Israel
ISRIsrael is a high-income parliamentary democracy on the eastern Mediterranean. Citizenship is principally acquired by birth to an Israeli parent or via the Law of Return (Aliyah), open to Jews and persons with at least one Jewish grandparent.
Israeli passport holders enjoy strong visa-free travel and the country's new-immigrant tax regime gives 10 years of foreign-income exemption — among the most generous OECD regimes. Universal health coverage via four state-supervised Kupot Holim funds. Hebrew is essential for everyday administrative life; English-speaking professional environments concentrate in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Jerusalem.
- Naturalisation
- 3 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (ILS)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Region
- middle east
- Population
- 9,840,000
- Cost-of-living
- 81 /100
Passport Rank
#19
Visa-Free
137
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Israel passport has visa-free access to 137 destinations. See the full Israel passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Israel without a prior visa (99)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Israel
Current IRCC processing times for Israel nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 39 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 6 weeks |
| Work permit | 5 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: 26 months / refugee: 35 months |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (ILS)
- Languages
- Hebrew, Arabic
- Population
- 9,840,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 3 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Mediterranean / arid
- English Proficiency Rank
- #16
- GDP per capita
- $60,337
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.2%/yr
New-immigrant (oleh) tax exemption: 10 years of full exemption on foreign-source income and capital gains for individuals who make Aliyah and become Israeli tax residents.
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
81
Safety
60
Healthcare
75
Quality of Life
152
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 3 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Special Tax Regime
- New-immigrant (oleh) tax exemption: 10 years of full exemption on foreign-source income and capital gains for individuals who make Aliyah and become Israeli tax residents.
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv | $2,700 | $1,850 | $460 | $165 | $64 |
| Jerusalem | $1,500 | $1,100 | $410 | $140 | $64 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist Visa (B/2)
- Student Visa (A/2)
- Clergy Visa (A/3)
- Volunteer Visa (A/4)
- Work Visa (B/1)
- Aliyah (Law of Return)
- Family Reunification Visa
- Authority
- Population and Immigration Authority
- Phone
- +972-3-7514400
- contact@piba.gov.il
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 3
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $50
- Processing
- ~12 months
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv International School | Tel Aviv | American / IB | $22,000–$32,000 |
| Anglican International School Jerusalem | Jerusalem | British / IGCSE / IB | $18,000–$26,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
200 Mbps median
95% fibre coverage
eSIM: Pelephone, Cellcom, Partner, Hot Mobile
Safety
GPI Rank
#96
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠taxi-meter avoidance in Tel Aviv
- ⚠tourist-area pickpocketing in Jerusalem Old City
Examples of areas to avoid: South Tel Aviv (Neve Sha'anan) at night, specific mixed neighbourhoods near Jerusalem Old City after dark
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #27
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Widely available
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Israel, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Israel Bar Association
IBAStatutory body that licenses and regulates lawyers in Israel; mandatory membership to practise law, including immigration practitioners.
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Move here
Life logistics
Visa Programs
Hospitals
Citizenship by Descent
Sources & last verified
- Last verified