Did you know that Israel has the highest rate of university degrees and the highest number of museums per capita in the world? If you’re considering moving to Israel, your quality of life will significantly increase. You’ll get to be in one of the countries with the highest life expectancy, with more trees than it had fifty years ago, and one of the places with the happiest people in it.
If you mail a letter addressed to God, it will be sent to Israel, or the Holy Land, as it’s also known. However, you don’t have to send a letter to Him about moving to Israel from the USA, since we have all the information. Read our guide on immigrating to Israel and learn all the useful facts about how to live abroad and overcome the culture shock in the Holy Land.
What Are the Conditions for Moving to Israel Permanently as a Foreign Citizen?
If you’re thinking about moving to Israel from America, you should first get the answer to the questions “How do I become a resident of Israel” and “How long can a US citizen live in Israel.” The Holy Land allows immigration for highly skilled workers such as scientists, academics, and high-tech workers. Professional relocating is done with a work permit and a B/1 work visa. Once you learn all about the relocation questions to ask the employer, you should get approval from the Israeli Ministry of Interior and submit an application for your visa. A holder of a B/1 is allowed to bring their partner and children that will be issued with a B/2 courtesy visa.
There’s no such thing as a self-employment visa, but the closest thing to it is an Innovation or Start-Up visa and Expert visa for foreign entrepreneurs and investors, also known as a B/5 investor visa. This is one of the ways to get residency permit as a non-Jewish person. However, if you are Jewish, immigration to the Holy Land is not an issue.
Jews That Are Moving to Israel Have Citizenship by Right
Are you wondering can Jews move to Israel for free? Here’s a fun fact – you can’t exactly have a free relocation, but if you are a Jew, plan to convert to Judaism, or you’re relocating to another country for love and marrying an Israeli citizen, you will be naturalized and receive citizenship. Under the Law of Return amended in the seventies, all Jews, no matter where they were born, are Israeli citizens. If you’re a Jew living overseas and you want to relocate to the Holy Land, simply contact The Jewish Agency for Israel and submit an application for immigration.
Which City or Community Is the Best for the Life You Plan to Have in the Holy Land?
The Holy Land is one of the best countries to live in, and it offers so many options when it comes to choosing a city or town for your future life. Depending on your preferences, you can pick one of the following communities that offer an amazing quality of life:
- Tel Aviv is perfect for newcomers. Its urban vibe and plentiful options for entertainment and employment make it one of the best places to live abroad. It has the beach, shopping, and nightlife. As in all major cities, there are some upscale and luxury parts and more affordable ones. The majority of Americans moving to Israel choose Tel Aviv, and there are already established expat communities.
- Jerusalem is the capital and one of the most popular places to live abroad with family. If you’re a history and culture lover, you’ll surely enjoy living here. This holy city has seen some of the iconic conflicts in history, and it plays a central role in the emotional and spiritual perspective of the major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, the city is now calm and ideal for residing.
- Ra’anana is another popular city for English-speaking residents with plenty of beautiful homes with gardens and pretty streets. Middle-class and upper-middle-class immigrants usually pick this city.
Watch the video below to see some more good suggestions on where you should move in the Holy Land.
What Prices Can You Expect After Relocating to Israel?
If you’ve learned how to move overseas and the conditions you have to fulfill to get permanent residency, it’s time to see what’s the cost of living here. According to Numbeo, a website that compares the costs in various countries, a family of four needs around $3,850 per month, not including the rent. If you’re relocating across the world alone, you’ll need around a thousand dollars, also without the rent.
How Much Can You Expect to Pay for Renting or Buying Real Estate?
Data from Numbeo shows that a one-bedroom apartment in the city center can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,700, but the average price you can get is around $1,000. If you’re looking for a bigger apartment in the center, expect to pay $1,600 for a three-bedroom place. If you’re not interested in residing downtown, your rent can be anywhere from $850 to $1,350, which is immensely more affordable than the rents in the US.
Purchasing real estate is also much more affordable – the price for a square foot in the center is $700, while a bit further, you will pay $560
The Israeli Health System Is One of the Leading in the World
When wondering is Israel a good place to live, one of the main things you can be interested in is healthcare. It’s highly efficient, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to go and see a doctor. There’s universal health insurance, and the whole population of this country is covered by four national health funds – Maccabi, Clalit, Leumit, and Meuhedet. The whole system is primarily funded through income tax. It’s also important to know that this county is the world leader in the field of medical development and research. If having top-notch and yet affordable health services is on your relocating abroad checklist, then the Holy Land is perfect for you.
Israeli Educational Options are Among the Top Ones You Can Find
Did you know that twelve Israelis have been awarded the Nobel Prize? That’s more than Spain, China, and India in real numbers and more than the US, France, and Germany per capita. The Israeli education system is producing top scientists, doctors, and other specialists. It has the most college degrees per capita in the world and trails only Canada in the percentage of citizens with a college degree. If you’re relocating with children, or you’re coming here to study, you’ll receive one of the best education there is. Here are the top universities and colleges in the Holy Land:
- Tel Aviv University,
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology,
- Bar Ilan University,
- The University of Haifa.
The Holy Land Is the Birthplace of the Jewish Culture
This is a multicultural country where every community brought something of their own, making the Israeli culture one of the most diverse and religious ones in the world. With its rich and turbulent history, Israel has become one of the places that attract thousands of travelers every year that want to visit the sacred places. The culture of Jews, Christians, and Muslims have made a unique mix that can be seen only here. The official language is Hebrew, so if you’re not fluent in it, you might have to break the language barrier.
What Is it Like for an Expat Living Here?
If you’re wondering will it be hard to fit in as an expat once you arrive, keep in mind that this land is so culturally diverse that you won’t even feel like a foreigner. Once you use all the handy tips for learning a new language or at least learn some basic phrases, you’ll get to see how warm and welcoming the people here are. You can also find many established communities of expats from numerous countries speaking their language. The multiculturality of the Holy Land makes it one of the friendliest countries in the world.
What’s the Climate Like?
Pleasant, warm, and sunny weather are some of the major reasons for moving overseas to this country. The climate here is characterized by hot summers and rainy winters. Mediterranean coast – Tel Aviv, Netanya, and Haifa – experience very mild winters and sunny and humid summers. Inland areas have a bit more continental climate, but the winters are still mild. The cold air that comes from Russia can even bring snow in January and February. The south of the country has predominantly hot weather. Keep this in mind when choosing where you’ll live and what to pack when relocating abroad.
What Are the Top Things to Do?
The Holy Land is on many people’s bucket lists, and it’s no wonder. This country offers everything from old historical sites to urban cities with sandy beaches. Aside from the visiting of the Old City in Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall that is a must-see, regardless of your religion, you can walk the streets and grasp the thousands of years of history.
The numerous museums cover almost every topic, so you can explore everything from art to religion, history, and much more.
The Holy Land is also known for its natural wonders and wildlife. If you love being outdoors in nature, grab your backpack and head to Bahai Garden, Timna Park, or Safari Park Ramat Gan.
Another way to experience the vibrant culture that this land has is to eat their specialties and go to the markets and bargain. You will find amazing street food and one of the best spices you can find in the world.
Find a Professional Overseas Shipping Company Before Moving Abroad
Moving internationally is very demanding. You have to deal with a lot of stuff at the same time, from learning how to keep in contact with friends to figuring out what are all the necessary documents needed to travel abroad. If you wish to avoid relocation stress and feel more relaxed while moving internationally, be sure you hire a reputable international moving company and book your move with them. You should also schedule a free home estimate to get an idea of how much your move will cost and then decide which services you need.
A professional and licensed overseas moving company can provide you with international moving by air or by sea, overseas vehicle shipping if you decide to bring your car, and packing services to speed up the process. Sometimes, when shipping overseas, you might require a storage unit as well or custom crating for breakable items. If the company you found offers all of the above, you’ve found yourself a perfect match – contact them, book your spot, and begin with the preparation for relocation day.
