Foreign-born population – 2025 | 18.7% of the population | Main countries of birth: Former USSR (51%), Morocco (7%), the United States (6%) |
Size: 1.8 million, 55% women | Evolution since 2015: ‑3% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
In 2025, Israel received 22 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status), ‑31% compared to 2024. This figure comprises 29% family members (including accompanying family). Around 47 000 permits were issued to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
Russia, the United States and France were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, France registered the strongest increase (1 000) and Russia the largest decrease (‑14 000) in flows to Israel compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 58%, to reach around 9 600. The majority of applicants came from Sri Lanka (2 800), India (1 000) and Eritrea (900). The largest increase since 2024 concerned nationals of Sri Lanka (2 300) and the largest decrease nationals of Russia (‑300). Of the 6 080 decisions taken in 2025, five were positive.
Emigration of Israeli citizens to OECD countries increased by 8% in 2024, to 12 000. Approximately 37% of this group migrated to the United States, 16% to Germany and 9% to the United Kingdom.
Following a government decision adopted in February 2025, implementation began to enable professional recognition before immigration. The reform introduced remote document submission, temporary licences, shorter internship requirements and faster recognition procedures for professions including engineering, accounting and social work, supporting faster labour market integration of new immigrants.
Israel completed the transition to its Electronic Travel Authorisation system (ETA‑IL) for nationals of visa‑exempt countries. Following its pilot launch in 2024, the ETA-IL system became mandatory on 1 January 2025. After a transition period, from 1 April 2025 onwards, travellers eligible for ETA-IL were no longer permitted to enter Israel without a valid ETA-IL authorisation. ETA‑IL requires visa‑exempt travellers to obtain electronic authorisation before travelling to Israel and is intended to support advance screening and border-management procedures.
In March 2025, the Knesset approved a one‑year extension of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Provision 2022) until 14 March 2026. The legislation maintains restrictions on the granting of citizenship, residence permits and certain stay permits to residents of specified territories and countries, while preserving exemptions in defined humanitarian and other exceptional circumstances. The extension remained one of the principal legislative measures affecting admission and residence policy with respect to the populations covered by the law during the reporting period.
Israel continued to facilitate multiple recruitment channels for labour migration to address persistent labour shortages. During 2025, authorities increased admissions of foreign workers in construction, agriculture, caregiving, trade and services, etc. The overall ceiling allowing foreign workers to represent up to 3.3% of the national population was maintained, and the expanded quota framework was implemented. By early 2026, foreign-worker admissions had increased substantially compared with the levels before the conflict started in 2023. In the construction sector, authorities raised recruitment quotas in the private recruitment track to 40 000, while additional measures were adopted to accelerate the arrival of foreign workers on that channel – for example, by easing skills testing requirements in construction. The government also approved an increase in the quota for foreign workers in trade and services (to 29 000 by 2026) and continued recruitment initiatives in agriculture and caregiving.
Israel also strengthened integration measures for foreign workers recruited under the expanded programmes, while intensifying compliance inspections and enforcement against unauthorised employment. Increased monitoring focussed particularly on construction, agriculture, hospitality, trade and service activities.
Israel continued to apply protection measures for Ukrainian nationals who are not eligible for immigration under the Law of Return. Existing arrangements concerning lawful stay and protection from removal remained in force.
For further information: www.gov.il/en
