Quick Answer: Every qualifying new immigrant to Israel receives the Sal Klita (absorption basket) under the Absorption of Immigrants Law 5710-1950 and related regulations. It has three core components: monthly cash grants paid by the National Insurance Institute for up to 12 months (some groups up to 18 months), a government-funded ulpan subsidy covering up to 500 hours of Hebrew instruction, and a one-time housing assistance grant from the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption. Monthly grant amounts in 2026 range from approximately NIS 2,800 for a young single adult to NIS 5,500 or more for an older couple, depending on age and family composition. These benefits are grants, not loans, and they are separate from the 10-year foreign-income tax exemption that new residents also receive under Section 14 of the Income Tax Ordinance.

The Sal Klita is Israel's structured answer to the question every prospective Oleh asks: how does a person financially survive the first year while learning Hebrew, finding work, and navigating a country whose systems are entirely new? The package is more substantial than most people expect before they arrive, and more complicated than the government's summary materials suggest.

This guide is for people planning aliyah in 2026, for families with mixed Jewish and non-Jewish members wondering how benefits divide, and for Olim who arrived recently and are not certain they have claimed everything they are entitled to. Numbers here reflect published Ministry of Aliyah and NII tables as of mid-2026; verify current figures directly before making financial plans, since amounts are updated periodically.

1. What Is the Sal Klita and Who Administers It?

The term Sal Klita translates literally as absorption basket. It covers a group of distinct benefits that different government bodies administer simultaneously.

  • Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption (Misrad HaKlita): the coordinating body. It issues the absorption certificate (teudat zkhaut l'aliyah), approves housing grants, oversees ulpan placement, and determines eligibility for supplementary programs. The Ministry operates immigrant absorption centers (merkaz klita) and regional offices throughout Israel.
  • National Insurance Institute (NII / Bituach Leumi): pays the monthly cash grant (maan klita) directly to the Oleh's Israeli bank account. Registration with the NII is a separate step from registration with the Ministry.
  • Jewish Agency for Israel (Sochnut): handles pre-aliyah processing, issues the initial immigration voucher, and provides counseling before departure. Once the Oleh lands, the Ministry and NII take over.
  • Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA): issues the Teudat Oleh (immigrant's certificate) at the airport or border crossing, which is the trigger document for all other benefits.

The legal framework sits primarily in the Absorption of Immigrants Law 5710-1950 as amended, with grant amounts set by secondary regulations that the Ministry updates. The National Insurance Law 5755-1995 governs how the NII processes and pays the monthly grant.

In Practice: A Canadian family of four — a Jewish father, non-Jewish mother, and two children under 12 — made aliyah through Ben Gurion Airport in March 2026. PIBA issued Teudat Oleh documents on the spot for the father and children under Section 4A of the Law of Return; the mother received a matching document as an immigrant family member. The Ministry of Aliyah registration appointment was booked through the online portal the same week. Within 14 days, the family's first monthly NII absorption grant landed in their newly opened Israeli bank account. The first payment covered the full first month at the rates applicable to a two-adult household with young children, approximately NIS 9,400 combined for the two adults. Both parents had identical access to ulpan and housing assistance despite only the father being Jewish.

2. Who Qualifies for the Sal Klita

Eligibility follows the Law of Return 5710-1950 and its 1970 amendment. The core rule is that any Jewish person has the right to immigrate to Israel as an Oleh. The 1970 amendment extends that right to:

  • The spouse of a qualifying Jewish person (regardless of the spouse's religion).
  • Children and grandchildren of qualifying Jews, and their spouses.

Section 4A of the Law of Return explicitly gives these family members the same absorption rights as Jewish Olim themselves, which means the Sal Klita package is identical for a non-Jewish spouse traveling with a Jewish partner. The one person the Law of Return excludes, regardless of Jewish ancestry, is someone who has voluntarily converted to another religion and no longer identifies as Jewish.

Practical eligibility conditions beyond ancestry:

  • The applicant must not have previously received a full Sal Klita package. The benefit is once per lifetime for each individual.
  • Israeli citizens who were born in Israel and are registering for the first time as residents do not qualify — the Sal Klita is for immigrants arriving from abroad.
  • Returning residents (toshav chozer) who previously made aliyah and left receive a separate and more limited package under the Returning Residents Regulations, not the full Sal Klita.
  • Non-Jewish immigrants who are not family members of qualifying Jews do not qualify. Their immigration process runs through PIBA on work, family reunification, or other visa tracks, with no Sal Klita entitlement.

3. Monthly Absorption Grants: Amounts and Timeline

The monthly cash grant (maan klita) is the financial backbone of the Sal Klita. Amounts are set in NIS and tied to indices the Ministry updates. The figures below reflect 2026 published rates; verify with the NII or Ministry before relying on them for budgeting.

The grant runs for 12 consecutive months from the date of aliyah. Olim aged 55 and older receive an extended period of up to 18 months. The amounts decrease over time. The first quarter typically pays at the highest rate, the final quarter at the lowest, reflecting the assumption that the immigrant is moving toward employment or self-sufficiency.

Approximate 2026 monthly grant amounts by category:

  • Single adult, under 35: NIS 2,600 to NIS 2,900 per month (first quarter to last quarter).
  • Single adult, 35 to 54: NIS 3,000 to NIS 3,400 per month.
  • Single adult, 55 and older: NIS 3,600 to NIS 4,100 per month (over 18 months).
  • Married couple with no children: approximately NIS 4,800 to NIS 5,500 combined in the first quarter.
  • Each dependent child under 18: an additional per-child supplement of approximately NIS 450 to NIS 650 per month depending on age.

The grant is paid by direct bank transfer on or around the 5th of each month. The NII issues a payment notice in Hebrew, but the amounts appear in the Oleh's NII online account (ezkara), accessible with an Israeli national ID number and the code assigned at registration.

One detail that catches families off guard: the monthly grant is paid per adult, not per household. A couple where both adults qualify each receives their own grant calculation rather than a single family payment. The amounts above are approximations; the NII uses a precise formula that varies by the exact age of each adult on the date of aliyah.

In Practice: A 42-year-old software developer from Chicago made aliyah as a single adult in January 2026. Under the 35-to-54 single-adult bracket, her first-quarter monthly grant was NIS 3,350; by the fourth quarter it had stepped down to NIS 2,900. Over 12 months she received approximately NIS 38,000 in total absorption grants. She did not open an Israeli bank account until her second week — a common delay that caused the NII to accumulate one unpaid month, which was released as a lump sum once the account was registered. The Ministry of Aliyah office in Tel Aviv's Absorption Center flagged this and resolved it in a single visit with her bank account confirmation letter (ishur cheshbon bankay). New Olim should open a bank account within the first few days, not the first few weeks.

4. Ulpan Language Classes: Free Hebrew for Olim

Every new immigrant receives a government-funded ulpan voucher covering up to 500 hours of Hebrew instruction. The voucher is issued by the Ministry of Aliyah and redeemable at any recognized ulpan program across Israel, including the network of Ministry-run ulpanim and many private schools.

The standard structure:

  • Ulpan Aleph (beginners): a 5-month intensive course, typically 4 to 5 hours daily, designed to bring a complete beginner to functional conversational Hebrew and basic reading. This is fully subsidized under the Sal Klita voucher.
  • Ulpan Bet and Gimel (intermediate and advanced): additional levels that many Olim access after Aleph. The subsidy applies to Bet but thins out at higher levels, and some programs charge modest co-payments from the third level onward.
  • Workplace ulpan (ulpan ba'avoda): an option for Olim who are already employed. The schedule runs in shorter daily sessions attached to the employer's schedule, allowing simultaneous employment and language study.

The voucher must be used within 3 years of aliyah; it does not expire automatically on the 12-month Sal Klita anniversary. Olim who do not start ulpan immediately for work reasons should know the window stays open for three years from the date on the Teudat Oleh.

Ulpan registration is through the Ministry's online portal at gov.il or in person at any regional Ministry of Aliyah office. The Oleh presents the Teudat Oleh and the ulpan voucher number; placement is by level based on a brief oral assessment at the ulpan itself.

5. Housing and Mortgage Assistance

The Ministry of Aliyah administers two distinct housing-related benefits under the Sal Klita framework. They serve different purposes and the eligibility conditions differ.

Absorption Center Residency (merkaz klita): New Olim can apply for temporary housing in a government-subsidized absorption center for up to 18 months. Centers vary widely in quality and location. Rent is heavily subsidized — typically NIS 800 to NIS 2,000 per month for a furnished apartment, far below market rates. Places are limited and allocated by priority; families with young children and elderly Olim are generally placed first. The Ministry's housing department handles applications through the gov.il portal or by telephone at *7083.

Housing Grant (maan dira): Qualifying new immigrants receive a one-time housing grant upon purchasing or long-term renting a home in Israel. The grant is paid by the Ministry of Aliyah. For renters, the 2026 amounts range from approximately NIS 5,000 to NIS 12,000 depending on family size and geographic zone; for buyers, somewhat higher amounts apply in development zones designated by the Ministry. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv urban centers fall outside the premium-zone calculation.

Neither the absorption center subsidy nor the housing grant constitutes down payment assistance for a mortgage in the standard sense. Olim who intend to buy property should separately review the Ministry's Mashkanta Vatik (senior mortgage) program, which offers interest subsidies for first-time home purchases by qualifying Olim, administered through the Ministry rather than the Bank of Israel.

In Practice: A retired couple from the United Kingdom, both aged 67, made aliyah to Netanya in May 2026. Under the over-55 rate, each received the extended 18-month monthly grant. They applied for absorption center housing through the Ministry of Aliyah website and were placed in a two-bedroom apartment in Netanya's absorption center at NIS 1,400 per month. After 14 months they purchased a 90-square-meter apartment in the city. They applied for the housing grant through the Ministry's regional office in Netanya (Sderot Weizmann 26), submitting the signed purchase contract, their Teudat Oleh documents, and proof of bank transfer. The Ministry approved a grant of approximately NIS 14,000 under the family-size and age-weighting formula, paid directly to the attorney-held escrow account used in the property purchase. The process took 47 days from application to payment.

6. Employment and Professional Integration Benefits

Beyond language and cash, the Sal Klita includes several programs aimed at getting Olim into the Israeli labor market faster.

Professional equivalency support: Olim who hold foreign professional licenses — doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, teachers — face Israeli recognition processes that can take 12 to 36 months. The Ministry of Aliyah funds preparation courses for the equivalency examinations (bachinat hasamach) that most licensed professions require. Subsidies vary by profession; medical professionals typically receive the most comprehensive support, including NIS-denominated stipends during the recognition period.

Employment counseling and job placement: The Ministry operates a network of employment advisors (yoatzei klita) who are available at regional offices. For professional Olim, the Ministry also runs sector-specific programs connecting new immigrants directly with employers in their field. The high-tech program, for example, organizes fairs where Israeli tech companies recruit internationally trained engineers.

Academic rights: Olim who enroll in Israeli universities within 4 years of aliyah receive reduced tuition rates for the first year. The Council for Higher Education administers this separately from the Sal Klita, but the entitlement flows from the same immigrant status.

National Service exemption option: Olim over 26 are exempt from Israeli military service. Those under 26 enter a process with the IDF's Absorption Center for New Immigrants (lishkat saf ha-aliyah) at Bakum that accounts for age, family status, and Hebrew level. This affects how much of the first year is available for language study and employment rather than military training. See our IDF service for new immigrants guide for the full rules.

7. The 10-Year Foreign-Income Tax Break

The Sal Klita cash and services benefits run for the first year. The longer-running financial benefit for most Olim is the 10-year exemption from Israeli income tax on foreign-source income under Section 14 of the Income Tax Ordinance.

During the 10-year period, an Oleh's foreign dividends, interest, rents, capital gains on overseas assets, and most foreign pensions are exempt from Israeli income tax and from the reporting obligation that ordinarily applies to Israeli residents. This means an Oleh who continues to receive income from a business or investment portfolio abroad pays no Israeli tax on those flows for a decade.

From January 2026, however, Amendment 268 to the Income Tax Ordinance introduced annual reporting requirements that apply even during the exempt period. Olim must now file Form 150 with the Israel Tax Authority disclosing worldwide assets and income, even where no Israeli tax is payable. The reporting obligation does not create a tax liability but does create a penalty exposure for non-disclosure.

Israeli-source income is taxable from day one of residency regardless of the exemption. An Oleh who accepts Israeli employment or establishes an Israeli business pays income tax, NII contributions, and health tax on those earnings on the same basis as any Israeli resident. The 10-year exemption covers only foreign-source flows.

The Israel Tax Authority (Rashut HaMisim) has a new immigrant tax coordinator in each regional tax office who handles exemption confirmations and Form 150 filings. An appointment is advisable within the first few months for anyone with foreign income or assets above NIS 1.9 million. Our full guide on the 10-year new immigrant tax exemption covers the details and the 2026 reporting rules.

8. Step-by-Step: From Landing to First Payment

The sequence matters. Each step below opens the next one, and delays compound. Most new Olim can complete steps 1 through 4 within the first week.

Step 1: Receive Teudat Oleh at the airport. PIBA officers at Ben Gurion Airport issue the Teudat Oleh on arrival for pre-approved applicants who completed the Jewish Agency process abroad. First-time applicants without pre-approval can begin the process at a regional PIBA office but should expect a waiting period. The Teudat Oleh number is the reference code for every subsequent registration.

Step 2: Book a Ministry of Aliyah intake appointment. Call *7083 or log into gov.il with the Teudat Oleh number to schedule. The intake appointment covers all Sal Klita entitlements, issues the ulpan voucher, and initiates the housing grant process if applicable. The appointment takes approximately 90 minutes. Bring: Teudat Oleh, passport, marriage certificate and birth certificates for family members (translated and apostilled if from abroad), and two passport photos.

Step 3: Open an Israeli bank account. The NII requires a local account for the monthly grant transfer. Major banks — Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, Bank Discount — all accept Teudat Oleh as the primary identification document for new immigrants and typically complete account opening in one visit. Some branches have dedicated Oleh services with English-speaking staff.

Step 4: Register with the National Insurance Institute. The NII registration form for new immigrants is available at any NII branch or through the online portal. Bring the Teudat Oleh and the new bank account confirmation. NII registration also activates health insurance through Bituach Leumi contributions, which is the mechanism that funds enrollment in one of the four Kupot Holim health funds under the National Health Insurance Law 5754-1994. See our guide on Kupat Holim registration for the health insurance side.

Step 5: Enroll in ulpan. After receiving the ulpan voucher from the Ministry, contact the ulpan directly or use the Ministry's online placement tool. Classes typically start within 2 to 4 weeks of registration.

Step 6: Apply for the housing grant if purchasing or signing a long-term lease. The application goes to the Ministry of Aliyah regional office. Submit the purchase contract or lease, Teudat Oleh, and NII registration confirmation. Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks from a complete application.

In Practice: An Argentine family of five — parents in their early 40s, three children aged 7, 12, and 16 — arrived in April 2026. The father had pre-approved aliyah through the Jewish Agency's Buenos Aires office; the mother and children registered under Section 4A of the Law of Return. PIBA issued all five Teudat Oleh documents at the airport within 90 minutes of landing. The Ministry of Aliyah intake appointment was scheduled for the following Tuesday at the Haifa regional office. By the end of the second week they had NII registration, an account at Bank Hapoalim, and ulpan enrollment for both parents. The first combined monthly absorption grant of NIS 11,400 (two adults in the 35-54 bracket plus three child supplements) arrived on the 5th of May. They enrolled the 7-year-old in the public school system through the local municipality's education department, which handles school placement for new immigrant children separately from the Ministry of Aliyah process and is free under the Compulsory Education Law 5709-1949.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The monthly absorption grant (maan klita) and the ulpan subsidy are grants, not loans. There is no repayment obligation, and they do not affect your Israeli income tax return. The housing assistance grant from the Ministry of Aliyah is also non-repayable. The only absorption-related payment structured as a loan is the optional interest-subsidized mortgage (mashkanta vatik) available through certain programs — and that is debt you choose to take on separately from the Sal Klita entitlement.

Section 4A of the Law of Return extends most Sal Klita entitlements to non-Jewish spouses, children, and grandchildren of qualifying Jews. The monthly absorption grant, ulpan rights, and housing assistance apply in equal measure. The main difference is that a non-Jewish family member receives citizenship or permanent residency rather than immigrant status, and PIBA issues a slightly different Teudat Oleh. In practice the benefit package is materially identical for the first year.

Absorption grants stop the month after departure. If you leave and return within 90 days, entitlement typically resumes for the remaining months. A departure of more than 90 days during the first year is treated by the National Insurance Institute as an interruption and may require a new eligibility determination by the Ministry of Aliyah. Leaving for more than six months in the first five years can affect whether PIBA considers your center of life to have shifted, with implications beyond the Sal Klita.

Generally not. The Sal Klita is a once-in-a-lifetime benefit per individual. A person who previously made aliyah and received absorption benefits, then left and returned, is considered a returning resident (toshav chozer) rather than a new immigrant, and a different and more limited set of benefits applies. There are narrow exceptions for people who left Israel as minors and returned as adults, which the Ministry of Aliyah assesses on a case-by-case basis.

Working in Israel does not reduce the Sal Klita monthly grant during the first year. The absorption grant and employment income run in parallel. From the second year onward, the Sal Klita monthly payment phases out on its normal schedule regardless of employment status. You must register with the NII as an employee once you start working, which means Bituach Leumi contributions will be withheld from your salary — but those are separate from and do not reduce the absorption grant.

Related Guides