First steps for obtaining a returning-resident certificate, and assistance from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption:

When registering for the program, your eligibility for receiving returning-resident status is examined. Once your eligibility for returning-resident status is authorized, and following your return to Israel, you will be required to arrange to receive assistance and benefits offered by the program through personal absorption counselors of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, as follows:

1. After returning to Israel, you must call the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption branch or district office nearest your home in order to schedule a meeting with a documentation and eligibility counselor. 

2. Be sure to come to the meeting with the identity card and passports of all accompanying family members. Both spouses of a couple must arrive together. It is recommended to first update your identity card at the Population Registry Office. 

3. If you resided abroad for more than five years, you must bring authorization of completion of military/national/civil service in Israel of at least one spouse (the returning resident), or an exemption from military service for both spouses.

• After presenting all required authorizations, you will receive a returning resident certificate from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption. This certificate will enable you to continue with the personal counseling and absorption process at the Ministry branch or district office nearest your place of residence.

Note!
After receiving the certificate, you will be required to open a bank account in Israel.

• Any monetary aid you will be entitled to from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption will be transferred to your bank account in Israel. Aid to a couple will be transferred to a joint bank account only. When furnishing bank account details, you will be requested (at least one of the spouses) to sign an Aid Payments Transfer Application form:
  1. It is recommended to come to the meeting with verification from the bank of the details of the joint account.
  2. A form for Opening a Bank Account (in Hebrew) may be downloaded from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption website.
  3. You may have either the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption “Opening a Bank Account" form signed by the bank, or a photocopy of a check showing all the details of the account holders.

• If only one parent returns to Israel, with minor-age children, they will be required to present certification from the parent remaining overseas stating that he/she allows the children to live in Israel with the other parent. This certification should be signed at an overseas Israeli consulate. In the absence of such certification, you will be required to furnish a divorce agreement, or court document confirming custody of the children by the parent returning to Israel. 
  
• For a returning resident seeking assured income assistance, it is recommended to report to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as soon as possible, as payment of such aid depends on the date of reporting to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption as a job seeker.

Addresses and phone numbers for receiving additional information:

• Information call center: 972-3-9733333
• Service bureaus

First steps in arranging for health insurance

In order to arrange for receiving health insurance services, you must apply to the National Insurance Institute branch nearest your home or to the Collection Department of the National Insurance Institute. You can download a residency questionnaire for determining the residency of a person returning from abroad (628) from the National Insurance Institute website. This is a four-page form that you must submit when applying for medical insurance.
 
In order to prove residency, you must provide all of the following documents:

• Returning resident certificate from the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
• Verification of a shipment (lift).
• Certification of registration of children into the Israeli education system.
• Certification of the rental/purchase of an apartment.
• Employment contract.
• Certification of opening a bank account.
• Any other relevant document.

Families with children under age 18 are advised to submit an application for a child allowance from the National Insurance Institute. A child allowance claim form can be downloaded from the National Insurance Institute website. As a rule, it is advisable to check eligibility for various allowances based on your particular situation.

2. When filling out the residency application form, you will be requested to fill out an application form for joining the health fund of your choice as well.

3. The National Insurance Institute, subject to the provision of the relevant documents, will issue a residency certificate, following which you will be entitled to receive national health insurance services.

4. Instructions for receiving a waiting period redemption fee refund:

You will be able to receive a special payment refund if you meet the following criteria:

• You began payment of the waiting period redemption fee to the National Insurance Institute between May 16, 2010 and September 30, 2012.
• One spouse (the returning resident) performed military/national/civil service in Israel, or both spouses have a military service exemption.
• Residence overseas was for at least five years, excluding permitted visits to Israel according to Ministry of Immigrant Absorption regulations.
• The return to Israel was between May 16, 2010 and September 30, 2012.
  Eligibility for this refund will be granted only upon completing the redemption fee payment, and is conditional on submitting an application to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

Payment will be made in two parts:

• The first payment (50%) immediately upon completing the redemption fee payment to the National Insurance Institute.
• The second payment (50%) one year following the granting of returning resident status.

You must report to the Ministry before each payment date and submit an application. An application for both payments may be submitted up to 15 months after the date of receiving returning resident status.

• On the special payment refund date, you must be residing in Israel.
• The refund will be transferred to the bank account according to the details you submitted to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

Note that the payment is a refund for the redemption fee only, and not for other debts to the National Insurance Institute.

2. Ministry of the Interior
    Information call center – tel. *3450 or 1-222-3450

3. Israel Tax Authority – Income Tax - Customs

4. Licensing Office
    Automatic answering service *5678 or 1-222-5678