Extension of Rights for Olim
(This does not apply to Ezrachim Olim or  Ktinim Chozrim)

1. Who Qualifies for an Extension of Rights?

A. Anyone who made Aliyah in the past or held an A1 Temporary Resident visa, left the country, and is now considering moving back to Israel.

B. Anyone who made Aliyah previously and didn’t use all of his/her Aliyah rights as Olim (including the Oleh mortgage).

2. Where can I get information about my remaining rights? 

If you are abroad, refer to the local Aliyah center and consult with your Shaliach Aliyah. In some cases the Shaliach will be able to submit an appeal on your behalf to receive some zchuyot (benefits).

If you are in Israel, refer directly to the local branch of Misrad Haklita (Ministry of Absorption) or the Customs Authority with the documents listed above.

Customs: The Customs Authority in Israel will determine if the returning resident is eligible for an extension on customs benefits.  If you would like to find out if you are still eligible for the customs benefits, you will need to contact your local Customs Authority office in Israel. Remember to bring your old Teudat Oleh (if you had one), passports from the time you left the country/or proof for living abroad for that time. Please note that the decision the Customs Authority will make regarding any extensions is independent of other decisions made by Misrad Haklita regarding other zchuyot.

In case you want to purchase a new car with Oleh rights, you will need to present a foreign driver's license that was valid at the time of your Aliyah or at the time you held an A-1 visa.

Rule for extension as appears on the custom web site:  
“An oleh , who left Israel prior to the ending of his/her period of rights (3 years) and who stayed abroad for a continuous period exceeding 6 months, will not have this period counted as part of his/her period for utilizing his/her rights.
Upon his/her return to Israel, the period of rights, which remained at the time he/she left the country, will commence, and he/she may utilize his/her rights for household goods and a vehicle under the following conditions:

1. The oleh did not utilize rights in the past for these goods.
2. The items for which he/she received an exemption for remained in his/her posse

For more information please check http://www.mof.gov.il/customs/eng/mainpage.htm

3. What documents do I need to bring with me in order to get information about my remaining rights?

A. Teudat Oleh from when you made Aliyah or had A-1 status (will apply to those who came as A-1 before January 1, 1992).
B. Current foreign passport as well as your passports from when you made Aliyah.  If for some reason you do not have your passports readily available, you must bring other proofs of living abroad (such as; school transcript, income tax reports etc) . Alternatively, you can request a transcript of all your entries and exits from Israel within the last 7 years from the Ministry of Interior.

4. Health Insurance upon returning to Israel: If you made Aliyah in the past and you are not  recognized anymore as a  resident of Israel by Bituach Leumi, or you did not pay for your health insurance payments through Bituach Leumi for 12 months or more, you will be subject to a waiting period before you can enroll for health services in Israel. For more information please check www.nbn.org.il/rights/returning_residents.htm

5.  Army Service: Rights are frozen for Olim who serve in the IDF after making Aliyah.

Explanation of Terms:

Rights can be frozen if you have spent more than 6 consecutive months abroad. Once you return to Israel, you are entitled to those specific benefits; however, the amount of time you have to use the benefits is conditional upon the time spent in Israel before you left as an Oleh/Olah or temporary resident. Please note that every entry to the country (after you left Israel) will be counted.

For example: Customs benefits are valid for 3 years. If you spent 2 years in Israel after making Aliyah, left the country for 1 year (i.e., your rights freeze when you leave the country), visited Israel a year afterwards for 2 months (i.e., your clock starts ticking again for those 2 months) and then returned to live in Israel permanently, you are entitled to use your custom rights for 10 more months (i.e., to complete the 3 year time period, after you lived in Israel for 2 years and visited again for 2 months). 

Rights that run straight mean that the time limitation for a specific benefit will continue regardless of whether or not you are in Israel, and these rights will not be frozen under any circumstances.

Please note that the information listed here is very general. In reality, these issues are  determined by different government offices on a case by case basis.  These rules are subject to change.