What happens if you leave Israel after making Aliyah?
What happens if you leave Israel after making Aliyah? This is a common dilemma for those who are eligible to immigrate to Israel but aren’t sure they want to turn Israel into their permanent residence right away.
The answer is that you receive your Israeli citizenship immediately upon making Aliyah, and will not lose it if you leave Israel right away. Israeli citizenship is not revoked unless by the request of the citizenship holder. Furthermore, your children abroad will also be considered Israeli citizens. You may, however, miss out on some of your immigration benefits, as well as on holding an Israeli passport with a long period of validity.
When do Aliyah applicants become Israeli citizens?
The moment they arrive in Israel, having made Aliyah, or after completing their Aliyah process while visiting Israel. The Oleh (immigrant who makes Aliyah), their spouse and children (excepting the rare occasions of Split Aliyah where the family remains behind) all arrive at the Ben Gurion airport and receive their Israeli passport and Oleh Card on the spot.
As you may note, this is different from many other Western countries. For example, in the United States, a new immigrant will generally receive a Green Card (permanent resident) card, before having to spend several years living primarily in the United States with few departures, before they can be naturalized. Those who arrive in the US on a work visa and receive a Green Card after several years in the country have to spend even longer in the US until they become citizens.
That said, leaving Israel immediately after your Aliyah will have certain drawbacks.
What happens if you leave Israel after making Aliyah and becoming a citizen?
To begin with, you will be stuck with an Israeli passport that is only valid for the period of a year. After growing concern that many new immigrants embark on the Aliyah process only to obtain a second passport, and several changes to the Israeli laws and regulations on the subject, a compromise was reached. New Olim receive an Israeli passport valid for only one year. Should they spend that year in Israel, they will receive a passport that is valid for 5 years. After that, they will be issued a regular passport, valid for a decade.
In addition, you will miss out on various new immigrant benefits. First and foremost, the monetary payments meant to help Olim Hadashim integrate into Israeli society – the “absorption basket“, paid over the first six months, in which new immigrants study Hebrew at an Ulpan. Said benefits also include rental assistance new Olim are entitled to during their first 12 months in Israel, scholarships, etc,.
Furthermore, certain immigrant benefits (such as scholarships) are in fact limited by age, and you may lose your chance to partake if you leave Israel without benefiting and return some years later.
Finally, and depending on your circumstances, most crucially, your entitlement to participate in Israel’s national insurance (Bituach Leumi) and health care providers (Kupot Holim) starts after you’ve lived in Israel for six months. Leave Israel for long enough, and the countdown will have to restart upon your return. This means that if you will have to consider private insurance providers, and\or deposit a substantial sum of money to skip the waiting period at a health fund.
Can I regain some of my immigrant benefits as a Toshav Hozer?
Toshavim Hozrim \ Ezrachim Olim are Israeli residents \ citizens who have spent at least 10 consecutive years abroad. They are entitled to certain benefits, including an acclimation year in Israel to help them them integrate into Israeli society and an exemption from paying taxes on most forms of income from abroad. However, as you will notice upon reading both articles, the benefits provided to new immigrants and returning residents are not in fact identical.
Do you have to clarify your status with the IDF before you leave Israel?
If you are of age to be enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces, making sure that they are notified you’ve moved abroad is quite important. New olim are rarely drafted into the armed forces before their “acclimation year” in Israel is over. However, if you leave Israel to live abroad after receiving an enlistment notice, you will have to explain your reasons or be considered a draft evader. This means that you may be questioned or even detained upon your return to Israel.
In summary:
Even if you leave Israel immediately upon receiving your Israeli citizenship, you will remain an Israeli citizen for the rest of your life, unless you apply to cancel said status. But by leaving Israel immediately upon making Aliyah, you will lose access to a wide variety of immigration rights and benefits, and may have to arrange your status with the Israeli army.
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