Discounts on El Al flights to Israel
Returning residents may receive a discount on flights to Israel when returning permanently. This discount is given only for El Al flights. Tickets must be bought directly from an El Al office and not via a travel agent.
Authorization for ticket discounts may be obtained from the Israeli Consulate.

Accompanying Luggage
Returning residents are entitled to excess baggage for every traveler over the age of two without additional payment. The exact weight will be determined at the El Al office in each location.

Employment
A returning resident may receive assistance in finding employment from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

Assured Income
Assured income is given to people who are looking for work, i.e. those who register at the Employment Service. The period of eligibility for assured income is up to three continuous months.

Both spouses are obligated to register at the Employment Service. If one spouse is exempt from doing so, he must submit approval of this. If one spouse is working the family is not entitled to receive the assured income. If the salary of the working spouse is lower than the minimum wage, he may contact the National Insurance Institute to check their eligibility for supplementary income payments.

If one of the couple returns to Israel before the rest of the family, the family will not receive assured income. The individual who returned to Israel first must submit a document authorizing their spouse's approval of bringing the children to Israel.

It is recommended that one register at the Employment Service at the beginning of the month, in order to receive pay for a full month. A person who registered in the middle of the month will receive partial payment relative to the remaining days of the month.
Payment for part of a month is considered as one of the three months of eligibility.

Payment is transferred directly to the resident's bank account. (it is recommended that one open a bank account as soon as possible.)
Assistance from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption is dependent on authorization that a request for income supplement was given to the National Insurance Institute.

Assured income While Studying in Courses
A Returning Resident who has been approved to study in a recognized retraining, professional training, licensing or qualifying courses, may receive assured income during the period of the course. Assistance will be given to those studying in professional courses lasting up to one year, according to the recommendation of the Employment Service or other authorized body. Those in courses are not entitled to assistance from the National Insurance Institute.
Most courses held by the Ministry of Labor do not require tuition fees.

Refunding of exam fees
A returning resident is entitled to a refund on the licensing examination fees up to an amount determined periodically.

Participation in tuition fees of external courses
Participation in tuition fees of courses which are not conducted by the Ministries of Absorption and Labor will be given only for courses that raise the applicants' chances of finding suitable employment and according to budgetary considerations of the Employment Department.

Assistance in the placement of academics in government offices and public organizations
A returning resident who has been approved for employment assistance and who has found work must contact the employment coordinator at the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in order to check out the possibilities involved in his first period of employment. This must be done prior to commencement of work.
Assistance will be authorized according to the request of the employer and will be transferred directly to the organization employing the returning resident.
For additional information, see section on "Employment".

Assistance to artists
A returning resident recognized by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as an artist may receive assistance from the Ministry.
An artist may contact the professional committee at the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and request to be recognized as such. Such status will also be given to those employed in their field in the cultural life in Israel, according to regulations.

The professional committee operates in the following fields:
Plastic arts, music, theatrical arts, circus arts, dance, movies, television and literature.

Assistance to Eligible Artists:
  One-time monetary grant for the purchase of professional tools or equipment.

  Assistance in introducing the artist to the public, such as publication of ones first book in Israel, first recording, concert or public appearance, exhibition, catalogue, participation in fairs and events, etc.

  Special courses for artists.

  Participation in tuition fees.

Information may be obtained, after your return to Israel, from the coordinator for Returning residents at the branches of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

An artist who is recognized by the professional committee as an "excellent" artist may receive recommendation for additional assistance from the inter-ministrial committee for the absorption of artists and from other funds and organizations.

For additional information on assistance to artists, see section on "Employment".

Assistance to entrepreneurs - business counseling
The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption assists entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing small businesses in Israel. Assistance is offered via small business development centers (MATI), which operate in many locations around the country.

Services offered by MATI:
  Clarification of capabilities in running a business.

  Market and profitability examinations.

  Preparation of a business plan.

  Connections to sources of financing - banks and funds.

  Location of partners or potential investors.

  Counseling and business guidance, as needed.

Returning residents are entitled to a discount in counseling fees with approval of Returning resident status.

Additional information may be received:
Abroad - Contact the Rishon LeZion branch of MATI, (03) 9674704/9674228;
moti@matirishon.org.il
You can also contact the Israeli consulate in your community.
In Israel - the coordinator for Returning residents at branchs of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, or the MATI branch closest to you.

Small Business Development Centers (MATI) - see"Addresses".

For additional information on assistance to entrepreneurs, see the chapter on "Business Entrepreneurship".Or visit www.2binisrael.org.il

Absorption of Scientists
The Center for the Absorption of Scientists assists in the absorption of immigrant scientists and returning scientists into R&D systems in Israel.
The Center operates in two fields:
1. Connections with potential employers.
2. Participation in the partial funding of employment and research costs, according to previously defined criteria.

The Center assists scientists in Israel and abroad prior to their return
Assistance is dependent on approval from the Center for Absorption in Science approval of eligibility from the Committee for Returning residents, and the obtaining of a Returning resident certificate.

More information may be found in the section on "Absorption of Scientists".

Assistance to Lone Soldiers
A returning resident serving in the I.D.F. who is recognized as a lone soldier or as a soldier who is entitled to family assistance, may receive a monetary grant from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption during his military service in addition to the assistance he receives from the army.

Additional information on soldiers may be found in the section on "Army Service".

Families of Returning residents who have children may receive assistance as "immigrant citizens", or "returning minors". For more information see chapter Assistance Regulations.