ISRAEL
Used Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
Valid passport, including photo page, entry stamp and spouse’s passport, if applicable (Israeli citizens)
Express release bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
Packing list in English
Proof of residence in Israel
Residence visa
Invoices for new items
Rental contract / lease agreement (1-year minimum)
Israeli customs forms (MB130 & MB165)
New immigrant booklet “Teudat Oleh”
EUR-1 / certificate of origin for items less than 12 months old
Letter of employment (B-1 visa holders only)
Bank guarantee / bank deposit (B-1 & A-3 visa holders only)
Customs bond if no bank guarantee is provided.
A-3 status page in passport (religious individuals: ministers, priests, theological students, etc.)
Israeli identity card (single persons)
Divorce papers (divorced persons)
Death certificate (widows / widowers)
Diplomatic passport (diplomats)
Tax exemption franchise (diplomats)
Diplomatic ID card (diplomats)
Specific Information
Only items for personal use are permitted for import.
The valued inventory should be in Hebrew, and should include values of all items, giving make, serial number and appliance manufacturer’s name, whether used or new and sizes for all fabric items (provided by D/A).
Duty-free entry for household goods and personal effects (if applicable).
The number of duty-free shipments is limited to three (3) for new immigrants only.
New immigrants are entitled to the tax-free importation of household effects as well as personal effects.
In order to utilize this privilege, the owner of the goods must present the immigration booklet (Teudat Oleh).
In general, Israeli citizens who have lived abroad for less than 2 years do not qualify for a tax exemption for the shipment.
The shipment will be taxed by Israeli Customs based on its tariff (Customs duties plus valued added tax (VAT) charged on the value plus sales tax).
Returning Israelis living abroad more than 2 years can only import household goods and personal effects tax free once Customs has stamped the passport “returning Israeli.”
These items, if imported without the stamp, will be taxed by Israeli Customs according to Customs tariff.
Israeli citizens who have lived abroad for more than 2 years are considered a returning citizen so long as during the 2 years they did not spend more than 4 months in Israel in each year of their absence.
If the owner of the goods did a formal export when leaving Israel (e.g., via a certified international mover or freight forwarder) and the original export documents are found in that company's archives, then all items on the export list matching the import list can be imported tax free (Israelis living abroad for less than 2 years).
Only one of each type of electrical appliance is permitted.
Once Israeli Customs stamps the passport with “returning Israeli,” the owner of the goods may import one of each item for household goods / personal effects, and appliances tax free.
Televisions and computers are allowed to import up to 2 for each device.
Applicable for returning citizens and new immigrants only.
Carpets, communications equipment, sporting equipment and outdoor furniture are subject to partial or full duties, depending on the item.
The import of a car and professional tools will not be calculated within the framework of the three duty-free shipments permitted.
The date of arrival is the date of first entry into Israel as marked in the “Teudat Oleh” booklet issued upon arrival.
Household goods and personal effects for new immigrants must arrive at the port of entry (POE) within 3 years from the date of arrival.
Household goods and personal effects for returning citizens must arrive at the port of entry (POE) within 9 months from the date of arrival.
Religious individuals / A-3 visa holders must pay a bank guarantee / bank deposit, which will be released or paid back once leaving Israel and exporting the household goods.
New immigrants must surrender their original passport along with a copy of new immigration booklet to Israeli Customs during the clearance process.
All goods imported by tourists (B-2) are subject to Customs duties.
Owner of the goods’ or the employer of the owner of the goods will have to raise a bank guarantee in the amount of duties levied by Israeli Customs to clear the shipment without paying taxes.
This guarantee will ha