Aliyah

Thinking about making Aliyah?

The Jewish Agency is here to support Olim and anyone planning their move to Israel, guiding you through every step of the Aliyah and integration process

Thinking about making Aliyah?

The Jewish Agency is here to support Olim and anyone planning their move to Israel, guiding you through every step of the Aliyah and integration process

Thinking about making Aliyah?

The Jewish Agency is here to support Olim and anyone planning their move to Israel, guiding you through every step of the Aliyah and integration process

Thinking about making Aliyah?

The Jewish Agency is here to support Olim and anyone planning their move to Israel, guiding you through every step of the Aliyah and integration process

Aliyah to Israel is living testimony to the strength and hope of the Jewish people.

New olim have the power to contribute to the growth of Israeli society.

This is the story of all of us – a story of mutual responsibility and the daily building of the Jewish future here in Israel.

The Jewish Agency, together with the Government of Israel, assists new Olim from the moment they decide to make Aliyah, through the preparation journey leading up to their Aliyah, and through their absorption and full integration into life in Israel.

Abroad, we operate in dozens of countries together with Jewish communities across the Diaspora. In Israel, we are prepared with dozens of absorption centers and a wide range of support and integration programs in employment, academia, Hebrew studies (ulpan), and housing, enabling every Oleh to integrate into Israeli society and succeed.

Aliyah

Aliyah Events Calendar
From global Aliyah fairs and webinars to community meetups in Israel

To the Aliyapp calendar →

Walking Together: Your Aliyah Journey in 7 Simple Steps

  • First step: Initial Aliyah Questionnaire

    Your journey begins with our online questionnaire, designed to help us understand your status and tailor the best support for your Aliyah.

    Open your Aliyah file

  • Second step: Consultation with an Aliyah Account Manager

    Within two business days of submission, a personal account manager will contact you to review your details and guide you through the next steps. You may also contact our Global Center at any time.

  • Third step: Online Aliyah File

    At the conclusion of your call, your Aliyah Account Manager will open your online Aliyah file through the Aliyah Journey Portal. From this stage, you will be able to manage your Aliyah process in a secure and user-friendly online environment, and monitor the status of your application at any time. Through the portal, you can complete the required questionnaires and upload the necessary documents (such as birth certificates, passport copies, marital status certificates, police clearance certificates, proof of your connection to Judaism, etc.).

  • Forth step: The Aliyah Interview

    We will conduct a personal interview to align expectations and provide expert guidance. Original documents must be presented at this stage.

  • Fifth step: Eligibility Approval

    Your file will be reviewed by our eligibility department. Please note that additional documentation and information may be requested at this stage. Once confirmed, you will receive a formal approval letter via email.

  • Sixth step: Finalizing Your Move

    Manage the final arrangements, including visa issuance, flight coordination for eligible Olim, and notifying Israeli authorities of your arrival.

  • Welcome Home!

    We look forward to welcoming you to Israel with open arms! We invite you to explore our integration programs.

    Our integration programs

frequently asked questions

How long does the process take from opening a file until the actual Aliyah flight?

The process usually takes between 3 to 6 months, depending largely on your ability to supply all the requested documents and on the necessity to supply additional documents or information.

Aliyah

Should I make Aliyah from within Israel or from my country of residence?

This is a personal decision. In either case, you will need to supply the same documentation and you will be entitled to the same benefits.

If you decide to do the process abroad, you will apply through the Jewish Agency.

If you decide to do it in Israel, you will apply directly through the Population and Immigration Authority. In some cases, the Jewish Agency can assist in the process of Aliyah from within Israel.

Aliyah

What documents are required to apply for Aliyah?

The Aliyah application process is an official process for requesting Israeli nationality under the Israeli Law of Return. Therefore, you will need to present legalized original documentation, including birth certificate, Marital status documents, criminal background check, valid passport, and proof of your connection to Judaism.

Additional documents may be required.

Aliyah

Which documents are proof of my connection to Judaism?

To prove your connection to Judaism you must present a letter written by an affiliated rabbi of an affiliated Jewish Community or conversion documents. Additional documents may be required.

Aliyah

As a new immigrant, will I be covered by Israeli health insurance?

Every new immigrant is covered, by law, by national health insurance. You will have to choose a health fund, and you will be covered from the day of registration. Health insurance fees are set according to your income.

There is a co-payment for approved medications. National health insurance does not cover dental treatment or eyeglasses, although these may be subsidized by your health fund.

Aliyah

Do I have any rights and benefits as a new immigrant?

Yes!

1. Aliyah and integration benefits: The rights and benefits for new Olim (immigrants) are mostly administered by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. You will meet their representative upon your arrival in Israel, or by setting an appointment with them after you make Aliyah from within Israel.

For official information please see the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration website.

2. Taxation: New immigrants are entitled to certain benefits in their tax payments. The main benefits for new immigrants who became citizens since January 1st 2007 and onwards are as follows:

10 years exemption from tax paying on foreign-source income (i.e., income derived outside of Israel).
10 years exclusion from definition as an Israeli company resident – for a company established abroad and owned by an “Oleh” or a “Senior Returning Resident”.
Option to be considered a foreign resident for taxation purposes, for one year from arrival.
3.5 (if you made Aliyah before 2022) or 4,5 years (if you made Aliyah after 2022) of entitlement to tax credits, with options of extension. It is highly recommended to discuss your finances with a finance professional in order to fully understand and maximize this benefit.
3. Shipping and customs: In the three years after Aliyah, an Oleh can send up to three shipments to Israel without paying the customs tax upon their release. The goods should be for personal use only.

Olim pay the full cost of shipping. During the three years after Aliyah, an Oleh is entitled to buy a car with a reduced tax payment. In order to be eligible for this benefit, the Oleh must hold a permanent driver’s license from his country of origin before Aliyah and a valid Israeli driver’s license. The benefit is only valid for a new vehicle or for the purchase of a used vehicle that another Oleh bought with this benefit.

Check here for official information

4. Housing assistance: Rental assistance starts from the eighth month after Aliyah. The eligibility period is up to five years.

The level of assistance is determined according to marital status and number of years residing in Israel. Olim receives up to 90% reduction of their Arnona (municipality tax). The reduction is for up to 100 square meters of the apartment. Available for 12 months, during one of the first two years after Aliyah. First-time homebuyers are eligible for assistance in the form of a mortgage for a limited sum with a subsidized interest rate within 15 years of Aliyah date.

An Oleh is entitled to a discount on the payment of property tax for a property purchased in Israel in the period between one year before Aliyah and seven years after.

Aliyah

Will I have to serve in the Israeli army?

The right and obligation to serve in the IDF, as well as the length of your service, are linked to your age at the time of arrival in Israel which is not always the time of your Aliyah, and your family status at the time of induction.

The IDF is the sole authority regarding eligibility or exemption from service. We recommend you to be directly in touch with them, even before your Aliyah.

Visit their site for more accurate information

Aliyah

How is eligibility for Aliyah determined?

Eligibility for Aliyah is determined by the Israeli Law of Return.
The Law of Return is a civil law which sets the criteria allowing Jews and their families to immigrate to Israel. If you fit the criteria, you may be eligible for Aliyah.

Law of Return, 1950*:

Every Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel.
(a) Immigration will be based on an immigrant visa. (b) An immigrant visa will be granted to any Jew who has expressed his desire to settle in Israel, except if the Minister of the Interior is present that the applicant – 1) acts against the Jewish people; or (2) may endanger public health or state security; or (3) Has a criminal record that may endanger public peace.
(a) A Jew who came to Israel and after his arrival expressed his desire to settle there, may, while in Israel, receive an immigrant certificate.
(b) The express stipulations in section 2(b) will also apply to the issuance of an immigrant certificate, except that a person will not be considered a public health hazard due to an illness contracted after coming to Israel.
Every Jew who immigrated to the Land before the entry into force of this law, and every Jew who was born in the Land either before the entry into force of this law or after it, those who immigrated according to this law will be judged according to law.
4a. (a) The rights of a Jew according to this law and the rights of an immigrant according to the Citizenship Law, 1952, as well as the rights of an immigrant according to any other legislation, are also granted to the child and grandchild of a Jew, the spouse of a Jew, and the spouse of a child and grandchild of a Jew, the widow/er of a Jew, and the widow/er of a child and grandchild of a Jew; to exclude a person who was Jewish and converted voluntarily. (b) There is no issue of whether a Jew on whose authority a right is claimed according to subsection (a) is still alive or not and whether he immigrated to Israel or not. (c) The stipulations and conditions established regarding a Jew or an immigrant in this law or pursuant to it or in the enactments as stated in subsection (a), shall also apply to those who claim a right according to subsection (a).
4b. For the purposes of this law, a “Jew” is someone who is born to a Jewish mother or who converts and is not a member of another religion.
The Minister of the Interior is in charge of the implementation of this law, and he is entitled to establish regulations regarding its implementation as well as the granting of immigrant visas and immigrant certificates to minors up to the age of 18.

Aliyah

Can I receive Israeli citizenship without coming to Israel?

Not unless you were born outside of Israel to Israeli parents. Immigrating to Israel under the Israeli Law of Return requires settling in Israel.

Aliyah

How long do I have to stay in Israel after my Aliyah?

While intent to settle in Israel is an integral part of the Law of Return, there is no limitation on going in and out of the country after your Aliyah.

However, some of your Aliyah benefits may be affected. During the first 3 months of your Aliyah you may use a passport from your country of origin, along with a document from the Population and Immigration Authority to travel.

After that period, you will need a travel document to travel in and out of Israel.

Aliyah

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