Apply for a Government Press Office card

The GPO issues two types of accreditations to foreign journalists: “GPO cards” and “Visiting Journalist” GPO cards.

1. GPO cards – issued for a period of up to 12 months (in line with the B1 work visa) to journalists whose permanent base of work is Israel.

B1 work visas are not issued to freelancers per se. Those who work without a work order, contract, or binding relations with a specific media organization – are NOT entitled to work visas or any government press credentials. However, they may come to Israel as visitors for up to three months and pursue their endeavors without credentials.

The primary conditions for foreign nationals for receiving a GPO card are:

a. Those whose main occupation is in the news media in the year preceding the application;

b. Those who work under contract for news media organizations that meet the GPO rules;

c1. Staff must prove that it is the intention of the media organization with which they are employed, to employ them in Israel, in the news field, for a period of at least one year;

c2. Freelancers (or more accurately: contractors) must prove that they arrived in Israel at the request of the media organization, for the performance of services in the field of news media for a period of at least one year and an express and binding work order/contract requesting these services was presented to the GPO (as per article 4B2(c) of the GPO rules).

The GPO defines "express and binding contract" as (a) contract(s) which stipulates a minimal monthly work submission and a minimum monthly pay of no less than Israel’s minimum monthly wage. The amount may be received from different Media Organizations which meet the GPO rules, as long as the contracts are binding and are not ad-hoc contracts.

A freelance contract that allows the Media to decide whether or not to pay for the freelancer's work is not considered a "binding contact". Therefore the applicant cannot be eligible for a work visa and a GPO card.

* Journalists are required to familiar themselves with the Israeli tax laws. Invoices submitted to the GPO must be legal.

2. Visiting Journalist GPO cards – issued to journalists arriving in Israel for periods of up to 3 months.
The primary conditions for receiving a Visiting Journalist GPO card are:
a. Those whose main profession is in the news media;

b. Those who work for news media organizations that meet the GPO rules*;

c1. Staff must prove that they are employed full-time as journalists during their stay in Israel, by a news media organization;

c2. Freelancers must prove that they came to Israel in order to perform services in the field of news, and an express and binding work order/contract requesting such services was presented to the GPO (as per article 4C2(b) of the GPO rules). The GPO defines "express and binding contract" as a contract which obligates the Media to pay the freelance journalist for the assignment.

How to file an online application?

Fill in your personal and professional information in the first pages; please note the obligatory fields marked with a red asterisk (*).
The last page is the tab for attachments – this is where you should attach a photo, a copy of your passport and your letter of accreditation or proofs of work. News web sites should also include in their application the attached form signed by their Internet provider.

A GPO card requires a nonrefundable payment of NIS 50.

Your application will be sent automatically to the GPO staff member responsible for media from your country. A reference number will be produced after successfully submitting the form. You may keep it for following up on your application.