Obligation to Register

According to the law, anyone designated for security service (“Malshab”), man or woman, who is permanently abroad in any status, will be required to report to the Consulate near his\her residence (i.e. his\her current place of residence, not in Israel), Upon reaching the age of 16.04, in order to register as required by the Service and the Security Law.

If you were staying in Israel at the time, you must report to the Recruitment Bureau closest to your residence.

Children of Immigrants

Definition of a Child of Immigrants

A child of an immigrant is a person with an Israeli citizenship, who was born abroad or has left Israel for the purpose of immigration accompanied by his/her parents before reaching age 16. Please Note:

1. If one of the parents lives in Israel, the “Malshab” must prove that he/she is in the custody of the parent who is living abroad.

2. If both parents live in Israel, the “Malshab” will not be recognized as an immigrant.

3. A child who is not entitled to a “ child of immigrants” status will be allowed to submit an application to postpone the recruitment in order to complete his/her high school studies abroad.

4. A child who is not recognized as a “child of immigrants” is not entitled to a postponement of his/her attendance and must return to Israel.

Obligatory service for women and men who arrived in Israel from June 1st, 2020:

Obligatory service for women who arrived in Israel after May 2015 until May 31st, 2020 (except for military doctors/dentists):

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Obligatory service for men who arrived in Israel after May 2015 until May 31st, 2020 (except for military doctors/dentists):

  - Men or women who are 28 years or older, cannot submit an application to volunteer for military service.

                                                                                                                  - Married men with at least one child - are dismissed from serving.

                                                                                                                  - Married women with or without children - are exempt from serving.

Obligatory service for women who arrived in Israel before May 2015 (except for military doctors/dentists):

Obligatory service for men who arrived in Israel before May 2015 (except for military doctors/dentists):

- Married men and women who have at least one child - are exempt from service.
- Men who are 30 years old and more - are also exempt from serving.

The duration of visits to Israel as a Child of an Immigrant

Children of immigrants will not lose their status when visiting Israel as long as the duration of each visit does not exceed 120 cumulative days in any calendar year, except for a one-time visit called a "year of stay". A “year of stay” is actually a one-time visit for a period that lasts from 121 days to 365 days from the date of entry into Israel. “The year of stay” depends on the fact that the child was abroad 60 days before the visit to Israel and is required to spend another 60 days abroad after the visit. If the child of immigrants arrives for a short visit, he/she will have to return abroad for at least 60 days, so that the visit will not be considered a the “year of stay”. If the child wishes to visit Israel again, he/she can only do so from the next calendar year.

Please note that the immigrant parents are allowed to stay in Israel for a total of 180 days in a calendar year. If they exceed this period, their child will lose his/her status. The parents' visit is conditional upon staying in their homeland 60 days prior to their visit to Israel and 60 days after the visit.

For more information about The Duration of a New Immigrant's Military Service

High School studies in Israel

A child of immigrants will not lose his/her status while studying in high school in Israel, only by meeting the following conditions:

1. His parents are abroad and they immigrated with the child before he/she was 13 years old.

2. The child was not present in Israel more than two years of high school studies in Israel.

                                                                                                                       It is considered that the child is utilizing the “year of stay”.

 Please note that in the case of high school studies in Israel, this is considered a year of residence.

Academic studies or “Yeshiva” studies in Israel

A child of immigrants can study in Israel without losing his/her status according to the standard years to obtain a degree, including up to one year of preparatory studies (if required), if the following conditions are met:

                                                                                                                      1. If his/her parents are abroad.

                                                                                                                      2. He/she started studying from the age of 17.

3. If the child of immigrants was born abroad or immigrated with his/her parents before the age of 10 years.

4. The center of his/her life is abroad and did not exploit the "year of stay" unless he/she was part of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption.

5. If he/she was accepted by an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education or the Board of Yeshiva.

6. A document on behalf of the academic institution with accurate start and end dates of studies, must be submitted to Meitav.

7. Up to 4 years for one academic degree (bachelor or masters) or 4 years of study in a “Yeshiva” in Israel.

Child Of Emissaries

Definition of a Child of Emissaries

A child of emissaries is defined as a candidate for military service and who resides abroad with his/her parents or a parent (in his/her custody), if one of them represents only an Israeli governmental body.

Exceptions will be examined by the Planning and Utilization office in the Meitav Unit. Pay Attention to the following points:

1. If the Malshab (a child of emissaries) lives with his/her parents abroad who are abroad for the purpose of a government mission - he/she will be permitted to postpone recruitment until the age of 20 or by the end of the government mission - whichever is earlier.

2. If the parents are in Israel, while the “Malshab” stays abroad, his/her recruitment will be postponed until the completion of his/her high school studies.

3. The “Malshab” and his/her family must show proof that their center of life is abroad.

4. The “Malshab” is prohibited from studying in an academic/graduate framework abroad.

In order to arrange his/her military status, the “Malshab” who resides abroad, must contact the overseas office in the Meitav Unit through the Israeli consulate near his/her place of residence, or to contact the recruitment office nearest his/her place of residence when staying in Israel.