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Sonigo International Services on Import to Israel and export from Israel includes handling the formalities involved in clearing your shipment through customs.
If you want an idea of what import duties will be due on your shipment, please contact us directly.
Please review our free informational pamphlet for Rights and Duties for personal import to Israel.
You can also contact the Ministry of Finance (Meches) for more specific information on Import duties to Israel: View in PDF (To Download, Right Click-Save Target As..)
Overview:
This guide is an overview for importing household goods and personal effects into Israel.
While we try to offer accurate information, laws change and individual cases may not fit the categories below.
Please remember, ultimately Meches (Customs - Ministry of Finance) decides on all import duties and taxes issues.
The package of rights outlined below is for people making Aliya from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, and other (but not all) Western countries.
Meches will review the country from which the Aliya Visa was issued to determine your Rights Package.
Meches typically grants rights packages according to the county in which your Aliyah Visa was issued.
Toshavim Hozerim receive the same rights (as outlined below), regardless of the country from which they are returning.
To help New Olim and Toshavim Hozerim establish their home in Israel, Meches allows certain benefits to help you set up your home and maintain the standard of living you enjoyed in the old country.
This guide is not for commercial import.
Outside of exceptions and exemptions listed below, all imports of personal effects and household goods (even if used) are taxable.
Taxes are based on "CIF value" (Cost, Insurance, Freight) of goods, and the specific item's "Tax Rate."
For a rough estimate of taxes on your import, please send a detailed list (including approximate age) of what you will be importing.
We will be happy to respond with a rough estimate of what taxes will be due on your shipment.
For new merchandise, Customs requires a receipt. Many new items, made in and exported from countries with a Free-Trade agreement, enjoy a Tax-Exemption (on import duties, but not VAT).
Of course, if you are an Oleh Hadash or Toshav Hozer, you won't need this for items already exempt.
In order to receive this, you or your shipper need to supply a "Certificate of Origin" or a "Eur1" stating goods were manufactured in the country with which Israel has the free trade agreement.
Your shipper can arrange this, for a fee.
Please note, if importing new US manufactured items from the US, your Certificate of Origin must state it is for the "Free Trade Agreement between the USA and Israel."
Determine Your Rights
Determine Your Status
The first step in determining your "rights" is to know your "Status" in Israel. These are the basic options:
- Oleh Hadash
- Katin Hozer
- Ezrach Oleh
- Toshav Hozer (Outside of Israel more than 6 years)
- Toshav Hozer (Outside of Israel more than 2 and less than 6 years)
- Citizen (with no rights)
- Tourist
- Student
- A-1 Visa
- B-1 Visa
If your status is not listed, feel free to contact us for more information.
Spouses of Different Status
If a person of one Status (say Oleh Hadash) marries a person of another Status (say Toshav Hozer) the family can only open one "Tik" (file) with Meches.
As you will see, it is best to open the "Tik" under the person with a larger rights' package.
If one person has used rights, you must check with Meches to determine what rights may still be available to the family.
In the event that both spouses have different rights, you are required to go to Meches in person, or submit to your customs clearer the original passport of the spouse with "lower" set of rights.
Rights for Personal Imports
Oleh Hadash
Household Goods
An Oleh can import three "Oleh" shipments of any size within three years of making Aliya. If a shipment is larger than a full container, it will count as two shipments unless both shipments come in on the same ship and are cleared through customs at the same time. What you bring with you on your Aliyah flight will not count as one of these three imports. Your shipments can come from any country, not only the country from which you are making Aliya.
- Tax free items that may be imported:
- Books, clothing, linens, kitchen utensils, pictures, decorations, media, and general "Personal Effects"
- Furniture for household use
- One of each type of appliance or electronic equipment. (These are for household use, not office equipment such as a fax).
- Two computers per family
- Two televisions per family
- Carpeting up to 25% of the area of the oleh's home in Israel.
- Olim can import Air Conditioners, Fans, and Heaters relative to the number of rooms in their new home in Israel.
- Olim can buy an Israeli Made refrigerator or air conditioner in Israel tax-free. There is a process for doing this, so don't walk into a store with your Teudat Oleh and expect to get a discount. You need to go to a participating store, get a pro-forma invoice, take that to Meches, get it stamped, and then return to the store.
- Olim can either buy a car in Israel or import a car and only pay ~75% in Taxes (as opposed to 103% – 114% for citizens). If you want to use your rights when buying a used car, you must buy from someone who previously bought with discounted rights (called passport-to-passport).
- Olim are exempt from the 1.02% Port Tax
All goods imported with rights must stay in your possession for five years from the date of import or depreciated taxes must be paid to Meches.
Importing a Car
An Oleh Hadash can buy or import a car within 3 years of Aliya to Israel.
In order to import a car (or motorcycle) you will need a clean title (no liens) on the vehicle and the title must be in the Oleh's name. You will also need:
- Your Israeli Driver's License
- A Personal Import License from Ministry of Transport approving personal import for the specific vehicle (Details at www.mot.gov.il)
- Your driver's license from overseas
Married couples have only one set of car rights.
If one has used rights and one has not and then they get married, the second one cannot use rights on a car (or fridge or anything else) if the first has already bought / imported with rights.
A car must stay in your possession for four years, or depreciated taxes must be paid.
Katin Hozer or Ezrach Oleh
A person entering as a Katin Hozer or Ezrach Oleh has the same rights as an Oleh Hadash, although they are subject to the 1.02% Port Tax.
Before your shipment can be cleared through customs in Israel, you must go to your local Meches Office (Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashdod or Haifa) with your Israeli passport (if you have one), Teudat Zehut, Teudat Zchuyot, Foreign Passports and rental contract or housing agreement.
Meches will enter you into the computer as having rights.
Meches may require to see proof of Army Service, or an Exemption from Army Service.
Toshav Hozer (Over 6 Years Abroad)
If you are an Israeli Citizen who has been outside of Israel more than six years, and has spent less than 120 days per year in Israel, you can qualify as a Toshav Hozer of 6+ Years.
This allows you to bring in two "Toshav Hozer" shipments within nine months of your return.
Before your shipment can be cleared, you must go to meches with your Israeli passport, Teudat Zehut, Foreign Passports (if any) and rental contract or housing agreement.
Meches will stamp your passport and enter you into the computer as having rights.
If one spouse is staying abroad, and the other is returning, the returning spouse must have the original signed form (10 Bet) from the spouse who is overseas, which has been stamped by the Foreign Israeli consulate.
Toshavim Hozerim must pay the 1.02% Port Tax.
Household Goods
A person entering as a Toshav Hozer of over 6 years can import, tax free, the same items as an Oleh Hadash.
Importing a Car
Toshavim Hozerim of over 6 years can either buy a car in Israel or import a car and only pay ~75% in Taxes (as opposed to 103% – 114% for citizens).
If you want to use your rights when buying a used car, you must buy from someone who previously bought with Discounted rights (called passport-to-passport).
Official Schlichim do not get this right.
This must be done within 3 months of your return to Israel.
The imported car can be no more than four years old.
In order to import a car (or motorcycle) you will need a clean title (no liens) on the vehicle and the title must be in the Toshav Hozer's name. You will also need:
- Your Israeli Driver's License
- A Personal Import License from Ministry of Transport approving personal import for the specific vehicle (Details at www.mot.gov.il)
Married couples have only one set of car rights. If one has used rights and one has not and then they get married, the second one cannot use rights on a car (or fridge or anything else) if the first has already bought / imported with rights.
A car must stay in your possession for four years, or depreciated taxes must be paid.
Toshav Hozer (More Than 2 and Less Than 6 Years Abroad)
If you are an Israeli Citizen who has been outside of Israel for more than two years, and has spent less than 120 days per year in Israel, you can qualify as a Toshav Hozer of two – six years.
This allows you to bring in two "Toshav Hozer" shipments within nine months of your return.
Before your shipment can be cleared through Israeli Customs you must go to meches with your Israeli passport, Teudat Zehut, Foreign Passports (if any) and rental contract or housing agreement.
Meches will stamp your passport and enter you into the computer as having rights.
Household Goods
A person entering as a Toshav Hozer of over two years can import, tax free, the same items as an Oleh Hadash.
Toshavim Hozerim must pay the 1.02% Port Tax.
Importing a Car
Toshavim Hozerim of 2-6 years do not get tax-discounted cars, however they can import a car up to 4 years old.
In order to import a car (or motorcycle) you will need a clean title (no liens) on the vehicle and the title must be in the Toshav Hozer's name. You will also need:
- Your Israeli Driver's License
- A Personal Import License from Ministry of Transport approving personal import for the specific vehicle (Details at www.mot.gov.il)
Israeli Citizens
Household Goods
Israeli citizens do not get any discounts from Customs' duties, unless they are importing something they had previously exported.
In this case, you will need a copy of the Customs stamped export packing list. A few items only get charged VAT ("Ma'am" - currently 16%) such as books, musical instruments, bicycles, computers, and as such, may be worth importing.
Israeli Citizens must pay the 1.02% Port Tax.
Importing a Car
Israeli Citizens can import a car up to 2 years old.
In order to import a car (or motorcycle) you will need a clean title (no liens) on the vehicle and the title must be in the Toshav Hozer's name. You will also need:
- Your Israeli Driver's License
- A Personal Import License from Ministry of Transport approving personal import for the specific vehicle (Details at www.mot.gov.il)
Tourists, B1 Visa, Student Visa
Household Goods
Tourists and Students do not get a tax exemption when importing, however many items are still worth importing and paying taxes versus buying here in Israel.
High end furniture, appliances, clothing, kitchenware and other household goods are often less expensive to ship and import.
Feel free to send us a list of what you plan to ship for an estimate of import duties.
If you hold a B1 Visa, you (or your employer) can leave a deposit or bank guarantee for the amount of import duties due.
This deposit will be returned once Meches has been shown proof that the goods have been exported.
Importing a Car
Tourists can import a car without paying taxes and will receive a three month permit.
After three months, you must get an extension from Meches. After 12 months the car must leave.
B1 Visa holders can import a car without paying taxes, however Meches will require a deposit or bank guarantee for the amount of taxes that would be due.
This deposit will be returned once Meches has been shown proof that the car has been exported. The car must leave when the visa expires, or the owner leaves Israel (whichever comes first).
Student Visa holders can import a car without paying taxes, however Meches will require a deposit or bank guarantee for the amount of taxes that would be due.
This deposit will be returned once Meches has been shown proof that the car has been exported. The car must leave when the visa expires, or the owner leaves Israel (whichever comes first).
A-1 Visa
Household Goods
A-1 Visa Holders do not get a tax exemption when importing, however many items are still worth importing and paying taxes versus buying here in Israel.
High end furniture, appliances, clothing, kitchenware and other household goods are often less expensive to ship and import.
Feel free to send us a list of what you plan to ship for an estimate of import duties.
Importing a Car
A-1 Visa Holders can import a car up to 2 years old.
Taxes are 103%-116%.
In order to import a car (or motorcycle) you will need a clean title (no liens) on the vehicle and the title must be in the Toshav Hozer's name. You will also need:
- Your Israeli Driver's License
- A Personal Import License from Ministry of Transport approving personal import for the specific vehicle (Details at www.mot.gov.il)
Business/Commercial Imports
Laws involving business or commercial imports are complex and varied. Feel free to contact us with your specific shipment's details and we can help you plan your import and custom clearing.
Notable Exceptions to Tax Free Imports
- Sports Equipment
- Camping Equipment
- Bar-b-q Grills
- Fax Machines
- Outdoor furniture and swings
- Pool tables, ping-pong tables, arcade type games
- Building supplies and non-household goods
- A motorized wheelchair needs approval before being imported
- Olim and Toshavim Hozrim pay VAT (currently 16%) on all Israeli services such as Israeli customs clearance and delivery in Israel.
What Not to Import as Personal Import
- Alcohol is highly taxable, and you should not import more than 5 liters
- Weapons are highly restricted and should not be imported
- Food over 15 kg or exceeding $50 USD in value
- Commercial quantities of goods (usually considered as four or more of the same thing)
- Non Household Goods, items for resale, or for commercial use
- Seeds, Live Plants, Taxidermy
- Slot Machines or other Games of Chance
Tags: Export from Israel, Export Israel, Export to Israel, Exporting to Israel,
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