Foreign citizens and Olim must obtain an Israeli license after one year from their entry date to Israel if they have not left the country for three consecutive months to "reset" their entry date. See our previous article where we discussed Driving with a foreign license in Israel.

Even though an Oleh can drive on their foreign license for only one year from entry, they have five years from their Aliyah date to convert their foreign licenses to an Israeli license. Once the five years have passed, one must follow the standard licensing process and may need driving lessons.

The Process of Obtaining an Israeli Driver's License:

There is an expedited process for converting a foreign license if you meet several conditions and the standard process if you don't. The exact details are found here https://www.nbn.org.il/

For the expedited process, you begin by logging in to the government site here. You need to show proof of 5 years of consecutive driving on a foreign license that was issued prior to your date of Aliyah. The driver’s license must be valid and the 5 years of consecutive driving history must be for the 5 years immediately preceding your date of Aliyah. 

After you apply online you will also need to:

~ Do an eye test at one of the certified opticians. 
~ Complete a medical self-declaration.
~ Visit Misrad HaRishui with all documentation including Teudat Zehut, Teudat Oleh, your foreign license and proof of driving for five years.
~ Pay the licensing fee

If you are over the age of 70, there is an additional form for your optometrist and your general practitioner to sign.

Recently, there was a significant change in these rules, leading to concerns among Olim worldwide. Many faced obstacles in obtaining an Israeli driver's license due to the demand for an apostille (government validation) of their foreign license. However, after extensive advocacy efforts, it has been confirmed that no apostille is necessary for acquiring an Israeli driver's license. Thanks to the efforts of Dov Lipman, Founder & CEO of Yad l'Olim, and the involvement of Nefesh B'Nefesh, this requirement has been eliminated.

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