Note: A Katin Chozer may not be eligible for an extension of rights for certain benefits. For more information ask Misrad Haklita.

Who Qualifies for an Extension of Rights?

Anyone who made Aliyah in the past or held an A-1 Temporary Resident visa, left the country, and is now considering moving back to Israel.
Anyone who made Aliyah previously and didn’t use all of their Aliyah benefits as Olim (including the Oleh mortgage).

Where can I get information about my remaining benefits?

If you are abroad, refer to your local Israel Aliyah Center and consult with your Aliyah Shaliach. In some cases the Shaliach will be able to submit an appeal on your behalf in order to clarify your remaining benefits.

If you are in Israel, refer directly to your local branch of Misrad Haklita (Ministry of Aliyah and Integration) or the Customs Authority with the documents listed below.

Customs: The Customs Authority in Israel will determine if the individual in question 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 Israel/or proof for living abroad for that time. Please note that the Customs Authority’s decision regarding any extensions is independent of any decisions made by Misrad Haklita regarding other benefits.

If you want to purchase a new car with Oleh benefits, 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. You will also need to prove that you have been a licensed driver since that time.

The following is the rule for extensions, as appears on the Customs Authority website:

“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:

  • The Oleh did not utilize their benefits in the past for these goods.
  • The items for which he/she received an exemption remained in his/her possession. For more information, please check here

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

Teudat Oleh from when you made Aliyah or held A-1 status (if you were A-1 before January 1, 1992).
Current foreign passport as well as all passports from when you made Aliyah. If for some reason you do not have your passports readily available, you must bring other proof of living abroad, such as; school transcripts, income tax reports, etc. Additionally, you may request a transcript of your entries and exits from Israel within the last 7 years from Misrad Hapnim (the Ministry of Interior).

Health Insurance:

If you made Aliyah in the past and you are no longer recognized as a resident of Israel by Bituach Leumi, or if you did not pay 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 click here.

List of the benefits and their extensions:

Some benefits are frozen for Olim who serve in Sherut Leumi or the IDF (3 years of Sadir-active service, and 1 year of Keva), after making Aliyah. Details are noted below.

Timetable: Up to six months from your date of Aliyah

Rules for Extension: If an Oleh leaves Israel during the first six months (regardless of reason), payments are stopped. The payments can easily be restarted by visiting Misrad Haklita. If the Oleh returns to Israel after the first 12 months of Aliyah, payments are discontinued. Soldiers and Bnot Sherut: This benefit runs straight even if you are serving.

Timetable: Begins when Sal Klita payments end, and continues through the first year of Aliyah.

Rules for Extension: Runs straight from your date of Aliyah. No retroactive payments if not claimed in time.

Timetable: Available up to 12 months from your date of Aliyah (if unemployed).

Rules for Extension: Runs straight from your Aliyah date.

Timetable: Available up to 18 months after Aliyah.

Rules for Extension: Benefits freeze if you leave Israel for a period of at least 6 consecutive months.

Timetable: Available up to 36 months from your date of Aliyah

Rules for Extension: Benefits freeze if you leave Israel for a period of at least 6 consecutive months or during army service or Sherut Leumi. Subject to age limits.

Timetable: Starts automatically 8 months after Aliyah and continues through the 5th year.

Rules for Extension: Runs straight from your Aliyah date.

Timetable: Available up to 4.5 years from your date of Aliyah.

Rules for Extension: Runs straight from your date of Aliyah. This benefit is frozen during army service, Sherut Leumi, and while studying in university or college.

Timetable: Available up to 15 years after Aliyah

Rules for Extension: Benefits freeze if you leave Israel for a period of at least 6 consecutive months or during army service or Sherut Leumi.

Timetable: Available for one of the first two years after Aliyah

Rules for Extension: Runs straight from your date of Aliyah

Soldiers and Bnot Sherut – this benefit is not frozen during your service.

Timetable: Available up to 3 years after your Aliyah

Rules for Extension: Benefits freeze if you leave Israel for a period of at least 6 consecutive months or during army service. If you have started academic studies within the first 18 months of your Aliyah, the benefit will extend for one year from the end of your academic studies. Restrictions apply! We recommend clarifying your benefits at your local office of the Customs Authority before sending a lift to Israel.

See the government website here in order to apply for an extension of this benefit.

Timetable: Olim have 5 years after Aliyah to convert a foreign driver’s license to an Israeli license.

Rules for Extension: If an Oleh spends more than 6 consecutive months abroad, the time to convert their driver’s license is 5 years from their return to Israel.

For an Oleh serving in the IDF or Sherut Leumi: The remaining time to convert a driver’s license before entering the army or beginning Sherut will be given as an extension upon release – up to a year.

For example, an Oleh who enters the IDF 1 year after Aliyah and serves 3 years, will be given an additional year to convert his/her license upon release. An Oleh who enters the IDF 2.5 years after Aliyah will be given 6 months to convert his/her license upon release.

Please note: As a rule, it is a one year extension, however, the Misrad Harishui does review case by case.

Timetable: Available for those making Aliyah from abroad.

Rules for Extension: Please consult with your local Aliyah Shaliach.


Explanation of Terms:

Benefits can be frozen if you have spent more than 6 consecutive months residing outside of Israel. Once you return to Israel, you are entitled to those specific benefits; however, the amount of time you have to use the benefits is determined based on the time you spent in Israel as an Oleh/Olah or temporary resident prior to leaving. Please note that every entry to Israel (since you initially left) 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 benefits freeze when you leave the country), visited Israel one year later for 2 months (i.e., your clock starts ticking again for those 2 months) and then you return to live in Israel permanently, you are entitled to use your custom benefits 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).

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

Please note that the information listed above is very general. All rules are subject to change. Eligibility for specific benefits is ultimately determined by the relevant government office on a case-by-case basis, based on the documentation you provide and your given situation.

Last Updated: Jan 2, 2024.

How can we help your Aliyah?

Call us.

    • US & Canada: 1-866-4-ALIYAH
    • Israel: 02-659-5800
    •  Post-Aliyah Answers Helpline (Israel): *3680
    • Lone Soldier 24/7 Hotline (Israel): *6563

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