A Complete Guide to Making Aliyah From the Initial Decision to Handling Your Paperwork

Making Aliyah is life-changing for many Jewish people around the world. After all, this experience marks a transformative journey, reuniting individuals with their ancestral homeland. But as rewarding and significant as this journey might be, it isn’t always smooth sailing. 

Making Aliyah involves lots of steps, paperwork, waiting, and occasional bumps in the road. But as long as you understand what this process entails (i.e., what you’re in for), you should be able to navigate the challenges and only focus on the positive aspects of this enriching journey. 

So, without further ado, let’s dissect the Aliyah process, breaking it into smaller, more manageable steps.

Step 1: Ensure You Meet the Eligibility Requirements

Before even considering making Aliyah and the implications of this move, you should ensure you are eligible for the process. According to the Israeli government, the following people are eligible to make Aliyah:

Step 2 – Weigh Your Options

After ensuring you (and your family) can make Aliyah, you can move on to whether you should take this step. Upending your life and moving to a whole new country is a monumental decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

So, research whether Israel will be the right fit for you and your family in terms of career opportunities, education, healthcare, and overall lifestyle. Of course, you should also consider the benefits reserved for Olim Chadashim, such as the following:

However, Israel has a lot to offer even beyond the Olim benefits. Numerous employment opportunities, a close-knit Olim community, a high quality of life, a superb education system, and an impressive level of safety are just some of the country’s enticing features.

Step 3 – Apply for the Aliyah Process

By Step 3, you’ve probably decided that making Aliyah is in your (and your family’s) best interest, and you’re absolutely right. Now, all that’s left to do is to apply for this process and officially start this exciting journey.

But how do you apply?

The answer to this question depends on where you’re making Aliyah from. However, in most cases, this step will involve the Jewish Agency for Israel and its Global Service Center.

The Aliyah application entails opening an Aliyah file and gathering information about the necessary documentation to continue this process. 

Step 4 – Gather the Necessary Documents

The Jewish Agency representative will guide you through all the necessary documentation based on your circumstances. Still, here’s a brief overview of the documents commonly needed for each individual making Aliyah:

Remember, only submit copies and get all public records authenticated by apostilles. 

Step 5 – Meet With a Jewish Agency Representative

After sending in the copies of your documents to the address provided by the Jewish Agency, you’ll likely be invited for a meeting. At this meeting, a Jewish Agency representative (Shaliach) will review the original copies of documents from Step 4, so make sure to bring them along.

This meeting also doubles as an interview about your motives for making Aliyah and plans after doing so, as well as an informative conversation about your options and benefits as an Oleh.

If you’re making Aliyah as a family, all family members aged 16 and older must be present at this meeting.

Step 6 – Receive Approval

If all goes according to plan, you should hear from the Jewish Agency soon with good news. This news typically comes in the form of an email congratulating you on this massive achievement and outlining your next steps.

Step 7 – Obtain Your Aliyah Visa

You won’t need a visa if you already have an Israeli passport. If not, start this process immediately, as issuing the immigration visa can take between 14 and 18 business days. You’ll receive the exact steps for obtaining your visa during Step 6. Still, your Jewish Agency representative should also help you navigate this process. 

Step 8 – Book the Aliyah Flight

Depending on where you’re from, you might have access to a free, one-way plane ticket to Israel or the so-called Aliyah flight. These flights are available in most English-speaking countries, such as the U.S., the U.K., and South Africa. However, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) often funds these flights for citizens of other global countries. 

Once your flight is arranged, all that’s left is to prepare for the move and wait for your Aliyah date to arrive. Afterward, it’s wheels up!

Step 9 – Register as a Resident

As soon as you land in Israel, you’ll likely be welcomed by representatives of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. They will guide you to the Ministry’s Ben Gurion Airport offices to officially register as a resident.

At these offices, you’ll also receive the following:

However, note that the ID you receive at the airport is only a temporary solution (valid for 90) days. You’ll need to schedule an appointment at the Ministry of Interior to receive your permanent (biometric) ID. 

Step 10 – Take Care of All the Post-Aliyah Formalities 

By Step 10, the Aliyah process is officially done. However, the same can’t be said for all formalities and activities related to your new life in Israel. Here are some post-Aliyah activities you might need to take care of after arriving in Israel or living in the country for a while:

These formalities might seem never-ending initially, but each will bring you one step closer to a beautiful life in Israel. Plus, no task will seem overwhelming if you partner with the right people, like TCS Telecom, for your telecommunication needs.