Guide for New and Visiting Faculty

dealers (listed in Customs Guide No. 16). Immigrants from some countries (the FSU, Hungary,
Romania, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and African and Asian nations) may be given a cash grant
in lieu of tax concessions on electrical and other household items. Check with the Customs
Department or Ministry of Immigration and Absorption to determine which exemption method applies
to your country of origin.
If you hold a B-1 visa and wish to become an immigrant, the time you spend as a B-1 will be deducted
from your three years of customs rights, unless you leave Israel at the end of the B-1 before returning
as an oleh or A-1. You may verify your own status and rights by consulting with the nearest Customs
office, or an immigrant association.
Parcels Sent by Mail
Goods sent by mail to Israel are not exempt from customs duties, with two principal exceptions: (a) if
they are valued under $50; and (b) in the case of a new immigrant, if they are sent 30 days prior to, or
within three months after, his/her arrival (note that goods sent by mail will count as one of the oleh's
three permitted duty-free shipments of household goods). Items which do not fall into this
category and exceed the $50 limit will be taxed – even used clothing and personal effects.
Thus, it is best to bring clothes with you as part of your accompanied luggage. Books can be mailed in
your name to your host department at the University. If you have already mailed parcels and are
charged customs duties beyond a reasonable amount, you can appeal. In most cases, the Parcels Post
Office will waive or reduce the duty if they consider your claim justified.
Details may be obtained from the main Parcel Post Office, Customs Section, Shattner Center, Givat
Shaul, Tel.: 6526193; Fax: 6511589. Open S-Th 8:00-14:00, or contact the Postal Office Information
Service, 23 Jaffa Road, Tel.:
1-800-212121 (toll free) or 6290647; Fax: 6290643; Web site: www.doar-tech.zahav.net.il
Shipping Goods
Shipping goods to Israel can be expensive, so decide carefully on each item you want to bring. Since
you may not have permanent living quarters immediately, you must also consider storage costs both
here and in your home country. All goods shipped to Israel should be marked "of no commercial
value;” they should be fully insured (including taxes and duties), and detailed inventories should be
available.
Customs Regulations
Car Matters
The information given below is intended as a general outline only; in all matters relating to customs,
consult the relevant Customs guides, or apply to the Customs and VAT Office, 5 Kanfei Nesharim St.,
POB 1170, Jerusalem 91010, Tel.: 6559559; Fax: 6525327; Web site: www.mof.gov.il/customs Rely
only on written information from Customs. Two other web sites with information about car ownership
and driving in Israel are the AACI's Driving in Israel (www.aaci.org.il/drive98.htm) and the World
Zionist Organization's About Owning a Car in Israel as a Tourist (www.wzo.org.il/aliyah.tourcar.htm).
Importing a car: In the Customs Guides you will find updated regulations for the importation of a
motor vehicle.
An immigrant (or temporary resident on an A-1 visa) is permitted to import a motor vehicle, or
purchase one from an authorized dealer in Israel, within three years of his first entry into Israel, with an
oleh's exemption rights. The oleh is exempt from payment of purchase tax and import permit
requirements but must pay full VAT charges, and customs duties at reduced rates. For further
information see Customs Guide No. 4 (or the Aliyah Pocket Guide).