← All guides

Ministry of Aliyah and Integration — Returning Residents (Toshav Hozer): Eligibility, First Steps, and Benefits

Source: Israeli Government Guide for New Immigrants · 2026-05

110 Who is a Returning Resident A returning resident (Toshav Hozer) is an Israeli citizen who was previously an Israeli resident, has resided overseas for at least two consecutive years before returning to Israel (If a person visited Israel up to four months during every year of absence, the stay overseas will be considered consecutive) and is 17 years old and over when returning to Israel. An additional condition: neither the returning resident, spouse nor parents of the returning resident served overseas as public emissaries for five years prior to the return to Israel. This includes serving as an emissary for the State of Israel, State Authorities including State companies, The World Zionist Organization or any of its subsidiaries, the Jewish Agency, Keren Kayemet LeYisrael, Keren HaYesod, HaMagbit HaMeuchedet -The United Appeal, or the Israel Bonds. Returning residents are eligible for assistance from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. A returning resident who requests assistance for business entrepreneurship can be eligible on condition of overseas residence of at least five years. A returning resident scientist can be eligible for assistance from the Center for Integration in Science on condition of overseas residence of at least five years. Repeated assistance: A person who was previously a returning resident can receive the Ministry’s assistance only if one of the following conditions exists: • The returning resident did not receive assistance as a returning resident from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration in the past. • Ten years have passed since receiving the last assistance, and on condition that the returning resident resided overseas for at least 6 years before returning. Returning Residents

111 First Steps When abroad • Registration - you should fill in the online registration form on the Ministry website (up to six months before the day of the return to Israel/ a returning scientist up to one year before the day of return to Israel). At the following link: https://www.gov.il/apps/moia/Returning/Forms/ demographic.aspx Alternately you can print out the registration form, fill it out by hand, and send it to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration by mail or fax. Detailed information on the website: https://www.gov.il/he/service/application_for_recognition_ as_returning_resident After approximately two weeks, you will receive an answer to the e-mail that will state whether or not the eligibility exists. If you receive confirmation of eligibility, the confirmation is valid in principle for half a year and can be extended by turning to the Israel Houses [see below] or to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and stating the new date of return. • Eliminating the waiting period for healthcare services - if you are required to go through a waiting period (see details below) and are interested in eliminating the waiting period, you may pay in advance on the NII website (it is also possible to pay in Israel). • A benefit from El-Al Airlines - You have the right to send a cargo of three suitcases per person (from the age of two and up) when purchasing a one way ticket (you must present the confirmation you have received by e-mail). • A valid Israeli passport - one should prepare valid passports and Israeli passports for children born abroad (one should bring original birth and marriage certificates certified by an “apostille” stamp on them). • A parent arriving with children without the other parent (If parents are separated, divorced, or one parent returning before the other with their children) - the returning parent must present a declaration from the parent who is remaining abroad (a notarized affidavit or an affidavit presented to the Israeli

Registration in daycare and nurseries is done online on the Ministry of Economy and Industry website. Registration to the pre-compulsory kindergartens and to schools generally takes place at the office of the Department of Education (Machleket HaChinuch) of the local authority. In most communities it is possible to register online. Registration for high school is through the regional council or through the school itself, depending on the area. See the chapter “First Steps” in this publication. After returning to Israel • Arrival at the office of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, after arranging an appointment. Both spouses should arrive with updated identity cards and a confirmation of the details of a joint bank account in order to receive a returning citizen certificate and an explanation about benefits for which one is eligible from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. • Registering with a Health Fund - if a person has resided abroad for less than five years - at the NII, if a person has resided abroad for more than five years - at a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration regional office. • An Identity Card (Te’udat Zehut) - issuing an updated identity card and updating addresses and personal information at the Population and Immigration Authority.
• A bank account - one has to open a bank account and receive confirmation for opening the account. • National Insurance - one should contact the National Insurance Institute in order to arrange status and eligibility. On the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration website there is a list of actions that should be performed from the moment of making the decision to return to Israel until getting settled in Israel. Follow the link: https://www.gov.il/he/Departments/General/returning_ residents_checklist

113 Rights of returning residents The State of Israel exerts great efforts to assist all its residents living abroad to return to the country and acclimate in the best way. The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration offers the retuning residents a wide range of assistance and various benefits to establish their renewed acclimation in Israel. Assistance in certain areas is given after a stay of at least two years abroad, and assistance in other areas is given after a stay of at least five years abroad. Following is a general list of rights of returning residents. All rights are dependent on the conditions of eligibility. Assistance to returning residents, after a stay of at least two years abroad: • Assured income. • Customs Concessions. Assistance to returning residents, after a stay of at least five years abroad: • Professional training. • Vocational guidance. • Assistance for people who have professions that require licensing, to artists and to athletes. • Loans to entrepreneurs. • Assistance for scientists and to researchers. • Promoting Employment (Assistance to an employer who makes a commitment to employ a returning resident for at least a year). • Vocational and psychological counseling and business consulting. • Sela program - workshops for finding work. • Assistance in finding work. • District Director’s Fund - a grant. • A business information call center for counseling on tax matters (phone number: *8115 from abroad: 972-3-5117115).

114 • Studies for children: educational reinforcement for children at school during the first two years: Yael and Pele programs, concessions on the matriculation exams, assistance in financing daycare centers and nurseries under government supervision during the first year. • Soldiers: a returning resident who was recognized by the IDF as a lone soldier who is receiving assistance from the IDF as a lone soldier, or a married soldier who is entitled to family payments, will be eligible for a grant from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Returning residents who have spent more than six or ten years can also receive income tax concessions. On the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration website there is a detailed list of benefits given to eligible returning residents: https://www.gov.il/he/departments/general/returning_ residents_eligibility_map For additional information go to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration website: Hebrew: https://www.gov.il/he/departments/topics/returning_residents/ govil-landing-page English: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/returning_residents/ govil-landing-page Dialing from abroad to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration information center: Telephone: 972-3-9733333 Fax: 972-72-3229697 Waiting Period for Healthcare Services Residents of Israel who spent 18 consecutive months or more abroad and did not pay health insurance payments for at least 12 months and people who have ceased to be residents of Israel will have to go through a waiting period of up to six months (depending on the duration of the absence) to be eligible for health services.