TIMING
Plan to arrive in Israel at least a week before your shipment . Delays can result from problems with customs’ computers, your and the ship’s documents, inspections, wars, strikes, closures, crowding at the port, high season demand for trucks and teams, etc.
Customs clearing often takes a day, though sometimes much longer. Delivery can be as soon as the day after clearing, and sometimes a week or more later. You may receive 12 or fewer hours notice of delivery.
We send you signable links of customs forms by email closer to the shipment’s arrival date. They include a Customs Declaration made from your packing list, which you review for completeness and accuracy and suggest any changes. Customs rarely require original copies or that you visit the customs clearer’s office.
Everyone
Both spouses must supply whichever of these you have: photo pages of foreign and Israeli passports, Teudot Zehut, Teudat Oleh (photo pages and lists of your children), Israel visas in foreign passports, invoices of new items.
If you suspended your customs/visa status, you will need to submit to Customs a Certificate of Entry and Exit (בירור כניסות ויציאות מהארץ) from the Interior Ministry (Misrad HaPanim).
You must keep any goods imported tax-free for 6 years, so anything you are giving away or selling, you should pay taxes on.
New Immigrants (Olim)
Tax privileges are registered with Customs when you receive your Teudat Oleh & Teudat Zehut. If your rights do not appear in their computer, you will need to go to customs or the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad HaPanim) in person.
Email clear copies of your Teudat Oleh photo pages and lists of your children.
If you came without NBN GET 1) Teudat Oleh from Misrad Haklita (10 days) 2) Get a Teudat Zehut from Misrad HaP’nim (2 weeks) THEN: Register with Customs
Returning Resident and Returning Minor (toshav/katin hozer)
Send us a clear copy by email of any letter/stamp you have of Toshav/Katin Hozer status.
You must be living in Israel to get Returning Resident status. When in Israel, provide your Teudat Zehut number to Meches here. If you do not receive approval , you will need to go in person to Customs.
Customs/Security Inspections rates
By Air: expected, By Sea: spot-checks, X-rays ~1 in 25, or for cause. Much less frequent for new immigrants.
What they are looking for: contraband–weapons, seeds, undeclared goods, misrepresented values, electric scooters/bikes.
