FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions

Olim are not required to remain in Israel for a minimum period of time, but their departure might result in the loss and reduction of some benefits. Especially if they leave Israel within the first year of Aliyah, they might have to pay back benefits which were received.

There is no prohibition of leaving Israel or a mandatory minimum stay in Israel. However, consider the following consequences when leaving Israel:

• If you leave Israel in the first 6 months after Aliyah, the Sal-Klita-payments will automatically be frozen upon your departure from Israel and unfrozen as long as you return within the first year of your Aliyah. If however your return exceeds one year after your Aliyah date, you won’t get the Sal Klita-payments anymore and might lose other benefits as well.
• If you leave Israel within the first year of your Aliyah, there is no issue with Bituach Leumi because your national insurance is part of Misrad HaKlita in the first year. If you want to leave Israel after the first year for a longer period of time, check the consequences with Bituach Leumi.

This depends on the country you have your citizenship(s) from. Some countries don’t allow dual citizenships, while others allow even more than two. Israel does allow multiple citizenships. Thus, you have to check the laws of your country of origin. If you need help with this, don’t hesitate to contact us.

The Israeli authorities are aware of the problem that some countries don’t allow dual/multiple citizenship and provide a solution by signing the “waiver to renounce Israeli Citizenship” (Tofes Arli). In practice it means that you don’t get an Israeli passport, but will get a Teudat Zehut and will have all the rights and obligations of an Israeli citizen and Oleh Chadash (besides that you won’t be able to vote in national elections, only in local ones). You do not lose any Aliyah benefits when signing the waiver.

No, until your Aliyah is finalized you are not allowed to work. However, when applying for the change in status at Misrad HaPnim you can also apply for a temporary work permit.

Whether or not you are entitled to an Old-Age pension in Israel depends on several factors. More information can be found here.

According to the law of most European countries, you can also receive an old-age pension while living in Israel. Check the details with your country of origin or contact us.

It depends. According to Israeli law, all Israeli citizens between the ages of 18-21 are required to be enlisted into the IDF. If you fall within this age group, are healthy, and are unmarried, then you may be drafted.

If you are between 22-27 years old, you are exempt from serving but can choose to volunteer for service. Olim (immigrants) who are 28 years old and above do not need to serve and cannot volunteer for service.

Important Note: There are some exceptions to the rule above. Olim may be drafted despite being officially over-age, for example, if they received a deferment or postponed their service until finishing their academic studies. It’s also possible that people who made Aliyah after having an A1 Visa for a few years will be drafted despite being over-age.

To verify your obligation, contact the IDF Meitav Overseas Recruitment Department for instructions, via WhatsApp at +972-52-945-8579, email joinidf@mail.idf.il, or phone at +972-3-7387080

Various factors such as medical health, physical fitness, and marital status are taken into account when determining whether someone will be drafted.

The duration of mandatory service depends on the age at the time of Aliyah (immigration to Israel) and personal status. There is a chart available for reference, specifying the duration based on different factors.

Yes, there are exceptions and extensions. Women in certain roles, such as combat roles, may be required to serve for 32 months. Additionally, there are circumstances where individuals who have postponed their service, received deferments, or made Aliyah after having an A1 visa for a few years may still be drafted for compulsory service, even if they are over 21.

Olim are given 1 year to adapt to living in Israel before being drafted into the IDF. However, some Olim choose to enlist before the completion of this 1-year period.

If someone wishes to enlist within the first year of Aliyah, they can contact the IDF Meitav Overseas Recruitment Department for instructions. They can reach out via WhatsApp at +972-52-945-8579, email at joinidf@mail.idf.il, or phone at +972-3-7387080.

A Tzav Rishon is the first draft notice individuals receive from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), officially making them candidates for the IDF.

Olim Chadashim usually receive a Tzav Rishon by mail at their home address.

A Tzav Rishon includes the time and date for reporting to the Lishkat HaGiyus (לשכת הגיוס) IDF Recruitment Office, a personal code for the IDF website, an information brochure, a medical questionnaire to be completed by a doctor, and public transportation vouchers for free travel to the designated recruitment office.

Make an appointment with your family doctor through your Kupat Cholim (HMO) and bring the forms received from the IDF. The doctor will complete and sign the She’elon Refui Tzav Rishon (שאלון רפואי צו ראשון)medical questionnaire.

The doctor will provide a Hafnaya (הפניה) referral for a urine test.

Print and digitally save the medical questionnaire and urine test results.

Make an appointment with an Rofeh Einayim (רופא עיניים) eye doctor through your Kupat Cholim and bring the appropriate IDF forms. The doctor will complete the necessary section.

Log into your personal zone on the IDF website using the provided password and fill in the required information, including medical details (in addition to the physical form from your doctor).

Upload digital versions of all the above documents to your personal zone on the IDF website.

Keep all paper documents organized and bring them physically when reporting to the IDF recruitment office.

It is advised to upload all the required documents no later than 2 weeks before the appearance date at the IDF recruitment office.

Religious women can get a P’tor (פטור) exemption from army service. Until the P’tor from the army is actually in your hands, you must follow all the instructions of the army. Married women are automatically exempt from IDF service.

It depends. According to Israeli law, all Israeli citizens between the ages of 18-21 are required to be enlisted into the IDF. If you fall within this age group, are healthy, and are unmarried, then you may be drafted.
If you are between 22-27 years old, you are exempt from serving but can choose to volunteer for service. Olim (immigrants) who are 28 years old and above do not need to serve and cannot volunteer for service.
Important Note: There are some exceptions to the rule above. Olim may be drafted despite being officially overage, for example, if they received a deferment or postponed their service until finishing their academic studies. It’s also possible that people who made Aliyah after having an A1 Visa for a few years will be drafted despite being overage.

In general, the duration of service for Olim in this age group (as of June 2020) depends on your age at the time of Aliyah, your personal status, and your state of health. See the following chart for details.

In general, Olim who are between 22-27 years old upon arrival in Israel are exempt from service, but they can choose to volunteer for 18 months. Olim who are 28 years old and above are completely exempt from service and cannot volunteer to serve.

This is IDF lingo for a candidate that is draftable to the IDF by Israeli law.

It depends. Certain pre-existing medical conditions may lead to service exemption. The IDF decides whether to draft you based on your preliminary health screening at your Tzav Rishon ( צו ראשון) First Draft Notice. At this time, you will receive a numeric value referred to as your “profile number.” A service candidate with a numeric profile value of 21 or 24 is dismissed from service. Learn more about the IDF profile number.

The IDF will give you a Hebrew test during your Tzav Rishon. Depending on your results, you may be sent to a 3-month Hebrew Ulpan course at Michva Alon base (the IDF’s education division base).
It is advisable to study well in the Ulpan as this is an important key to successful integration into the IDF – and into Israeli society at large. Hebrew can open doors for you, both professionally and personally, within the IDF and outside of it, so it’s worth the effort to learn the language as best you can before your active service.

Yes, the IDF Ulpan begins after your official drafting. You will go to the Ulpan in uniform, and the 3-month Ulpan course is considered part of your official service.

No. The IDF understands that new Olim need some time to adapt to living in Israel. Therefore, Olim are only officially required to enlist 1 year after their Aliyah date.

Yes, you can enlist before your 1-year adaptation period is over. However, it’s good to know that the IDF runs Ulpan courses only 3 times a year: July-August, November-December, and March-April (the IDF decides on the exact dates).
If you wish to learn Hebrew in the army Ulpan – and we suggest you do – then try to get your draft date arranged accordingly.
If you wish to enlist within your first year of Aliya, contact the IDF Meitav Overseas Recruitment Department for instructions, via WhatsApp at +972-52-945-8579, email joinidf@mail.idf.il, or phone at +972-3-7387080.

No, pregnant women and mothers of children are exempt from serving in the IDF.

The (medical) profile is a number assigned to each potential recruit that reflects their physical and mental fitness for serving in the IDF. It is determined during a person’s Tzav Rishon to the IDF and affects the type of role and duties they will have in the military.
Click here for more information on IDF medical profile numbers.

Yes. Doctors and dentists who make Aliyah have a different status regarding the duration of their military service. There is also a differentiation between male and female doctors/dentists. For more details, click here.

Yes, but there are special stipulations for your case. See here for more details.

Bituach Leumi, also known as the National Insurance Institute, is the government office responsible for social security in Israel. One of its primary responsibilities is to provide financial support for residents of Israel who are temporarily or permanently unable to support themselves. Check out our Guide for more detailed information.

Bituach Leumi is compulsory for every Israeli resident who is 18 years or older, with a few exceptions. Eligibility for insurance benefits and the requirement to pay premiums is determined according to residency in Israel and not citizenship.

There are various categories of individuals who are exempt from paying Bituach Leumi premiums. Some examples are housewives or a woman who is married to or the common-law wife of an insured person and who does not work outside her home and is not an Atzmai, someone receiving a permanent 100% KItzvat Nechut (work disability pension), soldiers in Sherut Sadir (regular military service) or an Israeli resident living in another country with whom Israel has signed a social security convention and who has paid social security in that country.

For more general information click here.

Elderly immigrants who make aliyah above a certain age are not eligible for a pension from Bituach Leumi unless they have no other source of income, in which case they may be eligible for a special pension.

If you temporarily move abroad, you must continue to make monthly Bituach Leumi and Bituach Briut (National Health Insurance) premium payments. A delay in payments while abroad could delay your eligibility to receive Kupat Cholim (HMO healthcare services) for up to six months upon your return.

Bituach Leumi usually considers you an Israeli resident for the first five years abroad. After five years, you will need to prove that your residence overseas is still temporary.

If you move permanently to another country, you have to fill out a form and attach documentation proving that you have moved your primary residence out of Israel. This needs to be submitted within five years of leaving Israel.

As returning residents, you are eligible for Bituach Leumi benefits but will be required to notify Bituach Leumi of your return and provide documentation proving that you have made Israel your main place of residence again. You will of course have to continue or restart to make monthly premium payments as well.

Bituach Leumi collects insurance premiums from all residents according to their income and insurance status and classification and pays benefits to all those eligible. For more details, click here. Fines (and interest) are levied for failing to pay the required taxes.

Bituach Leumi pays benefits to those eligible, assisting people at times of personal crisis such as work termination, disability and work injury. You can view the main benefits here.

Bituach Leumi may provide the unemployed person with funds for a limited time during his/her unemployment. You should report to the Sherut HaTa’asuka (Employment Service) immediately upon termination of employment, and then report on regular days as instructed by the Service.