents necessary for this. Unfortunately, not all of them provide their services at a sufficiently high quality level, and some are engaged in openly fraudulent schemes.
Therefore, the question of how to find a job in Israel for a Ukrainian worries more and more potential migrants. First of all, it is worth deciding what kind of work you are interested in and whether you are ready to spend your time on independent searches.
If you want to find a vacancy in the construction industry, then first of all, you should visit the website of the State Employment Service of Ukraine, since in 2021 Ukraine and Israel signed an agreement on temporary employment in the construction industry, and the government of the Middle Eastern state allocated 20,000 for Ukrainian builders. quotas for legal work.
If you do not have construction skills or do not want to wait for the result from the state bureaucratic machine, then you can consider other options for finding a job. The main ways to find a job:
- contacting intermediary firms;
- independent search.
Consider first employment in Israel for Ukrainians without intermediaries. If you are looking for a qualified job, you should start your search with Linkedin and Israeli offices of international corporations (Microsoft, Google, Apple, Siemens, etc.). You can also try to write to the HR departments of hundreds of the largest companies in the country or the top of the best employers - there will definitely be a company that suits your profile. You will need a well-written CV, knowledge of English and a high level of skills.
Another option for a Ukrainian to get a job in Israel is to use Israeli job search sites, including the most popular Russian-language resources:
- Work Israel;
- Work in Israel;
- Israelinfo;
- Work;
- Orbit.
If you are fluent in English, it is worth visiting jobs-israel.com, careerjet.com and israemploy.net, which have thousands of jobs posted. And if you know Hebrew, then you should go to alljobs.co.il and israeljobsites.co.il. Finally, you can search for an option through Headhunter or even Google.
If you want to save time or get help with registration, then you should contact the intermediaries. First of all, consider the firms in Israel that employ Ukrainians for work. The following companies have the best reviews:
- Etgar;
- Ortal HR;
- "Manpower".
Finally, the Sokhnut agency traditionally helps with the employment of repatriates.
If you want to work with a Ukrainian intermediary, then keep in mind that fewer than 10 companies have a license from the Ministry of Social Policy, which is necessary to provide such services (you can check the agency for details on the website of the Ministry of Justice). The most famous of them:
- LLC "Work in Israel", offering vacancies in all areas of activity;
- FLP Maskal I.T. from Lviv, specializing in the employment of women nurses;
- Atlas Marine helps seafarers find work.
There are intermediaries who offer entry into the country without a visa or even obtaining a residence permit with subsequent illegal or semi-legal employment. The best reviews from the agency "Maxima" (representative offices in Lviv and Kiev) and the Kiev company VisaShop.
If you have any problems, the migrant hotline can help you.
Employment procedure
The procedure for finding a job in Israel for a Ukrainian consists of several steps. If you have already found a vacancy, you need to conduct several negotiations by phone or Skype. Taking into account the fact that from 2021 a visa-free regime for tourists has been operating between Ukraine and Israel, you can fly to the country and negotiate in person (if the proposed vacancy is worth the costs).
During the negotiation process, it is worth insisting on the signing of a contract - in this case, you will easily receive both a B1 work visa and a work permit. At the same time, the employer will be able to help you with the preparation of the necessary documents.
If a lawyer is hired for you, the fee for his services will then be deducted from your salary for some time.
Another opportunity to work on the Promised Land is participation in specialized state programs.
Migrant Employment Programs
The Israeli government has developed a number of programs to attract migrants to work in the social sphere: caring for the sick, nannies for children, helpers for the elderly.
Program participants receive:
- permission and contract for a year of work (can be extended up to 8 years);
- the opportunity to attend Hebrew courses;
- medical insurance and vacation.
Formally, everyone can take part in the program, but the best chances to win are women from 25 to 55 years old, who can prove their decency, altruism, hard work and high moral qualities, and at the same time have at least primary medical education (for example, nursing courses sick).
More details can be found in the regional offices of "Sokhnut" in Kiev, Kharkov and other cities, as well as on the website of the Israeli embassy.
What documents are needed
For employment, you will definitely need:
- international passport;
- visa category B1;
- work permit.
Registration of a work visa
Despite the visa-free tourist regime, you can work in Israel only by obtaining a work visa. It can be obtained by people whose family members do not live in Israel. A visa is issued at the consulate of the country, for it you need:
- statement;
- international passport;
- Ukrainian passport;
- biometric data;
- 2 photos 5x5 cm;
- signed contract with the employer;
- a certificate from the hospital on the state of health in the form 082 (fluorography is required, as well as a blood test for HIV, hepatitis A, B and C);
- a police clearance certificate with an apostille issued no earlier than a month before the application was submitted;
- work permit with the country;
- certificate of family composition.
Additionally, any other certificates and documents may be requested; most often they ask for a TIN and a bank statement.
Registration of a B1 visa for the applicant is free, all costs are borne by the employer after the visa is issued and the start of work.
Registration of a work permit
A work permit in Israel for Ukrainians is issued after signing the contract, but before applying for a visa. Usually this is done by the employer, who applies to the Ministry of Labor and submits the appropriate package of documents.
In order for all the formalities to be met on time, it is worth checking with your potential employer which documents will be needed to obtain permission.
Most often, you will need confirmation of your qualifications in the form of a higher education diploma and work book. At the same time, they do not need to be translated into Hebrew from Ukrainian.
What professions are needed in Israel
The most popular vacancies for Ukrainians in Israel, where you can find work without any problems:
- builders;
- factory workers;
- service sector (hotels, cafes, shops, ethnic restaurants, fast food);
- housekeepers and nurses, nursing home workers;
- movers;
- crop pickers;
- cleaners.
But to work as a lawyer or physician, you will need a permit, which is impossible to obtain without a residence permit and passing several expensive and difficult exams.
Work in Israel for Ukrainians at a construction site is possible in several directions. Masons, welders, carpenters, electricians, tilers, and especially handymen are welcome here - the Israelis do not agree to hard physical labor for a modest payment by local standards.
If you want to work in production, then it is worth considering employment at a paper factory in Ashdod, where you can get a job without even knowing Hebrew and English.
The available work in hotels in Israel for Ukrainians is represented mainly by the vacancies of maids and porter. In the rest of the service sector, first of all, waiters, salespeople and cook assistants are needed.
Many Ukrainian women leaving for Israel become home helpers or nurses. The cleaning profession is less popular, although there are always many vacancies here.
Considering the agricultural sector, it is worth considering the seasonality of work: in winter you will have to look for other options or return to your homeland.
Working in Israel as a driver for Ukrainians is theoretically possible, but this will require an international driver's license, since Ukrainian is valid only for 3 months from the moment of crossing the border. And in the end, you will still have to take tests with an IDP.
Despite the fact that, along with Hebrew in Israel, they actively use English and Russian, it will be difficult to find a job with decent pay without knowing the language.
Expected salary level
Before filling out the documents, figure out what salaries in Israel are for Ukrainians. The country has a minimum monthly wage, which in 2021 is 5,300 shekels, or almost $ 1,400. The minimum hourly rate is almost 27 shekels ($ 7.50); even in the most low-skilled job, you will not receive less, especially considering that there are no differences between citizens and non-citizens of Israel in this regard.
The average salary in Israel is about $ 2900. Working as a nurse, housekeeper or construction worker, you can earn a little less - up to $ 2,500. Highly qualified technical professionals receive up to $ 5,000.
Best cities for migrant workers
If you are going to first move to Israel, and then look for work, then you should give preference to large cities, given the specifics of their economy. For example, there is always a job in Haifa for Ukrainians with a technical education or just a good physical shape, because this city is the largest port in the country, it always needs mechanics, electricians, welders and loaders.
If you are interested in working in the service sector - hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, beauty salons - you should consider the touristy Jerusalem, Ashdod and Eilat.
Moving to the capital is also worth considering. Work in Tel Aviv for Ukrainians is good because, firstly, there is a huge Russian-speaking diaspora in this city, secondly, it has vacancies for all professions (from researchers to cleaners), and, thirdly, it is possible to combine work studying at the university.
Price level in Israel
When planning a trip to any country to earn money, it is important to take into account not only the expected income, but also the monthly living costs, because in countries with high salaries, prices are often very high. The average prices in Israel for rental housing, basic foodstuffs and other goods and services necessary for a comfortable life in 2021 are shown in the table.
| Product / Service | Cost, $ |
|---|---|
| Monthly rent of a studio apartment | from 500 (in Haifa) to 1000 (in Tel Aviv) |
| Utilities (including taxes) | 200 per month |
| Milk, 1 l | 1.6 |
| A dozen eggs | 3.5 |
| Loaf of bread | 3 |
| 1 kg sugar | 1.7 |
| Cheese, 1 kg | 12 |
| Chicken fillet, 1 kg | 10 |
| Pork, 1 kg | 12 |
| Beef, 1 kg | 15 |
| Rice, 1 kg | 2.2 |
| Pasta, 1 kg | 1.7 |
| Bottled water, 1.5 liters | 1.1 |
| 1 kg of apples | 2.4 |
| 1 kg of bananas | 2.1 |
| 1 kg of potatoes | 1.1 |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | 1.5 |
| Fast food snack | 10 |
| 1 pair of jeans | 30 |
| 1 shirt | 20 |
| 1 jacket | 200 |
| Monthly bus pass | 60 |
| Rent a Car | 40 per day |
| 1 liter of gasoline | 1.7 |
| A package of mobile services (minutes, SMS, Internet) for a month | 30 |
| Medical insurance | 100 |
On average, it will take up to $ 1000 for accommodation per month, and about $ 300 for food. It is better to buy clothes in Eilat, where VAT is abolished - this way you can save tens of dollars.
Conclusion
Working in Israel is a good way to improve your material well-being, develop language and professional skills, meet interesting people and visit biblical places. You can find a vacancy through Internet resources, specialized agencies, on your own. A work visa is required for employment.
