Congratulations! You finished your Sherut Leumi service! What’s next?

Readjusting to Civilian Life

Now that you have finished your Sherut Leumi service, you are about to start your next chapter in life and decide what is going to come next. Will you travel? Will you take advantage of Israeli higher education benefits as an Oleh? Will you begin your professional life? This guide is meant to help you understand your options and embark on your second Aliyah.

Aliyah Benefits

Many Aliyah benefits are frozen as long as you’re in Sherut Leumi, but once you finish, the clock starts ticking.

For more information: Extension of Rights for Olim

Health Coverage:

Olim are eligible for six months of free healthcare after they make Aliyah, if not employed.  During your Sherut Leumi your health care is through your Kupat Cholim. The Kupot offer various benefit packages for released soldiers and those completing Sherut Leumi.

Kupah Benefit
Meuchedet TBD
Maccabi One year of Maccabi Sheli for free, and no waiting period if you join within 12 months of your release.
Leumit One year of Leumit Zahav or Leumit Kesef for free if you join within 12 months.
Clalit One year of Mushlam Zahav or Platinum for free and exemption from waiting period.

Bituach Leumi:

During Sherut Leumi service, your Bituach Leumi payments are paid directly by your Sherut organization. After completing your service, if you have served for two full years, you are exempt from payment for an additional two months. Following those two months, if you are unemployed, you must begin making payments of 250 NIS per month to Bituach Leumi (163 NIS for students).  If you completed one year of Sherut Leumi, you must begin making payments immediately, if you are unemployed.  It is advisable to open a Bituach Leumi personal login account in order to set up ongoing direct payments.  You may create an account using our tutorial.  If you are employed, Bituach Leumi payments will be deposited directly by your employer and reflected on your pay slip.
For additional information on Bituach Leumi, click here.

Driver’s License:

An Oleh is entitled to drive on a foreign driver’s license up to one year from the last entry date following three consecutive months abroad. Olim have five years from their Aliyah date to convert a foreign driver’s license to an Israeli driver’s license. This process does not freeze during Sherut Leumi.

Arnona:

In most cities, an exemption from paying Arnona is granted during a Lone Bat Sherut’s active service. This exemption extends to four months after your release date from Sherut Leumi. Visit your local municipality Arnona department for more information and activation of this benefit. For additional information on the Arnona discount, click here.

Customs Benefits:

Olim are eligible for customs benefits for the first three years of Aliyah. This benefit freezes during Sherut Leumi service. The benefit includes bringing three customs tax-free shipments from any country and buying or importing a car at a reduced tax rate. For additional information about the customs benefits, Click here.

Rental Assistance:

Olim Chadashim are entitled to rental assistance from Misrad Habinui V’Hashikun (the Ministry of Housing) on a monthly basis for a few years after aliyah (please see chart in rental assistance article). Serving in Sherut Leumi affects this benefit in a few ways.

During your Sherut Leumi service as a Bodedah, you receive payments of 402 NIS per month if you made Aliyah prior to March 1, 2024 (750NIS if you made Aliyah from March 1, 2024 and onwards). The payments are automatically transferred into the bank account that Misrad Haklita has on file. If, for some reason, you didn’t get these payments, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

When you finish your service, send an email to Helena at [email protected] from Misrad HaShikun (Housing Authority).  Please include your name, Teudat Zehut number, Aliyah date and note that you have completed Sherut Leumi.

If you made Aliyah prior to March 1, 2024 and are still within the eligibility period of five years (60 months) from your Aliyah, you will be put back into the appropriate bracket. For example: If you are released in your second, third or fourth year of Aliyah, you will receive 400 NIS per month; if you are in your fifth year of Aliyah, you will receive 89 NIS per month. If you made Aliyah from March 1, 2024 and onwards you will be entitled to assistance at the same rate for an additional period identical in length to the period of Sherut.

For additional information about the rental assistance benefit, click here.

Upon finishing your full eligibility for the rental assistance benefit, you must once again contact Misrad Hashikun by email in order to receive a released Oleh Lone Bat Sherut extension.

The extension is given only after applying for it. Please be sure to apply immediately after your 60th month of Aliyah is up as you can only receive payments retroactively for up to 3 months. For example, if you turn to the rental assistance company in the fourth month following your release, you will lose out on 1 month’s payment.

The extension is given for the number of months you served in Sherut Leumi (maximum 24 months) at the rate of 402 NIS per month.

Please bring the following forms:

  • Teudat Zehut
  • Official Bank Details document (Ishur Nihul Cheshbon) or cancelled check
  • Teudat Oleh/Zakaut
  • Ishur Siyum Sherut (document stating how many months you served)
  • Teudat Zakaut from rental assistance company

For additional information and eligibility for Lone Bnot Sherut:

Shaul Gibenber- Lone Soldier and Bnot Sherut Olim Coordinator in Misrad Haklita: [email protected]

For general personalized information- Misrad Habinui Vhashikun hotline: *5442

Ma’anak and Pikadon:

After finishing 12 months or more of National Service, you will be eligible for Ma’anak and Pikadon. For more information and ways to use it, please see here.

Tuition Subsidy Benefit:

As part of your Aliyah benefits, your university tuition may be subsidized if you begin your studies before age 27 for a BA and age 30 for an MA, and if you start your studies within three years of Aliyah. This benefit freezes during Sherut Leumi service. Students who are under 23 also receive assistance for Mechina, a year-long preparatory course. For more information, please be in touch with [email protected].

Psychometric Examination Information:

The psychometric exam is equivalent to the SAT exam in the US. It is comprised of 3 sections – verbal, math and English comprehension. The score on this exam ranges from 200-800 (800 being the highest score). Your score on this exam will be calculated together with your GPA from high school in order to determine your eligibility for acceptance to a specific program.

Note: If you have taken the SAT exam in the US, your score will be accepted by many programs in lieu of the Israeli psychometric exam.
For more information about the psychometric exam and preparatory courses, click here.

Income Tax Reduction:

Olim are eligible for a reduction on their income tax for the first 3.5 years of Aliyah. This benefit freezes during the army and during university. When you begin working, your employer will ask you to fill out a Tofes 101. On the Tofes, be sure to mark off that you are an Oleh Chadash and include your Aliyah date. The benefit will begin automatically.

Dmei Kiyum:

Olim who made Aliyah in the past 6-12 months and are unemployed are entitled to a monthly living allowance through Misrad Haklita, known as Dmei Kiyum. Note that unemployment benefits begin after Sal Klita payments finish. To sign up for Dmei Kiyum, you’ll need to visit your local branch of Misrad Haklita.

Meudefet:

Released Bnot Sherut are entitled to a one-time grant of 9,550 NIS upon completion of six full months (150 days) of work in a Meudefet (preferred) approved workplace.  The released Bat Sherut must begin the work within 12 months of his/her end of Sherut date. For more information please read here.

* Last updated on January 30, 2025 *