1. Ben Mehagrim:
If you are eligible to hold an Israeli passport without making Aliyah, you are considered a “Ben Mehagrim.” This is commonly the case when:
One of your parents was born in Israel, or
One of your parents made Aliyah before you were 18.
You must obtain your Israeli passport prior to your registration to Mahal. Clarification: Invoking your right to an Israeli passport as a Ben Mehagrim does not mean you are making Aliyah.
If you are unsure if you qualify as Ben Mehagraim (there are edge cases), please contact your local Israeli consulate.
2. Tourist:
If you are Jewish and eligible for Aliyah under the Law of Return, but the "Ben Mehagrim" criteria above do not apply to you, your status is "Tourist."
Visa:
Ben Mehagrim candidates don’t need a visa prior their arrival to Israel. “Tourist” candidates need to enter Israel as a tourist, and will receive their visa during the Mahal Mechina.
We ask you to organize any matters related to your legal status in Israel before your arrival. Our office cannot assist with personal legal matters. For matters related to your personal legal status, you may contact your local consulate for assistance.
Length of Service
Under Israeli law, the standard length of military service is:
- Men: 32 Months
- Women: 24 Months
The length of service is determined by Israeli law and may change in the future.
Some Mahal soldiers will serve a full service as described above, and others are eligible for a shortened 18-month service. Eligibility for short service is determined by your legal status in Israel and by how long you’ve stayed in Israel throughout your life. Your participation in Government-recognized programs such as Yeshiva and Masa may also impact your eligibility for a shortened service.
To qualify for the 18-month track, your time spent in Israel prior to enlistment must not exceed the limits in the table below.
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Without participation in a recognized Program
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After participation in a Government-recognized Program (e.g. Masa, Mechina, Midrasha)
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Ben Mehagrim - Your time in Israel is counted since age 10
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up to 120 days in any calendar year
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up to 12 months
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| Tourists -
Your time in Israel is counted since age 16
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up to 12 months
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up to 18 months
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*Time spent in Israel is cumulative. The count only stops accumulating if you leave Israel for 61 consecutive days or more. If you leave Israel but return before 61 days have passed, your days away will be counted as days in Israel.
*Recognized Government programs include: Yeshiva, Mechina, Shnat Sherut, Midrasha, and Masa. You may contact our office to check whether your program is recognized.
If your stay in Israel does not exceed the time specified in the above chart, since the specified age, you may be eligible for a shortened 18-month service but this is not a guarantee. Eligibility for a shortened service is determined by the army only after you arrive in Israel. Mahal cannot guarantee eligibility for a shortened service before your arrival.
If you are not approved for a short service after your arrival in Israel, you may choose to withdraw your application.
Length of Stay Calculator
We have built a calculator tool to help track how long you’ve stayed in Israel throughout your life. It generates a PDF summary of your travel history and program staus which you may use to assess your eligibility for a shortened service.
Please note:
The calculator tool is not a required Mahal form and results are not saved and not sent to us automatically.
The calculator tool may be used for estimation purposes only. The official count is conducted by the army and will not necessarily match the count of this calculator.
The calculator may make mistakes. By using the calculator, you take full responsibility for double-checking its results. Mahal cannot take responsibility for errors.
Click here to access calculator tool.
