Nefesh BNefesh

Nefesh B'Nefesh's Guided Aliyah program allows citizens of the US, Canada, and the UK currently residing in Israel the opportunity to make Aliyah through Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of the Interior), while receiving the full array of Nefesh B'Nefesh services.  These services include assisted government processing, financial aid, social services and employment assistance. The Guided Aliyah application includes all of the necessary Aliyah documents for Misrad Hapnim, so that Olim can complete their paperwork for citizenship from the comfort of their own homes. Following the receipt of your application, Nefesh B'Nefesh facilitates the processing of these documents to ensure a hassle-free Aliyah.

Guided Aliyah Timetable: Applications must be submitted by the first of each month in order to begin processing that same month.

After you submit your completed application, your file will be submitted to Misrad Hapnim by our office. It will take up to 10 weeks until your file is approved by Misrad Hapnim, at which point you will be called into the Nefesh B'Nefesh office in Jerusalem to meet with a representative from Misrad Hapnim. We ask that you make every effort to attend this meeting as scheduled (Misrad Hapnim comes to our office as a courtesy) and bring all of your original documents with you at that time. In the event that you are unable to attend the meeting, you will be responsible for scheduling an alternative appointment at Misrad Hapnim.

Note: As various branches of Misrad Hapnim will be processing these files, you will need to complete your Aliyah with the same branch that opened your file. So even if you live in Jerusalem, your appointment may be in Haifa. Please ensure that all family members ages 16 and over who are making Aliyah are present at this time.

Misrad Hapnim will ask that you provide them with your foreign passport (US, Canadian, or UK) at your meeting. They require your original passport in order to process the Oleh visa that will be placed inside. Your passport will be returned to you along with your Teudat Zehut (Israeli ID card) approximately 10 days after your meeting.

Our office will notify you when your Teudat Zehut is ready for pick-up.

Eligibility for Guided Aliyah

Before applying for Guided Aliyah, please read the following guidelines to confirm that you are eligible to participate in the program.

• Applicants must be citizens of the United States, Canada or the UK and hold valid passports from one of these three countries.
• Misrad Hapnim guidelines dictate that you CANNOT be processed through the Guided Aliyah program if you fit into one of the following categories:
  • Converted to Judaism in Israel
  • Hold an Israeli passport or were born abroad to an Israeli parent
  • Hold a birth certificate from the former Soviet Union or Eastern Bloc
  • Renounced Israeli citizenship at any time in the past
  • Previously have been convicted of a crime

If you are not eligible for the Guided Aliyah Program, you can still apply for Nefesh B'Nefesh financial assistance and services. However, you will need to complete the Aliyah process directly through Misrad Hapnim. Please download and submit an Aliyah via Misrad Hapnim application and contact your local branch of Misrad Hapnim to schedule an appointment to begin the Aliyah process. Please be in touch with Nefesh B'Nefesh in parallel to the Misrad Hapnim process.

• If you converted to Judaism in North America or the UK: Misrad Hapnim policy requires that you must reside in the community in which you converted for a period of at least one year post-conversion, before being eligible to make Aliyah.
• If you are applying for Aliyah with a newborn child recently born in Israel (who was not registered as an Israeli citizen at the time of their birth) you will have to have a US, Canadian or UK passport issued for that child before submitting your application.
• If your spouse is an Israeli citizen, and you have children born abroad, please contact our Department of Government Advocacy in order to clarify whether or not your children are considered Israeli citizens and to determine if they are eligible to participate in the Guided Aliyah program.

Note for individuals over the age of 65: If you make Aliyah through the Guided Aliyah program, you will not have Israeli medical insurance during the time between your arrival in Israel and receiving approval for your Aliyah. Private insurance companies in Israel generally do not accept individuals over the age of 65 or people with pre-existing medical conditions. It is important to verify whether you can arrange to continue your U.S./Canada/U.K. medical insurance during this period. If not, it is recommended that you start the Aliyah process while overseas (rather than through the Guided Aliyah program after you arrive in Israel).

The application deadline is on the first of each month.
Applications are submitted to Misrad Hapnim on a monthly basis. 

If you have any questions regarding the application deadline, please contact: 

Citizens of N. America      Application Questions?  Call our toll free number 1-866-4-ALIYAH

Citizens of the UK    Application Questions?   Call: 0800-075-7200