MOVING TO ISRAEL

Below is a list of the documents you will need when planning an international removal to Israel:

• Valid Passport (Of the individual moving/importing the goods), including photo page, entry stamp and spouse’s passport, if applicable (Israeli citizens)
• Express release bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB) – We will take care of this if completing the entire international removal to Israel for you.
• Removal packing list in English – We will complete this if you want us to undertake a full packing service for your removal
• Proof of residence in Israel
• Residence visa
• Valued moving inventory in Hebrew
• Invoices for new items
• Rental contract / lease agreement (1-year minimum)
• Israeli customs forms (MB130 & MB165)
• New immigrant booklet “Teudat Oleh” (foreigners)
• EUR-1 / certificate of origin for items less than 1 year old (Israeli citizens living abroad 2 or more years)
• Letter of employment
• Customs bond
• Bank guarantee / bank deposit
• A-3 status stamp in passport (religious individuals: ministers, priests, theological students, etc.)
• Israeli identity card (single persons), divorce papers (divorced persons), death certificate (widows / widowers)
• Tax exemption franchise (applicable only to diplomatic relocations / diplomats moving)
• Diplomatic ID card (applicable only to diplomatic relocations / diplomats moving)
• Diplomatic passport (applicable only to diplomatic relocations / diplomats moving)

We recommend providing these as soon as possible to reduce delays with your removal to Israel. Late receipt of documentation can lead to missed shipments, additional charges and penalties at Israeli Customs. For your own protection, we will almost never ship your goods without the above in place.

• Duty-free entry for household goods and personal effects.
• Only items for personal use are permitted for import.
• Only one of each type of electrical appliance is permitted.
• Carpets, communications equipment, sporting equipment and outdoor furniture are subject to partial or full duties, depending on the item.
• The valued moving inventory should be in Hebrew, and should include values of all items, giving make, serial number and appliance manufacturer’s name, whether used or new and sizes for all fabric items (provided by D/A)
• The date of arrival is the date of first entry into Israel as marked in the “Teudat Oleh” booklet issued upon arrival.
• The number of duty-free shipments is limited to three (3).
• The lease contract / rental agreement must be a minimum of 1 year and if furnished, should specify which items will remain in the residence, as Customs will not allow identical items to be brought in duty free.
• The import of a car and professional tools will not be calculated within the framework of the three duty-free shipments permitted.
• Household goods and personal effects must arrive at the port of entry (POE) within 3 years from the date of arrival.
• In general, Israeli citizens who have lived abroad for less than 2 years do not qualify for a tax exemption for the shipment.
• The shipment will be taxed by Israeli Customs based on its tariff (Customs duties plus valued added tax (VAT) charged on the value plus sales tax).
• If the owner of the goods did a formal export when leaving Israel (e.g., via a certified international mover or freight forwarder) and the original export documents are found in that company’s archives, then all items on the export list matching the import list can be imported tax free (Israelis living abroad for less than 2 years).
• Owner(s) of the goods must present an original Customs stamp as copies are not permitted (Israeli citizens).
• Israeli citizens who have lived abroad for more than 2 years are considered a returning citizen.
• Returning Israelis living abroad more than 2 years can import household goods and personal effects tax free once Customs has stamped the passport “returning Israeli.” These items, if imported, will be taxed by Israeli Customs according to Customs tariff.
• Once Israeli Customs stamps the passport with “returning Israeli,” the owner of the goods may import one of each item for household goods / personal effects, and appliances tax free.
• Religious individuals / A-3 visa holders must pay a bank guarantee / bank deposit, which will be released or paid back once leaving Israel and exporting the household goods.
• New immigrants are entitled to the tax-free importation of household effects as well as personal effects.
• In order to utilize this privilege, the owner of the goods must present the immigration booklet (Teudat Oleh).
• New immigrants must surrender their original passport along with the original new immigration booklet to Israeli Customs during the clearance process.
• All goods imported by tourists (B-2) are subject to Customs duties.
• Consignee’s employer will have to raise a bank guarantee in the amount of duties levied by Israeli Customs to clear the shipment without paying taxes.
• This guarantee will have to be renewed every year and can be revoked only when the goods are exported out of Israel (foreign workers / B-1 visa holders).
• The bank guarantee applies to Israeli Customs duties and taxes only, and does not cover other port related charges like NVOCC handling charges, cargo terminal charges and wharfage fee (foreigner workers / B-1 Visa holders).
• The bank guarantee must be renewed annually.
• Once consignee departs from Israel, goods need to be re-exported.
• Consignee cannot sell goods with value (furniture, appliances, etc.) in Israel.
• Diplomats are entitled to a tax-free importation of personal effects, once a tax exemption franchise is obtained by the diplomatic organization (e.g., embassy, consulate or organization) in which the diplomat is physically serving.
• The diplomatic ID card can be obtained at the diplomatic department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.
• Once obtained, a tax exemption franchise from Customs can be obtained by presenting the OBL, removal packing list and Customs forms.
• Once the original tax exemption papers are received by the destination agent, the shipment can be cleared tax free.
• The tax exemption franchise applies to Israeli Customs duties and taxes only, and does not cover other port-related charges like NVOCC handling charges, cargo terminal charges and wharfage fees.