Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport, the oleh whose aliya has been coordinated with the Jewish Agency will be met by a representative of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, and instructed on how to proceed. Many services are offered at the airport for the new oleh.
For important information about arrival at Ben Gurion airport see the Ministry of Absorption site. Once the newcomer arrives in Haifa, there are local branches of all the major immigrant absorption agencies to help with the required services.
The Haifa Municipal (Iriyat Haifa) Authority for Aliya Absorption deals with learning Hebrew (Ulpan), employment, entrepreneurship, and, when necessary, initial accommodations. These agencies work in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency (Hasochnut Hayehudit) and with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption (Misrad Haklita). Please refer to the contact information for all the following agencies under “Links for Olim Services”.
Where does one go upon arrival in Haifa?
- Friends or relatives
- A short-term klita apartment (for 2-4 weeks) sometimes available on susidized terms through the Haifa project manager Smadar Stoller Porat smadar@olimhaifa.co.il
Once in Haifa: First Steps– Who do you go to?
Once a newcomer arrives in Haifa, they have to deal with many bureaucratic matters. It is important to note that most government ministries are all in the same building at 15A Sderot HaPalyam, in the downtown Haifa area.
ACTIVITY WHERE
Opening of bank account – Commercial banks
- Bank Leumi – Tel. *5522
- Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot – Tel. *8860
- Bank Discount – Tel. *6111
- Bank of Jerusalem – Tel. *5727
- Bank Benleumi – Tel. *3009
- Bank Hapoalim – Tel. *2407
Registration with a national health fund – Post office branches
Issue of Identification Certificate (Teudat Zehut) – Ministry of Interior, Tel: 8633333
Registration of address in Identification Certificate – Ministry of Interior
Initial guidance and counseling, financial assistance, referral to ulpan – Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, Tel:8632333
Request for child allowance – Institute of National Insurance (Hamossad L’ Bituach Leumi), HaPalyam 8, Haifa, Tel: 04-8812345 or *6050
School Registration – Haifa Municipal Department of Education, 9 Baruch Marcus,Haifa, Tel: 8356296
Exchange of driver’s license – Ministry of Transportation Licensing Bureau (Misrad HaRishui), 2 Edison Street , Haifa Bay, Tel: 8818888 or *5678
Authorization of academic degrees – Ministry of Education and relevant ministries based on field of study, Tel: 04-8632566
Ulpan and Jewish Agency Information Center – 131 Sderot Hameginim, Haifa, Tel: 8567602
For all telephone numbers – For Haifa dial 04 in Israel. If you are calling from outside Israel dial 972 and 4 instead of 04 in front of the 7 – digit telephone number .
The Jewish Agency Information Center for Olim and Tourists, designed to encourage aliyah and absorption, offers guidance and information services for olim and for tourists interested in learning about aliyah. Tel. 04-8567602. E-mail: Orlyz@jafi.org
Important addresses:
Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, 15A Sderot HaPalyam, Haifa, tel: 1599-500-922
Jewish Agency Information Center, 131 Sderot Hameginim, Haifa, tel: 8567602/6
Ministry of Education, 15 Sderot Hapalayam, Haifa, tel: 8632666
Municipal Department of Education (school registration), 9 Baruch Marcus, Haifa, tel: 8356298
Ministry of Interior, 15 Sderot HaPalyam, Haifa, tel: 8633333
Institute of National Insurance (Hamosad L’bituach Leumi) 8 Hapalyam, Haifa, tel: 8544111
Ministry of Transportation – Licensing Bureau (Misrad Harishuy), 2 Edison Street , Haifa Bay, tel: 881888
NOTE!
Whenever you go to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, or to arrange any other administrative matters, make sure you take your Immigration (teudat oleh) and Identification Certificates (teudat zehut) with you.