Essential Guides
Step-by-step guides for navigating Israeli procedures, services, and benefits
Healthcare
Choose your health fund, register with doctors, and navigate the Israeli healthcare system
9 Guides •15-25 min each • Beginner Friendly
Reduced Health-Fund Payment Cap for Olim
As an Oleh in your first year in Israel, your family is entitled to a 50% reduction in the quarterly payment cap for certain health-fund services. The benefit applies automatically — no application needed.
Filing a Complaint Against Your Health Fund (Kupat Cholim)
How to escalate a problem with your kupat cholim — refused referrals, denied treatments, service failures, or suspected negligence. The 2-step escalation: internal complaint to the fund first, then the Public Complaints Commissioner at the Ministry of Health under the National Health Insurance Law.
Form 17 (Hitchayvut) — Health Fund Commitment Form
What Form 17 is, when you need it, and how to get one from your kupat cholim. The Form 17 (*hitchayvut*) is the commitment-to-pay form your health fund issues so a specialist, hospital, or imaging centre will treat you without billing you privately. Required for nearly all appointments outside your home clinic.
Switching Between Health Funds (Changing Your Kupat Cholim)
How to switch from one health fund to another in Israel — who can switch, how often, the online and in-person processes, what waiting period applies, and when supplementary insurance carries over. Governed by the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) and the National Health Insurance Law.
Choosing a Kupat Cholim (Health Fund)
Israel has four health funds (Kupot Cholim) — Clalit, Maccabi, Meuchedet, and Leumit. In terms of coverage all four are obligated to provide the same basic basket of health services, so choosing between them comes down to Geography and Accessibility, Recommendations, and Particular Services or Doctors. This guide walks you through how to pick the right one for your family.
Medical Interpretation Center *5144 (Translation Services for Patients)
The Ministry of Health's Medical Interpretation Center at *5144 provides free spoken-language translation between medical staff and patients during appointments. Available in Russian, Arabic, French, Amharic, and Tigrinya across public hospitals, health bureaus, and partner HMOs.
People in Need of Long-Term Care (Siud): Rights and Services
When an older adult (or in some cases a younger person) becomes dependent on care due to a stroke, cancer, accident, or dementia, the family faces a rapid learning curve — hospital discharge planning, applying for the National Insurance long-term care benefit (Gimla Siud), employing a caregiver, medical rehabilitation, and often costly home modifications. This guide is a comprehensive walkthrough of the rights and services available in Israel — for the patient and for family caregivers.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) in Israel
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of the most common advanced fertility treatments — an ovum and sperm are united in a laboratory dish rather than in the fallopian tube, and the resulting embryo is implanted in the uterus.
Health Insurance in Israel
Every Israeli resident is covered by health insurance, giving you the right to services within the basket of healthcare services (sal habriut).
Housing
Find your home in Israel - rental market, contracts, and apartment search guidance
3 Guides •45 min • Essential
Rental Assistance for Olim
If you are an Oleh without a home of your own, you can receive rental assistance. In your first months in Israel it comes through the Absorption Basket (Sal Klita), and after that you are automatically entitled to a rental allowance from the Ministry of Construction and Housing.
Mortgage Assistance for Olim Buying a Home
If you hold a valid Teudat Oleh and are classified as without an apartment, you may be eligible for a mortgage (mashkanta) to help you buy or build a home. You have up to 15 years from the date of your Aliyah to use this benefit. The amount you receive depends on your age, family status, and how long you have lived in Israel.
Eligibility for Public Housing Assistance for Olim
The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad HaKlita), together with the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Ministry of Finance, works to allocate housing solutions for eligible Olim. Public housing means state-subsidised housing — either through rental assistance or the allocation of a state-owned apartment rented to you at a subsidised, graduated rate.
Employment
Launch your career in Israel - professional licensing, job search, and employment guidance
12 Guides •3-12 months • Intermediate
What Should You Pay Attention to If You're Being Dismissed?
A plain-English overview of your rights when your employer starts a dismissal process — the dismissal hearing (Shimua), notice period, and the documents you should receive when your employment ends.
Annual Vacation Days (Chufsha Shnatit)
Every employee in Israel is entitled to at least 12 vacation days per year — with the exact number depending on seniority, work scope, and sector. During vacation you receive Dmei Chufsha (vacation pay) equal to your regular salary. This guide covers who is eligible, how many days you get, who decides when you take them, the choice-day rules, and what happens with unused days at the end of employment.
Convalescence Pay (Dmei Havra'a)
Dmei Havra'a is an annual employee benefit — a fixed payment (₪ per day, times the number of days set by your seniority) that Israeli employers must pay to employees who have completed at least 1 full year of work. This guide covers who is eligible, how many days you get, how it's calculated for part-time and hourly workers, when and how it's paid, and what to do if your employer refuses.
Sick Days
Employees in Israel accrue a minimum of 1.5 sick days per full month of work (18 per year, up to a 90-day cap) and are entitled to sick pay from their employer when they can't work due to illness — their own or, in certain cases, a family member's. This guide covers how sick days accrue, how sick pay is calculated, when you're not entitled, the process for claiming, protection from firing while sick, and sectors with better-than-minimum terms.
Writing an Israeli-Style CV
A practical guide to preparing a resume that fits Israeli hiring conventions — what to include, what to leave out, and how to format it for both automated screening systems and human recruiters.
Using LinkedIn for the Israeli Job Market
A practical guide to LinkedIn for Olim — what it's for, why it's especially valuable in Israel's hi-tech-heavy job market, how to set up a profile that recruiters can actually find, and how to use the platform to land work.
How to Prepare for a Job Interview in Israel
A practical guide to preparing for job interviews in Israel — the cultural differences, how to research the company, structuring a concise self-introduction, preparing specific examples, and the small touches that move interviews forward.
Where and How to Look for a Job in Israel
A practical, Olim-focused guide to the Israeli job search — the main job boards, when to use recruitment agencies, how to make walk-in applications work, why networking is the single highest-leverage channel here, and how the Israeli referral practice actually works.
How to Talk About Salary and Employment Terms in Israel
How salary conversations actually work in Israel — why openly discussing compensation is normal, how to prepare for the salary question, smart negotiation techniques, what your employment contract should cover, how to read your tlush maskoret (payslip), and the Keren Hishtalmut savings benefit worth asking about.
8 Common Mistakes Olim Make When Looking for a Job in Israel
The eight job-search mistakes that most often hold Olim back — résumé and personal branding, strategy, networking, cultural differences, interview prep, Hebrew confidence, salary expectations, and the emotional traps. Practical, direct advice for entering the Israeli workforce.
Initial Registration with the Employment Service
To be eligible for unemployment benefits or income support, you need to register with your nearest Employment Service office (lishkat hataasuka) as a job seeker. You can complete your initial registration online and then visit the office to finalise it within 14 days.
Unemployment Benefits (Dmei Avtala)
If you've been dismissed, resigned, or placed on unpaid leave (chal"at) by your employer, you may be entitled to unemployment benefits (dmei avtala) from the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). Read on to find out who qualifies, how much you can receive, and how to claim.
Education
Hebrew learning, schools, universities, and educational resources for new immigrants
6 Guides •20-40 min each • Beginner Friendly
Tzaharon (After-School Programme) Funding for Kindergarten Children
The Ministry of Labor helps fund tzaharonim (after-school programmes) for kindergarten-age children whose parents work or study. Funding is available for couples living in socioeconomic clusters 6–7 and single parents in clusters 6–10. This guide covers eligibility, application, funding levels, and how the process works.
Registering Your Child for a Recognised Daycare Centre
Any baby or child up to age 3 who is an Israeli resident or citizen can register for a government-supervised recognised daycare centre (ma'on yom). The daycare may not refuse to register your child for any reason, including excess demand.
After-School Program Subsidies for Children in the Education System
The Ministry of Education subsidises the cost of public after-school programs (tzaharon) in kindergartens and in grades 1–2, based on the [socio-economic cluster](https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/doclib/2024/230/24_24_230t1.pdf) where your family lives. Prices for these programs are regulated and subject to maximum pricing set by the Ministry of Education.
Evaluation of Foreign Academic Degrees and Diplomas
Foreign academic degree evaluation in Israel — what it's for, how to apply through Misrad HaKlita's Personal Area, the document list and contact details. The evaluation is required for public-sector salary grading and access to public tenders.
Daycare and Family Daycare Funding for Oleh Parents
The state helps Oleh parents cover the cost of supervised daycare centres and family daycare frameworks. As an Oleh, you may be entitled to funding at Grade 3 of the tuition participation table for each of your children — with no means test required.
Bagrut Exam Accommodations for Olim Students
From the 2015 school year onwards, students who made Aliyah and are studying in grade 10 or above are entitled to accommodations and adjustments in their Bagrut (matriculation) exams. Here's what you need to know.
Finance
Banking, taxes, and financial planning for new immigrants in Israel
5 Guides •30-45 min each • Essential
National Insurance Contribution Exemption for New Olim from the United States
From January 2026, if you made Aliyah from the United States and pay U.S. social insurance contributions on your work income, you're exempt from paying Israeli National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) contributions on that same income. This exemption applies for the first 5 years after your Aliyah.
Opening a Bank Account
How new Olim open a bank account in Israel to receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the National Insurance Institute.
Application for Partial Purchase Tax Discount for Olim (Form 2973)
This service enables Olim to apply for a one-time purchase tax reduction when purchasing a residential apartment, and a one-time purchase tax reduction when purchasing a business.
Income Tax Benefits for Olim — the 2025-2026 Tax Reform
A landmark tax reform approved for new Olim and long-time returning residents arriving in Israel from 5 November 2025 through the end of 2026: a phased 0% income-tax exemption on earned income (up to ₪1,000,000 in peak years) for up to 5 years. Existing benefits — Aliyah tax credit points and the 10-year foreign-income exemption — remain in force alongside the new reform. This guide walks you through eligibility, exemption amounts by year, income types covered, anti-abuse rules, and how to apply.
Arnona Discount for Olim
As an Oleh, you may be entitled to a significant discount on your arnona (municipal property tax). The exact discount amount is set by your local authority and can vary from one municipality to another.
Benefits & Entitlements
Financial assistance, Sal Klita, and National Insurance benefits for new immigrants
5 Guides •1-3 hours each • Essential
Coordinating National Insurance Deductions for Salaried Employees
If you're a salaried employee with income from more than one employer, or you receive an early pension alongside employment, you may be paying more in National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) and health insurance contributions than you need to. You can request a coordination (teum) to prevent over-deduction — and if too much has already been withheld, you can apply for a refund.
Special Services Allowance and Disability Benefit for Olim
If you are an Oleh with a severe disability and depend on another person for daily activities, you may be eligible for a Special Services Allowance for Olim (Kitzbat Sherutim Meyuchadim Le'Olim) and a Special Disability Benefit for Olim (Kitzbat Nechut Meyuchedet Le'Olim) during your first year in Israel. Eligibility is based on your level of dependence on others — not on a medical percentage of disability.
Registering as Common-Law Partners (Yaduim be-tzibur) with the National Insurance Institute
If you and your partner live together but are not married, you can register as common-law partners (Yaduim be-tzibur) with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). Once registered, you have the same rights and obligations under national insurance as married couples. If you stop living as common-law partners, you must notify Bituach Leumi in writing.
Special Old-Age Benefit for Olim and Returning Residents
An Israeli resident who is ineligible for a standard old-age pension may be entitled to a special old-age benefit, funded by the Ministry of Finance. This benefit is aimed at Olim who first came to Israel after age 62 (men) or retirement age (women) and are not covered by old-age insurance, and at Returning Residents (Toshavim Chozrim) who did not accrue the required qualifying period.
Exemption from National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) Contributions
As a rule, every Israeli resident aged 18 and over is legally required to pay National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) contributions. Certain groups are exempt — and in some cases the exemption applies for a limited period only.
Daily Life
Phone plans, utilities, and everyday essentials for settling into life in Israel
1 Guide •30 min - 2 hours each • Beginner Friendly
Immigration & Legal
Visa types, residency, citizenship, and legal rights for new immigrants
7 Guides •30 min - several months • Intermediate
Hebrew Language Studies at an Ulpan for New Olim
Two main tracks to learn Hebrew with state support: free Ministry of Education public ulpan, and the Voucher Program for private ulpanim for Olim who've completed the public introductory ulpan.
Absorption Basket (Sal Klita)
Most Olim are entitled to an absorption basket (sal klita) — a financial support package that includes living allowances for 6 months and help with rent.
Applying for an Israeli Travel Document (Teudat Ma'avar)
This service lets Israeli citizens apply for a travel document (Teudat Ma'avar) — whether it's your first one, a renewal, or a replacement after loss, theft, damage, or wear.
Volunteering for National-Civic Service
If you received an exemption from mandatory military service, or were never called up for it, you can volunteer for national-civic service. The service lasts at least one year.
Application for an Israeli Travel Document for Olim
This guide sets out the Population and Immigration Authority's procedure for handling travel document applications from Olim. The type of document you receive — a full Israeli passport or a Teudat Ma'avar (laissez-passer) — depends on how long it has been since your Aliyah and how much time you have spent in Israel.
Changing Your Address in the Population Registry
Israeli citizens and residents can change their address in the Population Registry. You can submit your request online in most cases, but some situations require a personal visit to a Population Authority office.
Who Qualifies as a Returning Resident (Toshav Chozer)?
Toshavim Chozrim who meet the definition and criteria of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (Misrad HaKlita) may be eligible for government assistance, based on the regulations and laws in effect on the date their status is granted.
Military Service
Army enlistment, service obligations, and exemptions for new Olim
7 Guides •1-6 months • Essential
Financial Benefits for Lone Soldiers
The concrete financial benefits every Lone Soldier (chayal boded or chayelet bodeda) is entitled to during mandatory service — monthly grants, shopping and holiday vouchers, flight funding, marriage grants, and the Kochavim points system.
Ministry of Aliyah and Integration Grant for Lone Soldiers and Lone National-Civic Service Volunteers
The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration provides ongoing support to Olim serving as Lone Soldiers and Lone National-Civic Service Volunteers — a monthly grant paid on top of regular military pay. Here's what you can claim and how.
Housing Options for Lone Soldiers
The five concrete housing options the IDF provides to Lone Soldiers — Beit HaChayal residential buildings, Yachad LeMa'an HaChayal 'Beit Cham' apartments, kibbutz adoption, monthly rent reimbursement, and maintenance expense reimbursement.
Applying for Lone Soldier Recognition
A soldier who lacks family support during military service can apply for recognition as a "lone soldier" (chayal boded or chayelet bodeda) and receive assistance from the IDF. Submit your application to the recruitment office or to your unit, depending on whether you have already been drafted.
What to Pack for Military Service: A Complete Checklist
A practical packing checklist for new IDF recruits to help you arrive prepared and settle into your first days on base with less stress. Covers clothing, important documents, toiletries, essentials, and optional items — plus tips on what's included in the welcome kit and what's not permitted on base.
Leave and Vacation for Lone Soldiers
The seven leave categories every Lone Soldier (chayal boded or chayelet bodeda) is entitled to during mandatory service — Errand Day, apartment-move leave, leave to visit parents in Israel, leave to visit parents abroad, special economic leave with food allowance, emergency flight funding, and early departure for Shabbat/holiday.
Rights and Benefits for Discharged Lone Soldiers
Every honorably discharged Lone Soldier (chayal boded meshuchrar / chayelet bodeda meshuchreret) is entitled to a wide package of benefits — Discharge Grant, Personal Deposit, scholarships, career counselling, housing assistance, public-body discounts, and BeHatzdaa Club membership.
National Insurance
Bituach Leumi registration, social security, and benefits for new Olim
5 Guides •30-60 min each • Essential
Coordinating National Insurance Deductions for Salaried Employees
If you're a salaried employee with income from more than one employer, or you receive an early pension alongside employment, you may be paying more in National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) and health insurance contributions than you need to. You can request a coordination (teum) to prevent over-deduction — and if too much has already been withheld, you can apply for a refund.
Special Services Allowance and Disability Benefit for Olim
If you are an Oleh with a severe disability and depend on another person for daily activities, you may be eligible for a Special Services Allowance for Olim (Kitzbat Sherutim Meyuchadim Le'Olim) and a Special Disability Benefit for Olim (Kitzbat Nechut Meyuchedet Le'Olim) during your first year in Israel. Eligibility is based on your level of dependence on others — not on a medical percentage of disability.
Registering as Common-Law Partners (Yaduim be-tzibur) with the National Insurance Institute
If you and your partner live together but are not married, you can register as common-law partners (Yaduim be-tzibur) with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). Once registered, you have the same rights and obligations under national insurance as married couples. If you stop living as common-law partners, you must notify Bituach Leumi in writing.
Special Old-Age Benefit for Olim and Returning Residents
An Israeli resident who is ineligible for a standard old-age pension may be entitled to a special old-age benefit, funded by the Ministry of Finance. This benefit is aimed at Olim who first came to Israel after age 62 (men) or retirement age (women) and are not covered by old-age insurance, and at Returning Residents (Toshavim Chozrim) who did not accrue the required qualifying period.
Exemption from National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) Contributions
As a rule, every Israeli resident aged 18 and over is legally required to pay National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) contributions. Certain groups are exempt — and in some cases the exemption applies for a limited period only.
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