Applying for a Temporary Visa to Practice Medicine in Israel for Foreign National Physicians

• A “temporary visa for a specialist” to perform a specific procedure or surgery (for a limited time).
• A “temporary visa for a physician in training” (for extended periods of time).

Only an accredited medical center that sponsors foreign national physicians to practice medicine or perform medical procedures in that medical center may apply for a temporary visa.

Physicians seeking a residency or joining a continuing education program in Israel

• Graduates of foreign medical schools who pursue a residency or clinical training in Israel for more than one year must pass the Israel Medical Licensure Examination or the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge.
• Foreign medical graduates who wish to pursue residency in any specialty in Israel may take the Israeli Residency Examinations (Stage A and Stage B) only after they pass the Israel Medical Licensure Examination.
• Physicians with a temporary visa may not practice medicine in a ward other than the one specified in the temporary visa. If a residency requires practicing in a ward other than the one specified in the visa, it is necessary to submit an application for a temporary visa to practice medicine for each ward ahead of time, noting the relevant times.
• Foreign national physicians on a temporary visa in any medical field who are residents of Israel and need a confirmation of their residency from the Scientific Council of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) must apply for a medical trainee record with the IMA’s Scientific Council.
  More information on the medical trainee record (Hebrew)

The application must include the following:

• A photocopy of the applicant's passport.
• A credential proving graduation from an accredited foreign medical school.
• Also attach:
  • Proof of completion of six years of medical studies at an accredited foreign medical school (Hebrew).
  • Proof of completion of a one-year internship following graduation from an accredited medical school (Hebrew).
• A license to practice medicine in a country other than Israel.
• A specialist certificate (if applicable).
• An application to take the state examinations in medicine.
• A questionnaire for healthcare professionals.

• The medical center must send the application for a temporary visa via registered mail to the Medical Professions Licensure Division of the Ministry of Health at 39 Yirmiyahu Street, P.O.B 1176, Jerusalem 9101002.
• Alternatively, it is possible to submit the application in person to security on the ground floor of the Ministry of Health offices, address: 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem.
  • The application must be submitted in a sealed envelope.
  • A confirmation of receipt will be given on site.

• Once an application is approved, the sponsoring medical center is notified:
  • via email - to the director of the ward.
  • via mail - to the management.
• The sponsoring medical center is responsible for notifying the physician once the temporary visa is approved.

The visa is time-limited and allows physicians to practice medicine only in a specific ward in the sponsoring medical center.

Physicians with a temporary visa are not allowed to:

• provide care to patients outside of the sponsoring medical center.
• sign papers for public authorities, the police, or judicial or quasi-judicial instances.
• sign prescriptions.
• sign hospital discharge forms.
• work on shifts.