Preparing for Israel

Make sure that your passport does not expire before 6 months after the end of the program. Israel requires a passport to be valid for at least six months after date of entry. Please note it takes several weeks for your passport to arrive, so take care to order it in advance.

Travellers from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid visa or an approved ETA-IL before beginning their journey to Israel. Without one you will not be able to board your flight.

Critical: a student entering Israel who does not yet hold a student visa must select “Short Term Study” on the ETA application. Selecting “Long Term Study” will result in the ETA being denied.

Israeli citizens and holders of an Israeli identity number do not need an ETA-IL.

Every student in Israel must obtain a Student Visa by law. The Yeshiva applies for all enrolled students’ visas at the beginning of the school year, so you do not have to apply for one before you fly. (We can only apply for students who have completed registration.)

For Israeli citizens, a valid Israeli passport is sufficient. If you do not have one, please obtain a valid Israeli passport from your local Israeli consulate, together with whatever paperwork you need for an army deferment.

Israeli medical coverage through the provider chosen by the yeshiva is mandatory — including for students who already hold international coverage. Registration is not complete until proof of insurance for the year is provided, and no student is allowed on campus without it.

The cost is not included in the registration fee, and processing can take up to 7 days, so register early. The Yeshiva also requires every student to maintain his home country’s medical coverage in case he must return home for further treatment.

Students are encouraged to consult with their local physicians regarding any necessary vaccinations required for a year’s stay in Israel (hepatitis, etc.).

The Yeshiva dress code requires students to wear to class shirts with collars, long pants (no jeans or sweatpants), and shoes with socks.

Many familiar brands of toiletries and laundry detergents are available in Israel, but are generally slightly more expensive.

Bring contact lens solution for a year; it is expensive in Israel. Don’t forget glasses/contacts.

To avoid packing heavy bedding, we recommend Blanket Express, which delivers directly to the yeshiva.

It is strongly recommended that every student have a cellphone while in Israel; the Yeshiva phone is not available for student use. For 2026–2027 we recommend TalknSave, which ships the SIM card free when ordered at least 10 days before departure. This is only a recommendation — students may use any provider they wish.

When you arrive at the Israel airport you will be handed a blue Visa Entrance Card. Make sure to keep it and submit it to the yeshiva office — it is needed for your student visa application.

Bnei Mehagrim can pursue studies in yeshivas as “Children of Immigrants” in Israel under the following conditions: