Moving to Israel in 2026

Moving to Israel: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

1. Before the trip. Family documents with apostilles and the consular check in your country of residence: since 2026 you can no longer arrive as a tourist and apply locally.
2. At the airport. The new immigrant certificate, the first absorption basket payment and a SIM card.
3. Weeks 1-2. Register with a health fund, open a bank account and get an identity card from the population authority.
4. Weeks 2-4. Rent a flat for a year, usually with guarantors or a bank guarantee, and enrol in a free Hebrew course.

Part of the costs is covered by the absorption basket, depending on family size. Housing is noticeably cheaper in Haifa, Beersheba and Ashdod. We calculate the family budget in the chat. Shekels converted at the rate on 6 October 2026, about 3.05 shekels to the dollar.

Israel in brief

Israel is a country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean with a population of about 10 million. The country regards Jerusalem as its capital, while the business centre and most embassies are in Tel Aviv. The state language is Hebrew, and Arabic has special status. The economy rests on high technology: thousands of startups, research centres of the world's largest companies, and strong medicine, cybersecurity and agricultural technology. The currency is the new Israeli shekel.

Israel suits people with Jewish roots who can obtain citizenship through repatriation, specialists in technology and medicine, and families who value strong healthcare and education. It suits less those seeking low taxes and inexpensive living, or who are not ready to live in a region where the situation remains tense.

How to move in 2026

Israel has no residence or citizenship by investment programme. Since 2026 all stages of repatriation before the move again take place in the country of residence: the consular check is mandatory, and you can no longer arrive as a tourist and apply locally. A new citizen receives a passport after a year if they spent at least 60% of the first year in Israel, and until then travels on a travel document. More on the page about Israeli citizenship.

Taxes

Israeli tax residents pay tax on worldwide income on a scale from 10% to 47%, and income above 721,560 shekels a year (about $235,600) carries a 3% surtax, so the top rate reaches 50%. Since 2025 a further 2% applies to interest, dividends, rent and capital gains. Dividends and capital gains are taxed at 25%, corporate tax is 23%, and VAT 18%.

New immigrants have strong benefits: foreign income is exempt for 10 years, and those who became resident between 5 November 2025 and 31 December 2026 pay no tax on Israeli earnings within an annual cap until 2030. But since 2026 new immigrants must report foreign income in their returns. More on the page about Israeli taxes.

What a new immigrant receives

• Citizenship at once. Israel allows dual citizenship, so there is no need to give up your previous passport.
• Absorption basket. Cash support for the first months, depending on family size.
• Free Hebrew. Language courses for new immigrants in the first months after arrival.
• Health insurance. A new immigrant joins one of the health funds straight away.
• Tax benefits. A 10-year exemption on foreign income and extra tax credit points in the first years.
• Customs benefits. Reduced duties on importing household appliances and personal belongings in the first years.

Cost of living

Israel is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Tel Aviv's prices for housing, groceries and services are comparable with the largest European capitals, Jerusalem is slightly cheaper, and towns in the north and south are noticeably more affordable. The main expense is rent: flats are usually let for a year, with guarantors or a bank guarantee. Groceries and cars cost more than in Europe because of duties and taxes. Home purchases by foreigners and investors are taxed from 8%, while a resident's only home up to 1,978,745 shekels (about $646,200) is tax-free.

Where to live

• Tel Aviv and surroundings. The business and tech centre, beaches, restaurants and nightlife, the most expensive housing in the country. Nearby are Ramat Gan, Givatayim and Herzliya.
• Jerusalem. The capital with the Old City and sites holy to three religions, a university, hospitals and government institutions, a more religious and calmer life.
• Haifa. A port city on Mount Carmel with a technology institute and tech company offices, cheaper housing than in the centre.
• Netanya, Ashdod, Rishon LeZion. Seaside cities with large Russian-speaking communities and more affordable prices.
• Beersheba. The capital of the south with a university and tech park, one of the most affordable places.
• Eilat. A Red Sea resort and VAT-free zone.

Practicalities

• Language. Hebrew; English is spoken in business, and more than a million Russian speakers live in the country.
• Shabbat. From Friday evening to Saturday evening most cities have no public transport, and many shops and offices are closed.
• Army. Young immigrants are called up, with the term depending on age at arrival; men over 22 and women over 20 are usually not called up for regular service.
• Healthcare. Mandatory public insurance through health funds, with medicine among the best in the world.
• Safety. New flats have protected rooms, and cities have shelters and an alert system.
• Climate. Mediterranean: hot dry summers and mild rainy winters, with desert in the south.
• Getting there. The main international airport is Ben Gurion between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Work and business

Most jobs for newcomers are in high tech, medicine, engineering and finance; salaries in these sectors are high, but so is competition. Many immigrants first learn Hebrew and get their diplomas recognised: doctors, lawyers and accountants need a local exam. A company can be registered online with the companies registry in a few days, and a foreigner needs citizenship or a permit to work in it. The state supports startups with grants through the innovation authority. More on the page about company registration in Israel.

Pros and cons of moving

Pros: citizenship right after arrival, a second passport, 10 years without tax on foreign income, the absorption basket and free Hebrew, strong healthcare, a large Russian-speaking community and work in high tech. Cons: a high cost of living and rent, especially in Tel Aviv, a tense situation in the region, call-up of young immigrants to the army, Shabbat without public transport, and diploma recognition for doctors, lawyers and accountants.

Who Israel suits

Israel is a strong choice for people with Jewish roots: citizenship right after the move, a second passport, 10 years without tax on foreign income and visa-free travel to 159 countries. For those without roots, the way in is mainly through work or marriage. Write in the chat and we will check your family documents and calculate the full cost of repatriation for your family.

Moving to other countries

We have the same moving guides for other countries: Germany, Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Georgia, Turkey, the UAE. All destinations are compared by budget and main route to residence in our overview where to move from Russia in 2026.

For this country: repatriation to Israel, Israeli citizenship, taxes in Israel, Tel Aviv guide, company in Israel.