Moving to Israel
Embarking on a journey to Israel brings forth a thrilling and challenging adventure. Whether you're a student seeking novel experiences or a family yearning for a new beginning, find out about the administrative procedures and moving options in this comprehensive guide.
Do you need a mover in Israel?
For young individuals and students who haven't established their own living space, the easiest approach is to journey to Israel with accompanying baggage. Upon arrival, they can initially think about renting furnished accommodations, allowing them to focus on handling the different administrative procedures.
On the flip side, if you're in a situation where you need to relocate an entire house or apartment along with furniture, kitchenware, home appliances, and other belongings, you'll have to enlist the services of professional movers. Numerous homeowners opt to engage with individuals who possess an employment agreement, as it provides them with a level of assurance. To proceed, you'll require a job contract and the necessary permits for work and residency.
The period between the relocation and the container's arrival by sea shouldn't pose an issue, typically ranging from three weeks to two months. This additional time allows those involved to search for a living space that aligns well with their requirements and personal preferences.
If, however, the search for an apartment takes longer than expected, you can leave your container in the hands of partner movers in Israel for a fee.
The cost of moving in Israel varies based on factors like the moving company, container size, and the tasks you handle independently, such as furniture disassembly. The pricing differs if you've already pre-packed items in boxes or if the movers handle everything from start to finish. Nevertheless, experts handle the ultimate packing, particularly for sea transport, requiring specialized packaging to minimize the risk of material damage as much as possible.
Although there are few removal companies in Israel, it's advisable to ask for quotes from several of them to compare and choose the best offer.
The formalities in Israel
Given the numerous factors to consider, it's crucial that the estimate covers all these aspects and that you and the contractor agree on each detail.
When relocating to Israel, it's essential to consider customs fees and port charges. New immigrants or Olim Hadashim are not required to pay customs duties when bringing their personal belongings, furniture, and household appliances. This exemption applies to one electrical device of each type, except for televisions and computers. They can use this exemption for up to three shipments during the initial three years.
It's also vital to ensure your move, and typically, this is incorporated into the moving quotation. You'll be requested to evaluate the value of all the items you're transporting to accomplish this.
Before leaving your home country
Before your departure, it's crucial to terminate all contracts in your home country, including electricity, insurance, and internet services agreements. Regarding mobile phone services, you can delay this process to ensure you're not left without communication. You can even select a plan to stay connected in your home country at a more affordable rate.
Additionally, you must address matters with the tax authorities to prevent double taxation in both countries.
Administrative matters when you arrive in Israel
When settling into your new residence, you must arrange for essential services such as internet connectivity, water, and electricity subscriptions and attend to your local tax obligations. Recent immigrants (Olim Hadashim) benefit from a substantial reduction of up to 90% in local taxes for the first year on a 100 m-square portion of their apartment.
Landlords can request tenants to establish accounts with water, electricity, and gas companies, as well as with the municipality for local taxes. Yet, certain landlords may opt to centralize control and ask tenants to cover utility payments directly. This approach can be convenient, especially when relocating to a new country where you're not fully acquainted with all the intricacies.
Moving to Israel with your car
Transporting your car to Israel can be quite expensive due to substantial customs fees, which can sometimes even amount to 100% of the vehicle's value. It might be prudent to contemplate selling your car before your departure and acquiring a new one upon your arrival in Israel.
Moving to Israel with your pet
Moving to Israel with your pet requires several time-consuming steps, so it's essential to plan ahead.
The procedures differ based on the type of animal. Specific essential vaccinations must be documented in an international vaccination certificate for all pets. A health certificate no more than 15 days old is necessary before entering the country. This health certificate, provided by a veterinarian, must be validated by an authorized official. The pet should have proper identification through a microchip or tattoo and possess a passport issued by its veterinarian. For rabies vaccination, an antibody count is obligatory and conducted by an authorized laboratory, which typically takes several weeks.
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