Bituach Leumi Information and Registration

What is Bituach Leumi?

Bituach Leumi is Israel’s National Insurance Institute. It provides insurance and social security benefits to residents of Israel. Through Bituach Leumi, members access healthcare services via one of the four health funds (kupot cholim).  

Benefits of Bituach Leumi include:

• Comprehensive health insurance, including free kupat cholim, coverage for births and hospitalization
• Coverage for preexisting medical conditions

• Grants and stipends such as maanak leidah (childbirth grant), kitzvat yeladim (monthly child allowance), maternity pay, disability stipends, and unemployment. See our guide on Bituach Leumi Benefits for more details.

Who is Eligible for Bituach Leumi?

There are two primary categories of eligibility:

1. Israeli citizens residing in Israel 
2. Certain A-category visa holders such as
   • A/1 (temporary residents)  
   • A/2 (students at Torah institutions only)
   • A/4 (families of A/2 visa holders)

Registration For Israeli Citizens

• Israeli citizens born in Israel to parents registered with Bituach Leumi are automatically registered at birth.
• Olim are registered upon completion of their Aliyah process. 
• Email support@chaimvchessed.com for guidance on receiving Bituach Leumi as an Ezrach Oleh.An Ezrach Oleh is an individual who was born abroad to a first generation Israeli citizen and is automatically considered an Israeli citizen, even if they are not registered as such, that now wishes to establish residency in Israel. They will need to register as a citizen if they have not yet done so and then obtain a Teudat Zehut (ID) card from Misrad Hapnim. They will then need to go to Misrad Haklita who will tell them which benefits they are entitled to and they will then be eligible to register with Bituach Leumi without any waiting period.
• Returning Israeli citizens (a toshav chozerA Toshav Chozer is a returning resident. An Israeli citizen who left Israel over the age of 14 to establish residency abroad, does not cancel Israeli citizenship and returns to live in Israel. They will need a waiting period of up to 6 months before being eligible for Bituach Leumi. There is also an option to pay to redeem the waiting period and join Bituach Leumi immediately. They may be eligible for benefits depending on the amount of time spent abroad. or katin chozerA Katin Chozer is a returning minor. An Israeli citizen who left Israel under age 14 to establish residency abroad, does not cancel their citizenship and returns to live in Israel as an adult. They are eligible to join Bituach Leumi immediately without any waiting period, however they will need to first obtain a Teudat Zehut (ID) card from Misrad Hapnim and go to Misrad Haklita to establish their status as a Katin Chozer. Misrad Haklita will also let them know what benefits they are entitled to.)  must re-establish residency (toshavut) to become eligible.  

To re-establish residency:  

1. If one does not have a teudat zehut (Israeli ID card), obtain one. 
   Make an appointment via https://govisit.gov.il 
   Bring: 
   • Israeli passport, if applicable
   • Foreign passport  
   • Proof of marital status with an apostille (or Israeli ishur nisuin): marriage/divorce certificate; spouse’s death certificate, or proof of single status
   • Spouse’s ID, if applicable 
2. Visit Misrad Haklita (The Ministry of Absorption)

Misrad Haklita confirms residency status as a katin chozer or toshav chozer. 

Reach out to Misrad Haklita by completing their online form to establish one’s status.  After about 1-2 weeks, they will reach out to the applicant to set up an appointment.

Alternatively, one can make an appointment by calling:

• 1-599-500-923 (Jerusalem residents)
• 03-973-3333 (all other locations)

Misrad Haklita will outline the documents required for the appointment. This generally includes:

• Proof of sale of property abroad
  
• Employment termination letter
  
• Proof of bank account closure abroad
  
• Israeli rental/home purchase contract
  
• Israeli bank account details
  
• Utility bills in the applicant’s name

If eligible, Misrad Haklita will issue a teudat zaka’ut (a certificate of eligibility) showing which benefits one is entitled to.

If Bituach Leumi is not activated automatically, email support@chaimvchessed.com.

A note on toshav chozer:

A toshav chozer does not have to wait to receive their status with Misrad Haklita in order to activate their Bituach Leumi membership. They should reach out to Bituach Leumi directly once they have an updated teudat zehut card.

They should complete the BL628 form and send it along with supporting documentation via שליחת מסמכים on Bituach Leumi’s homepage.

A toshav chozer is subject to a waiting period of up to 6 months before receiving healthcare and benefits from Bituach Leumi. This waiting period begins from the date residency is re-established.

There is an option to “redeem” this waiting period for a fee (currently 15,060 NIS), which can be paid on Bituach Leumi’s site.

A katin chozer (returning minor) does not have a waiting period and is eligible for immediate benefits upon establishing residency with Misrad Haklita. 

Registration For Foreigners on an A-Category Visa

In order to register, one must meet the following criteria:

1. Must reside in Israel for 183 days (in the last 12 months)

2. Must hold a valid A-category visa

Once one has accumulated 183 days in Israel within a 12 month period and has obtained an A-category visa, they can register for Bituach Leumi.

A/1 and A/5 visa holders should email support@chaimvchessed.com for assistance with registration.  

Step 1: Obtain a Daf Knisot V’yitziot 
A daf knisot v’yetziot is an official page of one’s entries and exits to the country.
Every applicant, regardless of age, needs to provide a daf knisot v’yetziot when applying.

• Get this document from The Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim)  by presenting your passport.
  
• Adults must go in person; one spouse cannot represent another.
• Children under 18 do not need to be present.
  
• No appointment necessary.
• The document is printed free of charge.
• Central Jerusalem location: Shlomtzion Hamalka 1 (off Rechov Yaffo)
  • Opening Hours: Sunday–Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00–12:00; Monday & Wednesday: 14:30–17:00

Step 2: Prepare the following documents 
All documents should be clear scans, saved as PDF files.

1. Daf knisot v’yetziyot for each applicant (preferably no more than 3-4 weeks old) 
2. Passport (photo page) of each applicant
3. Valid visa of each applicant
4. Marriage certificate, if applicable. If one spouse is Israeli: teudat zehut showing marital status.
5. Rental contract (valid for one year, with landlord’s name and ID/passport number)
6. Proof of Israeli bank account in Israel: either a void check or ishur nihul cheshbon (account management approval) from the bank. See here for information on opening a bank account. 
7. For A/2 visa holders: a letter from their yeshiva/school that states that applicant is a student there. If the student lives in a dormitory, the letter must state so explicitly. In such cases, a rental contract is not needed.
8. Clear headshot for each applicant – these photos should resemble the applicant’s current passport photo.

Step 3: Online Registration 
Submit applications via the online form here.  

After completing each page, click on לשלב הבא to continue to the next step.

• In Step 2, choose the subject of the request “אני מגיש את הטופס עבור נושא”:
  Select: “תלמיד ישיבה או בן משפחתו המבקשים לקבוע תושבות וחברות בקופת חולים”
• One then needs to select on whose behalf they are submitting this application: self, spouse, child, etc. When applying for a couple or family, the husband is always the main applicant.  Therefore, unless one is  applying for a spouse of an existing member of Bituach Leumi, choose “for myself” / עבורי and then add family members as prompted. 
• Enter the applicant’s details and details of the applicant’s parents. Note: When applying for a child of an existing member, enter the parent’s 77 number from Bituach Leumi as their ID number, and choose מספר מזהה זמני בביטוח לאומי.  When applying for an adult whose parents are not Bituach Leumi members, choose that the parents are ללא מעמד/ without status. 
• When applying for an adult, one will also need to prove that they are a current resident of Israel in Step 4.
• For the first question: אני שוהה בישראל למטרת מגורי קבע, choose: Yes.
• Choose a kupat cholim (network). There are four to choose from:
  • Maccabi
  • Meuhedet (This appears in google translate as United) 
  • Clalit
  • Leumit

Based on the responses in the application, one will find a list of documents which need to be uploaded. Any additional documents should be added at the end under צירוף מסמכים. 

After uploading all required documentation, submit the request!

For technical assistance (uploading documents etc.), call 1299. 

Step 4: Becoming a Member 
You will receive an email confirmation with another reference number starting with 83. Save this number so you can follow up on your application. 

Approval typically takes about a week. 

Bituach Leumi will email confirmation of acceptance along with a new ID number that starts with 77.

After Registration

If someone is already a member of kupat cholim, their account will be updated automatically. This may take a few days from the time the confirmation email is received.  

Contact kupat cholim to ensure they merge the old account with the new one including any supplementary insurance.  New kupat cholim cards bearing the new 77 numbers should arrive in the mail within a few weeks.

Upon acceptance, visa holders are recognized as members retroactively from the time they began holding a student visa, for up to one year. They must pay Bituach Leumi membership dues for that period (see Paying Bituach Leumi below). They may also be eligible for a refund on kupat cholim and certain medical expenses that were incurred during that time. See here for more information. 

Accessing Account Information

By phone: Requires a 4 digit access code (kod ishi). This code can also be used to access the self-service kiosks in the Bituach Leumi office or in the Iriyah to print out various certifications. Request by calling *6050.

Online account (portal): Allows you to upload documents, pay bills, view status, and print certificates.

To create an online account for Bituach Leumi follow the instructions here.

Israeli citizens may open an account using their mispar zehut.

Foreigners who do not have a mispar zehut can create an online account using their Bituach Leumi number instead of a mispar zehut. In lieu of תאריך הנפקת תעודת הזהות, use the expiry date of your most recent visa.

Paying Bituach Leumi

Fees 

Bituach Leumi charges monthly premiums, generally billed every quarter. It is charged only to the head of the household (i.e. the husband/father) and covers the wife and all children under age 18.

• Student rate: 171 NIS/month (covers entire family). If wife works, her employer also deducts payments.
  
• Unemployed: 266 NIS/month
  
• Employed: Deductions made by employer. Higher-earning spouse pays for the family.

When one is first accepted to Bituach Leumi, they will receive a large bill for the period for which they were retroactively accepted. Visa holders are typically recognized retroactively for the time they held a student visa, up to one year. This bill can be paid via one of the methods listed below. 

Payment Methods 
At the start of each year, Bituach Leumi sends a bill divided into four parts, each covering a three-month period. You can pay quarterly bills using any of the following options:

1. In person: Pay bills at any bank or post office. Some post offices accept only Israeli credit cards.
2. By phone:
   • *6050 (with PIN code)
   • 08-650-9911 (no code required, must know exact amount of payment)
3. Automatic payments: Set up a standing order (hora’at keva) to be charged monthly instead of quarterly. In this case, you will not receive a bill. Submit a completed authorization form to your Israeli bank 
4. Online: Pay through the גביה section of your online account or via the general Bituach Leumi payment page. Select the correct payment category – yeshiva students have a special category .

If you did not receive you annual bill, contact Bituach Leumi to avoid penalties for late payment.  

Your bill can also be accessed through your online account under the גביה section. 

Contacting Bituach Leumi

Website: 

www.btl.gov.il

To upload documents: שליחת מסמכים in the center of the homepage. 
To pay: תשלומים in the top left corner of the homepage.

Online account: 

Create an online account (portal) to directly and securely upload documents and applications, pay bills, print various certifications and more. 

To create an online account for Bituach Leumi follow the instructions here.

Israeli citizens may open an account using their mispar zehut.

Foreigners who do not possess a mispar zehut, should create an online account using their Bituach Leumi number instead of a mispar zehut. In lieu of תאריך הנפקת תעודת הזהות, they should use the expiry date of their most recent visa.

Phone:

*6050

To access one’s account information with Bituach Leumi by phone one will require a 4 digit access code (kod ishi). This code can also be used to access the self service kiosks in the Bituach Leumi office or in the Iriyah to print out various certifications. 

To request a kod sodi call Bituach Leumi at *6050 and request that they mail you the code. 

Online Form:

Online inquiries for someone with a 4 digit pin code and no access to their personal account. 
On the top left corner of the homepage of Bituach Leumi יצירת קשר: choose בירורים אישיים.

Important Information After Visa Renewal

Visa Expiration & Bituach Leumi

When a visa expires, Bituach Leumi benefits (including health insurance and monetary grants) are lost. As visa expiration approaches, one may receive a warning letter that Bituach Leumi membership will soon be canceled. Bituach Leumi generally gives a 45 day grace period after visa expiration before stopping benefits. 

Most children’s passports last for a maximum of five years. Their passports must be renewed early enough to allow for time to get a new visa before – or soon after – the first one expires. Without a new visa, they will be without health insurance.

How to Update Bituach Leumi with a New Visa

After renewing a visa, the visa holder must inform Bituach Leumi. They will not be notified automatically by The Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim) and if one’s previous visa has expired they risk losing Bituach Leumi. 

Submit a copy of the visa, and if relevant a copy of the new passport, on the same page. The copy should be labeled with the individual’s 77 number and the words  לצורך חידוש קופת חולים. Submit the document using one of two methods:

1. Fax it to 026755416
2. Online: From the העלאת מסמכים section of one’s Bituach Leumi online account.
   To submit online, choose:
   נושא: ביטוח וגבייה
   קטגורייה: פרטים אישיים
   מסמך: מסמכים מזהים

In either case, follow up with a query (פנייה) from your online account to confirm receipt and processing.

To create a Bituach Leumi online account, follow the instructions here.

Employment and Bituach Leumi

One who is legally employed in Israel and receives a monthly pay slip (tlush) should verify that they are registered as an employee using their Bituach Leumi 77 number, rather than their passport number.