Repatriation to Israel: everything you need to know

What is repatriation and how does the process of resettlement in Israel work?

Repatriation to Israel means the return of ethnic Jews to their historical homeland. The state program, known as the "Law of Return," was adopted in 1950 with the aim of attracting citizens of Jewish descent. Over the past 70 years, several million Jews from around the world have returned to their ancestral land, particularly many from the former Soviet Union. However, the Russian-speaking population makes up only 17% of the total population of Israel.

What resettlement options exist and who is eligible for repatriation?

Immigration to Israel is permitted for those who are Jewish, their descendants for three generations, as well as the spouses and minor children of Jews and their descendants. According to the "Law of Return," a person is considered Jewish if they have a Jewish mother. If a person has a Jewish mother, they are considered Jewish for the purposes of Israel. If the father is Jewish, the person is regarded as a first-generation descendant of a Jew. This aspect is crucial for determining the degree of kinship sufficient for repatriation.

How does resettlement and adaptation in Israel go?

Relocating to Israel is a complex process that requires a lot of time and effort. New immigrants must adapt to a new culture, language, education system, and labor market. However, the Israeli government provides support and assistance to ease this adaptation.

As soon as repatriates arrive in Israel, their first steps include finding housing, processing documents, obtaining health insurance, and securing a work permit. It is also important to familiarize themselves with local customs and laws in order to successfully integrate into the new society.

What significant waves of repatriation have occurred in Israel?

The largest migration is considered to be the so-called "Great Aliyah", which took place between 1989 and 1995. During this time, more than one million new immigrants from Russia and other former Soviet republics arrived in the country. In 2022, there was another significant wave of repatriation (the largest in the last 23 years) from Russia and Ukraine. During this period, the Israeli government opened special repatriation centers in major cities, which facilitated the resettlement procedure. From April 2022, cash benefits were also introduced for repatriates from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. They were given an additional sum of 1,000 shekels (approximately $290) monthly, on top of the standard aid.

However, at the end of January 2023, these special payments were canceled, leaving only the standard assistance.

Conclusion

Relocating to Israel represents a unique opportunity for Jews and their descendants to reunite with their historical homeland. However, it requires careful planning, preparation, and adaptation to new conditions. The Israeli government strives to make this process as comfortable as possible for new immigrants by providing various support programs and benefits for adaptation. With the increasing number of repatriates from Russia and Ukraine, Israel continues to develop and welcome new citizens, enriching its culture with diversity and a variety of nationalities.

Conditions for obtaining Israeli citizenship through repatriation

If you are interested in obtaining Israeli citizenship through repatriation, there are several important points you should consider. According to the law, you can become a citizen of Israel through repatriation if you belong to one of the following categories:

1. Repatriation for Jews

If you are Jewish by nationality and your mother is also Jewish, you have the opportunity for repatriation.

2. Acceptance of the Jewish faith

If you have accepted the Jewish faith, you have the opportunity to become a citizen of Israel.

3. Repatriation through the father

Another way to get citizenship is through your father if he is Jewish.

4. Jewish grandmothers and grandfathers

If you have Jewish grandmothers or grandfathers, that can also be a basis for recognizing your Jewish nationality.

5. Repatriation through the maternal line

If your great-grandmother is Jewish, you may also qualify for Israeli citizenship. It is worth noting that Judaism takes into account maternal nationality, so grandparents who are children of Jewish women are automatically recognized by the State of Israel as Jews, even if it is not specified in the documents. It is important to remember that a Jewish great-grandfather is not considered here, as you will be his descendant on the fourth generation, instead of the third, which is required by law.

Other ways to obtain Israeli citizenship

In addition, there are other ways to obtain Israeli citizenship:

6. Repatriation for spouses

If you are the spouse of a person entitled to repatriation under paragraphs 1-4, you may also be eligible for citizenship.

7. Repatriation for widowers

If you are a widow or widower of a person who had the right to repatriation, and you have not entered into a new marriage after the death of your spouse, you can also apply for citizenship.

Additional options

8. The parents are citizens of Israel.

If one of your parents is a citizen of Israel, even if you were born outside the country, you can apply for citizenship.

9. Repatriation for those who left in childhood

If you were born or resided in Israel but were taken to another country before the age of 14, you may return to Israel and apply for citizenship after the age of 17, providing proof of your continuous stay abroad for at least four years. If you are a minor and your grandparents or parents are Jewish, you can also become a repatriate. If you have proof of Jewish nationality only from great-grandparents or great-grandparents, this qualifies as a fourth generation of kinship. In such a case, children first receive a residence permit, which grants virtually the same rights and privileges as a passport. If the child resides in Israel, he or she can become a citizen after 3 years. However, in order to do so, it must be proven that he or she has spent at least 75% of the year in Israel. A certificate from a school or kindergarten may serve as proof.

It is extremely important to note that in Israel, religion is an integral part of the state. Therefore, if you are a first, second, or third generation representative (those who have roots), it is important to indicate your Orthodox or Muslim affiliation in the appropriate section of the application to avoid possible rejection.

The new government and repatriation to Israel

The new government that came to power at the end of 2022 has sparked a discussion about the need to tighten the requirements for future repatriates. In particular, there have been proposals to narrow the pool of candidates for Israeli citizenship by excluding descendants of Jews in the third generation. If changes are made to the "Law of Return," it will be the first amendment since 1970, when, on the contrary, the list was significantly expanded.

Necessary documents for repatriation

To confirm your right to repatriation, you need to provide documents that prove your ancestor belonged to the Jewish nation. The minimum number of required documents is two, but it's better to provide even more.

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Death certificate
• Extract from the house register
• Party, Komsomol, or trade union membership cards
• Personal files from the place of study or work
• Evacuation certificates

The main thing is that the nationality of your relative is indicated in them. Additionally, indirect evidence is also accepted, such as certificates of death in the Holocaust or burial in a Jewish cemetery, photographs from Jewish holidays, and letters.

Most often, the difficulty lies in finding documents that confirm your lineage. For example, if your maternal grandmother was Jewish, you will need to present two birth certificates - yours and your mother's. Searching for such documents requires special attention. They may be kept at home, with you or your relatives, but if necessary, you will have to contact the civil registry office, the "My Documents" service, or an archive.

Repatriation process

The traditional path of repatriation begins with an application to the Israeli consulate in one's home country. After collecting all the necessary documents, the applicant is interviewed by the consul. Usually approval is not obtained immediately, and the official asks for additional evidence. If everything goes well, the applicant and his family are sent to Israel as repatriates at the expense of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

Arrival at the airport and obtaining the necessary documents

Those arriving at the airport who have already received a visa from the consul for permanent residency are required to go to the Aliyah and Immigration office located here. At this location, they are immediately issued a new immigrant certificate "Teudat Oleh," as well as a medical insurance policy for six months, a mobile SIM card, and forms for applying for an internal Israeli passport "Teudat Zehut." Additionally, new arrivals also receive a cash absorption basket for the first month, which is delivered to their hotel or the address where they plan to live initially.

The second method of repatriation

The second method of repatriation involves a person arriving in Israel with their family directly, bypassing the consulate in their home country. In this case, future repatriates arrive at the airport as tourists. They head to the Nativ office, which is the consul's representative office, where they will have an initial interview and need to present their reasons for repatriation. If this stage is successfully completed, the family proceeds to the Aliyah and Integration office. There, they are provided with a one-month health insurance policy, a mobile operator SIM card, and a taxi to their hotel. They will receive the absorption basket later, after their status is changed from tourist to repatriate.Note: nothing from this is currently being issued.

Repatriation procedure through an interview in Israel

For those choosing the second path, an interview must be conducted in Israel at the aliyah centers located in all major cities.

You can submit an application for obtaining a darcon through the special app My Visit, which is designed for making appointments with various government agencies.

The first darqon is issued for a period of one year. If the person continues to reside in Israel for 75% of the year, the passport can be renewed for 4 years and then for 10 years, provided that the person is a resident of the country. However, there is a small exception. If you leave the country and spend less than 75% of the time here per year, instead of a darqon, you receive a "lesse passe" or "teudat maavar", which confirms your citizenship, but not your status as a resident of Israel. It is worth noting that this document is not accepted by all foreign countries, for example, the British or Canadian authorities will not allow you to enter with this document.

The first step that needs to be taken in Israel, including for those whose applications have already been approved and those who have come with the intention of submitting documents on-site, is to open a bank account and order debit and credit cards. Unlike in Russia or Ukraine, it is impossible to get by without a credit card in Israel, as a number of goods and services (for example, hotel accommodations) can only be paid for with a credit card (no fees are charged if payments are made on time). Debit cards are accepted by stores, but only for small amounts. Cash can only be used for purchases costing no more than 5,000 shekels (approximately $1,446).

This aspect of financial life raises some concerns among Russian-speaking repatriates, although Israelis themselves actively use loans (interest-free if repayment deadlines are met) and often purchase goods, paying for them in several installments within the credit limit of their card. It is worth noting that new citizens initially have a relatively low credit limit - about 5,000 shekels ($1,446), but it increases over time.

The second important step is renting housing. New repatriates are provided with compensation for the first 6 months of rent, which helps them adapt to their new environment. After resolving all organizational issues and getting used to the new conditions, the next step is to look for a job.

Attractiveness of IT specialists and shortage of teachers and medical staff

In Israel, as everywhere, IT specialists and engineers are highly valued, as they are in great demand in the country. At the same time, there is a shortage of teachers, medical staff, and doctors.

Changes in the validation of medical qualifications

About 25-30 years ago, it was very difficult for Russian-speaking medical professionals who moved to Israel to validate their qualifications and find work. However, the situation has changed now – dentists with more than 5 years of experience no longer need to take an additional exam in Israel.

Assessment of professions that do not require special qualifications

Another feature of Israel is that jobs that do not require special qualifications are quite well paid. Couriers can earn around $2000-3000 a month, while the minimum wage in the country is about $1800.

Advantages and limitations for digital nomads

If you are a digital nomad, work remotely for a Russian company and become a tax resident of Israel (living in the country for more than 183 days per year), you do not have to pay tax on your income for a year and a half. This, of course, is an advantage. However, there are some problems associated with transferring money from a Russian account to an Israeli account.

Adaptation and learning of Hebrew

The adaptation process in Israel looks like this: the country serves as a refuge for repatriates, and therefore measures are taken to ensure that immigrants feel like full members of society. There are many Russian-speaking language courses in Israel, and of course, one can find a community that speaks their native language, but to live and work without language barriers outside the Russian-speaking diaspora, one will need to learn Hebrew.

There are special language courses for repatriates called "ulpanim," which are funded by the government. You can attend classes for free in daytime or evening groups. The lessons also cover the culture and traditions of Israel. Of course, if you are a sought-after specialist, for example in IT, you can manage for some time using only English and Russian. However, life in the country will be more comfortable if you know the language spoken by the majority of the population.

Specialized ulpanim for doctors, teachers, and engineers

By the way, for doctors, teachers and engineers there are also ulpans with a professional orientation. Aliyah centers will help you navigate the first time, translate your diplomas and documents, and recommend which ulpan to choose.

Israel pays special attention to young immigrants.

By providing them with benefits and opportunities for successful learning. Students are entitled to free education at universities for the first three years. Each institution offers preparatory courses that allow young people to study Hebrew and prepare for entrance exams if their age does not qualify them for conscription. If a repatriate already has a certain level of education, having completed several courses at a university in their home country, they need to present the relevant documents to the Israeli commission to validate the subjects taken. It is also possible to transfer credits for some disciplines.

Service in the Israeli army for repatriates

Repatriates who have reached the age of 18 are required to serve in the Israeli army. In this case, the norm is to attend ulpan - special courses for learning Hebrew, after which military service follows. After that, young people can enroll in higher education institutions.

Additional support for returnee schoolchildren

The government provides additional funding for repatriated schoolchildren for Hebrew language education and integration into the community of educational institutions. Elementary schools are equipped with specially trained teachers who help the children adapt to the new language environment. However, high school students face more complex challenges during adaptation. If there are many new repatriates, they are grouped into ulpan classes for Hebrew language learning.

The financial aspect of adaptation

One of the key aspects of successful adaptation in Israel is the financial component. Tel Aviv turned out to be the most expensive city in the world in 2021. Therefore, the cost of living in Israel can be high, and salaries do not always fully compensate for expenses. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment of 50 sq. m in Tel Aviv ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 shekels ($868-1446), while in Haifa it is 2,700 shekels ($780). The cost of real estate in the peripheral areas of the country starts at $400,000, and in the city center, it starts at $1 million. At the same time, the demand for real estate often exceeds supply, and apartments are sold even at the construction stage. According to Numbeo, to maintain the same standard of living as in Moscow, one would need about 75% more funds in Tel Aviv, including rent expenses. Consumer goods prices in the large Israeli city are 73% higher than in the capital of Russia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, repatriation to Israel is a historic step that allows many Jews and their descendants to reconnect with their national roots. Paying tribute to their ancestors and striving to be part of the Jewish state, I realize that repatriation is a process that requires searching for family ties and confirming one's status as a Jew. However, with the help of the Israeli government and special programs, all these challenges are surmountable, and many families have already managed to return to their historical homeland. Upon arriving in Israel, new repatriates face various aspects of adaptation, such as learning Hebrew, finding work, and helping their children adjust to a new school environment. However, thanks to the assistance and support from the government and various organizations, the adaptation process becomes easier and more achievable. It is important to understand that Israel is a place where Jewish culture and traditions are embodied at every turn. The country provides guarantees of security and stability, despite the challenges posed by the political situation in the region. Overall, repatriation to Israel is an important and significant event in the lives of many Jews around the world. It is an opportunity to return to one's roots and become part of a nation that welcomes and supports its new citizens. If you are considering the possibility of repatriation, it is advisable to seek help from the relevant organizations to obtain all the necessary information and support in this process. Returning to the historical homeland is an unforgettable and meaningful experience that will give you the chance to discover new opportunities and reconnect with your roots.