Internships are a common way to gain experience, explore a field and build professional connections. In Israel, though, they often come with legal questions and persistent myths about whether they are allowed at all. In this article, we look at internships from both sides: the employer’s perspective and the intern’s.
Can you hire an intern in Israel?
In most cases, Israeli law does not recognize a category called “intern.” Outside of specific regulated professions, someone who works for you is usually considered an employee, regardless of the title on their email signature.
If an intern is doing productive work that benefits your organization, Israeli labor law typically applies in full. That means minimum wage, pension contributions, vacation days, sick days and all required social benefits. Calling the role an internship does not remove these obligations. Neither does agreement by the intern to work for free.
In Israel, there is a concept called staj, which refers to a mandatory practical training period required for licensing in certain professions, such as law, psychology, accounting, teaching and medicine. Staj is a formal, regulated stage with its own rules, oversight and in most cases a legal requirement to pay at least minimum wage.
Tourist visas do not allow internships, paid or unpaid. This includes people who arrive on short-term programs or independently arrange an “experience-based” internship.
However, some Masa and similar programs include internships or work placements that are legally permitted because the program has arranged the appropriate visa and approvals in advance. The legality comes from the visa and the structure of the program, not from the fact that the role is called an internship.
Outside of these frameworks, a tourist who interns without work authorization is taking a real risk. The consequences can affect future visas, aliyah eligibility and the sponsoring organization.
Bottom line, if you are bringing someone on as an intern in Israel, assume full employment obligations apply unless you have clear legal guidance stating otherwise.
Can you intern in Israel?
Israeli citizens and permanent residents are generally free to intern anywhere in Israel, subject to standard labor law. If the internship involves real work, you should expect to be paid and receive basic benefits. Unpaid arrangements should raise questions and red flags.
If you’re not a citizen, make sure you are clear on what visa you are on and whether it explicitly allows this work. If the answer is vague or relies on “everyone does it,” that’s a warning sign.
If you are offered an internship, especially one described as a short “trial period,” be aware that in Israel, the absence of a written contract does not remove an employer’s legal obligations. If you’re doing real work, even for “two months,” you are usually considered an employee and entitled to pay and basic protections. You should ask who you are employed by, how you will be paid, what your hours and responsibilities are and under what legal basis the arrangement is allowed. Vague explanations, promises to “formalize things later,” or claims that a trial period does not require a contract are red flags. If the terms are unclear or your work authorization is questionable, it is often safer to walk away than to rely on informal assurances.
Internships in Israel are not casual arrangements. Interns are usually employees, and staj has a specific legal meaning that cannot be redefined. For tourists and non-citizens, proper work authorization is required.
Understanding the legal issues can save everyone time, money and legal trouble, and make internships in Israel a genuinely positive experience.
Sources and further reading: Israeli Labor Court analysis on internships and minimum wage, employer obligations under Israeli labor law, intern rights under Israeli law (in Hebrew) and Masa Israel internship programs.
