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Immigration & Aliyah

Do new immigrants and foreign residents in Israel have to report a change of address?

Yes. Section 17 of the Population Registry Law 5725-1965 requires every registered resident to notify the Population and Immigration Authority of a change of address within 30 days of moving. The notice can be filed online, at a branch of the Authority or at a designated post office counter, and the Authority issues an address sticker for the back of the teudat zehut rather than a new card. Holders of temporary residence permits who appear in the population registry carry the same duty. Failing to report is an offence under the Law, and in practice it disrupts health fund records, school placement and municipal tax.

The registered address is used far beyond the identity card. It determines which municipality bills arnona, which school catchment applies to the children, which Bituach Leumi and health fund branch handles the family file, and where the Central Elections Committee places the voter. One notice covers a spouse and minor children living at the same address, and the Authority records the change in the registry as soon as the form is accepted. There is no charge for the notice or for the replacement address sticker. A person who keeps more than one home in Israel must register the one that serves as their main residence, and the Authority may ask for a lease, an arnona bill or a utility invoice as supporting proof.

New immigrants are usually registered at a temporary absorption address on the day they land, so the first genuine move triggers the duty almost at once. Non-residents who own an Israeli apartment but live abroad are not registered residents and file nothing under Section 17, although they should give the municipality a foreign mailing address so arnona notices do not pile up unseen. Our guide to getting your teudat zehut as a new immigrant covers the initial registration. The most common practical problem is a mismatch between the registry address and the address held by the bank, the health fund and the licensing bureau, since none of them update automatically and a stale address can delay a mortgage, a benefits claim or a licence renewal.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Section 17, Population Registry Law 5725-1965
  • Competent authority: Population and Immigration Authority (Rashut HaOchlusin VeHaHagira, known as PIBA)
  • Deadline: within 30 days of moving to the new address
  • Fee: no charge for the address change or for the replacement address sticker
  • How to file: online through the government services portal, at a PIBA branch, or at a designated post office counter
  • Not automatic: the health fund, Bituach Leumi, the municipality and the vehicle licensing file must each be updated separately

From the full guide: Teudat Zehut: Getting Your Israeli ID Card as a New Immigrant

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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