Returning to Israel
The State of Israel invests great effort in encouraging all of its citizens who reside abroad to return to Israel, and in easing their integration.
In recent years, the Government of Israel has been providing returning residents with extensive support and assistance and offering a wide range of vocational and social options, in order to facilitate their return home. As part of these efforts, an unprecedented program of special benefits was launched in 2007 that drew tens of thousands of Israelis back to Israel.
This year, too, the Government has approved a wide-ranging assistance program, designed to encourage you to return to Israel and ease your homecoming.
The program includes:
Full refund of the health insurance redemption fee
Customs and income tax benefits
Vocational integration
Tax benefits and assistance in setting up a business
Additional teaching hours for schoolchildren
This assistance is in addition to the variety of services provided to returning Israelis by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption through its comprehensive service infrastructure.
Duration of the Program and Terms of Eligibility
The new program of benefits applies to persons returning to Israel starting from May 16, 2010, until September 30, 2012 (apart from the Customs benefit, which applies to persons returning to Israel starting from July 1, 2010), who satisfy the following conditions:
- They hold Israeli citizenship
- They intend to resettle permanently in Israel
- At least five years have passed since departing Israel. (eligibility for Customs and Income Tax concessions following residence of at least six years overseas).
- They have not spent more than four months in Israel during each year of absence
- Neither spouse was employed overseas by an Israeli public employer
- One spouse performed military service, National Service, or civilian service, both spouses were exempt from military service for reasons of age, or because the woman was married, was pregnant or the mother a child, for health reasons or because of service in a foreign army (this condition is not relevant for receiving eligibility for Customs and Income Tax concessions).
- Neither spouse received assistance previously as a returning resident (from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption).
An individual who, for any reason, is not eligible to receive “returning resident” status from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, and who resided overseas for six years or more, can consult directly with the Income Tax Authority in order to determine their eligibility for concessions with them.
Returning residents who resided abroad for between two and five years, and who return during the special program period (May 16, 2010 to September 30, 2012) can be eligible for the regular services and assistance provided to returning residents by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
For more information:
Government Decision No. 1687 from May 16, 2010 – Encouraging the Return of Expatriate Israelis to Israel (In Hebrew)
Government Decision No. 2367 from October 28, 2010 – Amendment of Government Decision No. 1687 from May 16, 2010 (In Hebrew)
National Health Insurance Law (Temporary Order)
(Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Hebrew Website)
Returning Residents Procedure 17.001
(Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Hebrew Website)