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English olim pilot
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Registering with Bituach Leumi (National Insurance)

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In brief

The National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) publishes English pages for new olim. The first practical step is to register with a health maintenance organization (HMO). You can do that at the airport, at a post office, or later on the NII website. After 90 days from aliyah, registration is only at a local NII branch.

Based on official sources, not reviewed by a professional.

In brief: what to do

  1. Register with an HMO at the airport if you can.
  2. If you missed the airport, register at a post office branch.
  3. After about three weeks, you can also register on the NII website.
  4. If 90 days have passed, go to the NII branch nearest your residence.
  5. Check the official page for the current health-insurance contribution exemption.

How to use this checklist

Mark each task you complete. Progress is saved on this device. Every factual step links to an official source. Check that official page for current amounts, deadlines, and eligibility rules.

Tasks

The NII English page for new immigrants says a new immigrant can register with an HMO immediately upon arrival at the Ministry of Integration bureaus at the airport.

New immigrants: HMO registration (btl.gov.il)

The same NII page says an immigrant who did not register at the Ministry of Integration can register with an HMO through any branch of Israel Post. The general "How to register" page says you must present your ID card at the post office. Registering at post office branches costs money. The post office will tell you the exact sum. Keep the copy of the registration form.

How to register with an HMO (btl.gov.il)

The NII says that after three weeks from arrival, once data from the Ministry of Interior is integrated at the National Insurance Institute, the immigrant can register on the National Insurance website. The "How to register" page says website registration is free of charge. For identification you will be asked for details from your personal Israeli credit card (not Direct). Print the registration authorisation.

HMO registration and contributions for new olim (btl.gov.il)

The NII says that if registration is not done within 90 days of the day of immigration, it will only be performed at the National Insurance branch nearest the person's place of residence. The "persons who are not registered" page repeats that 90 days after Aliya is one of the cases that must be handled at a branch.

Persons who are not registered with an HMO (btl.gov.il)

The official NII pages say a new immigrant with no income, or income below the amount published on the page, is entitled to an exemption from health insurance contributions for 6 months from the day of aliyah. An additional 6 months (12 months overall) may be granted if subsistence benefits are paid by the Ministry of Absorption. For that extra period you must give the NII a subsistence benefit recipient certificate, and the extra exemption is only for months in which those benefits were paid. Check the official page for the current income threshold. Do not rely on a copied number.

Who must pay health insurance contributions (btl.gov.il)

The NII English "New Olim" page gathers rights from the day of aliyah, including HMO registration and contributions, children, disability, income support, old-age pension, and other topics. Use that hub and the English homepage to open the official page that matches your situation. This checklist does not list benefit amounts.

New Olim hub (btl.gov.il)

Do not forget

  • After HMO registration, the Ministry rights guide says you must still go to the health fund to complete the procedure and receive a temporary membership card.
  • Website HMO registration is free. Post office registration costs a fee that the post office will state.
  • Check the official NII page for the current income threshold used for the contribution exemption.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

At the Ministry of Integration offices at the airport on arrival, at any Israel Post branch if that was not done, or on the National Insurance website after about three weeks, once Interior Ministry data has been integrated. After 90 days, registration is only at the nearest NII branch.
Official source

The NII says a new immigrant with no income, or income below the amount published on the official page, is entitled to an exemption for 6 months from the day of aliyah. A further period may apply if subsistence benefits are paid. Check the official page for the current amount and conditions.
Official source

Based on official sources, not reviewed by a professional.

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