Applying to NBN

I recently decided that I want to make Aliyah. What is the next step? Congratulations on your decision! If you are making Aliyah from abroad, you need to open a Tik Aliyah (Aliyah File) through your local Israel Aliyah Center. See Opening a Tik Aliyah. For a listing of local Aliyah representatives, see Directory of Shlichim. If you are already living in Israel as a tourist and would like to make Aliyah through the Ministry of Interior, see Making Aliyah within Israel.

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I'm making Aliyah in a year from now . When do I need to submit an application? We recommend that you submit an application about six to ten months prior to your Aliyah. To download an application, click here.

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I submitted my application. When will I hear back from Nefesh B'Nefesh? Soon after the Nefesh B'Nefesh Israeli office receives your application, you will receive an email indicating whether there are any missing components or additional documents that are necessary in order to complete and process your application. Once we receive all necessary components, the review process takes up to eight weeks. Note: If the process is extended due to external factors, we will be in touch with you to let you know.

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Am I eligible for financial assistance? Financial assistance is awarded to individuals or families based on financial need. Applicants that are assessed to have sufficient funds for Aliyah will not be awarded financial assistance. To apply for financial assistance, download the Financial Aid and Aliyah Services application. If you are unsure whether or not you have sufficient funds to be considered ineligible for financial assistance, contact Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, NBN Executive Director, directly via email at yfass@nbn.org.il before starting the application process.

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What are my benefits as an Oleh? The Israeli government provides new Olim with many rights and benefits. For details, see New Immigrant Rights.

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I'm 18 and I'm making Aliyah with my family. Do I have my own Aliyah rights? If you are between the ages of 17 and 25 and you are making Aliyah with your parents (i.e., within the same 12 month period), you will lose certain Aliyah benefits. For details see Rights for "Ben Olim". 

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My parents are Israeli. Do I have any Aliyah rights? To find out whether you are eligible for Aliyah rights and benefits, see Aliyah Rights for a Ketin Chozer and Ezrach Oleh and Post Aliyah Guide for Returning Minors.

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I'm 19 years old and I'm making Aliyah. Will I need to serve in the army? See Aliyah, Teenagers and the IDF, Military Service for Women and Military Service for Men. In general, most new Olim who are 19 years of age, do serve in the army; some serve longer than others. For men only: If you want to avoid the possibility of serving in the army for three years, you might want to consider the Machal program.
See http://www.aka.idf.il/giyus/general/?CatID=23072&DocID=49143 and http://www.mahal2000.com/.
For information about Garin Zabar see http://www.israelscouts.org/scouts_garin_heb1.html.

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I have been living in Israel for 3 years. Do I have any Oleh rights? Yes, you are entitled to certain Aliyah benefits, with some exceptions. Please see Rights Affected by Extended Stays in Israel.

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I made Aliyah 6 months ago and I am unemployed. Am I entitled to unemployment benefit? Yes. Please see Unemployment in the First Year. If you made Aliyah over 12 months ago, you are not entitled to regular unemployment benefit, but you may be eligible for income support (Havtachat Hachnasa) through Bituach Leumi. Please visit your local branch of Bituach Leumi to find out if you are eligible.

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I have to go back to the U.S. for a visit, right after I make Aliyah. Am I allowed to leave the country? Yes, you can travel right after making Aliyah, but you must have a Teudat Maavar (Travel Document). See Israeli Travel Documents for New Olim.

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How do I obtain an Israeli driver's license?  See Israeli Driver's Licenses.

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Health Coverage

Are there any preconditions for acceptance to Kupat Cholim (public health clinics)? Everyone has a right to basic Kupat Cholim coverage. However, extended coverage policies are also available; and these extended policies have limitations. For more information about Kupot Cholim, see Healthcare Resources. Note: Each extended coverage policy has different regulations.

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I'm currently taking certain medications. What Israeli medication is the equivalent of the American medication that I'm using? It is extremely important to clarify if your medications are covered, for your specific condition, before you complete your plans for Aliyah. Even if your medications ARE covered, be sure to bring a two to three month supply of medications with you when you make Aliyah. For additional information, write to joy@nbn.org.il.

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Are there mental health services available through the Kupat Holim system?  It is possible to receive short-term mental health treatment through the Kupot.  More commonly, however, these services are accessed through the public psychological services, welfare services, non-profit clinics and private mental healthcare providers.  The Department of Social Services at NBN can help with referrals.

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I need some guidance in identifying a suitable community. See our online Communities Guide for detailed information about communities throughout Israel. Contact information for each community is provided, as well as descriptions of housing options, local schools, cost of living, employment opportunities, etc.  Also, see the community section of Tehilla's website, http://www.tehilla.com/about/communities.asp.  For more specific information not covered in the Guide, be in touch with Avi Silverman at asilverman@nbn.org.il.

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How do I go about finding the best Israeli school for my child? For an overview of the school system, see Introduction to the Israeli School System. For additional information, write to asilverman@nbn.org.il.

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Finding a Home

How will I find a place to live in Israel?  To begin with, we generally recommend that Olim rent, rather than buy, during their first year in Israel. This gives them the opportunity to make sure that they really find the right community for themselves before making a major financial commitment.  Rentals can often be found on local community listservs, including groups.yahoo.com/group/janglo (Jerusalem) and groups.yahoo.com/group/taanglo (Tel Aviv), and on apartment hunting sites, including www.homeless.co.il, www.flathunting.com, and www.madas.co.il

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Financial Planning

Will my assets and income from outside of Israel be taxed by the Israeli government, and vice versa? For questions about taxation, we recommend that you speak to an accountant with knowledge of both Israeli and foreign tax systems. For a listing of U.S. and Canadian accountants, see the AACI listing at http://www.aaci.org.il/ak/accountants.htm . If you need additional assistance, write to employment@nbn.org.il

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Studying Hebrew

Is there an Ulpan offered in my community? For a comprehensive listing of Ulpan options, please see our Ulpan Guide . For a survey of personal experiences at different Ulpanim see Personal Experiences of Ulpanim . For information about Hebrew language resources (other than Ulpan), please see Educational Resources .

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Employment

"I'm worried about finding employment in Israel. I'm not sure how to go about looking for a job." Employment is the most common and pressing concern for most Olim. To help get you started with the job hunt, see our online article entitled Starting the Employment Search that outlines how to go about looking for work in your field. Our site also contains detailed information about a wide range of professions in Israel. For additional information as well as to find out about current job openings and professional contacts, please email our employment department directly at: employment@nbn.org.il .  To find out when NBN will next be in your area and to set up an appointment with an employment counselor, please see our Calendar of Overseas Events .

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"I'm a health services professional. How do I become licensed in Israel?" The licensing process for each medical profession is different. See our online articles about each medical field on the Employment Resources page. For questions that are not covered online, be in touch with Dr. Eric Karsenty, the Jewish Agency's liaison to Misrad HaBriut (Ministry of Health) and an expert on all issues related to the licensing process. You can reach Dr. Karsenty at: erick990@barak-online.net . In addition, Nefesh B'Nefesh runs a special seminar geared towards medical professionals once a year, in the New York area. Details of the seminar will be posted on our Calendar of Overseas Events . If you are a physician, you should start the process of having your specialty recognized, even before you make Aliyah by contacting the Moatzah HaMadait (Scientific Council). For details, see Physicians .

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"I do not speak Hebrew. I'm making Aliyah in 6 months. Will I find a job?" Practically all jobs in Israel require some level of Hebrew fluency, so if your Hebrew is weak, it is a good idea to start studying Hebrew before you arrive. Strong Hebrew skills broaden the range and type of job opportunities that will be available to you. There are excellent resources available even while you are overseas, including local Ulpanim in the U.S., Canada and the UK, Israeli Ulpan teachers who will work with you by phone and Internet, and a variety of language-learning programs that are available online or on CD. For a full listing of Hebrew resources, see Hebrew Language Resources . To read the recommendations of other Olim, see Survey of Educational Resources . After you arrive in Israel as a new Oleh, you will be eligible for a free 5 month Ulpan course. For details about different Ulpan courses in Israel see the Ulpan Guide .

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"How much money does it cost to live in Israel?" For a sample budget see our online guide Aliyah Budget for a Family and Aliyah Budget for Singles . Keep in mind, however, that expenses vary greatly depending on your personal lifestyle. It is important to speak to people in Israel who share your background and lifestyle. Ask them to share information about their monthly expenses. Plan a pilot trip in which you can meet with individuals or families and gain a better sense of what expenses you can expect, given your personal needs and background. Keep in mind that once you arrive as a new Oleh, it generally takes about 6 to 9 months to find a job in Israel, so budget ahead of time in order to support yourself during this transitional period.

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"I want to open a business when I arrive in Israel. How do I do this?" For information about running a business in Israel, see Business . This article describes the various resources that are available to help you get your business going. In addition, be in touch with the Employment Department at employment@nbn.org.il to receive contacts and further information. Finally, you will probably want to consult with an accountant. American and Canadian accountants in Israel are listed on the AACI's guide to accountants .

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"What type of salary can I expect to make in Israel?" As in any country, there is a huge range of salaries in Israel depending on your field and professional background. Before you make Aliyah, speak to as many professional colleagues as possible to find out what type of salary you can expect. For names of contacts, write to employment@nbn.org.il . If you are in the hi-tech field, a salary survey is available at www.cji.co.il . When you first arrive, you will probably want to start working as soon as possible in order to have some income and to gain Israeli work experience. Keep in mind that your first job might be lower paying than subsequent jobs.  Once you have that first job and have been working in Israel for several months, you can start looking around at a less pressurized pace and target a more ideal position.

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"How do I find professional contacts in my field?" If you have friends and relatives in Israel, it is likely that they will know other professionals in your field. In addition, the Internet is an excellent source of identifying the names of colleagues. For example, for listings of companies, institutions and organizations in a wide range of fields, see Israel's Science and Technology Home Page . (On this site, the names and personal email addresses of contacts are frequently listed.) You can also use www.linkedin.com to connect with other professionals in the corporate world. Many people successfully identify contacts using www.google.co.il . For additional information about Internet resources, see Online Resources .

Once you've identified the names of colleagues, be in touch with them directly by email. Explain that you are planning your Aliyah and you'd like advice regarding the types of opportunities that are available. Keep in mind that each person who you connect with, should be able to give you the names of 5 additional contacts. In many cases, it is not productive to ask specifically about job openings, since most Israeli employers will not consider hiring you until after you arrive as a new Oleh. If you need assistance tracking down professional contacts, write to employment@nbn.org.il . For more information about getting started with your job hunt, see Starting the Employment Search .

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"I'm a student and I have not yet decided what to major in. I plan on making Aliyah and I’m wondering what fields are good in Israel?" See our online article entitled Choosing a Career and be in touch with the NBN Employment Department at: employment@nbn.org.il   for a personalized consultation.

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"Is it better to go to college here in Israel, or to study in the U.S. and make Aliyah with a degree from abroad?" See our online article Going to College in Israel .

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"I plan on telecommuting. I have several clients who I can work with remotely after making Aliyah. How will the taxation work?" Speak with an accountant who has knowledge of the Israeli tax system as well as a background in U.S., Canadian or English tax law. American and Canadian accountants are listed in the AACI's guide to accountants .

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"I heard that one pays over 60% income tax..." To calculate the amount of income tax that you will pay on your Israeli salary, check out the Hilan Tax Calculator.

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