The customs and excise division, and the ministry of absorption,
each have their own definitions and procedures concerning award of
eligibility; and eligibility awarded by one of those institutions is
not binding upon the other.
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Assistance to Business Entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Immigration Absorption assists entrepreneurs wishing
to set up small business in Israel. Assistance is made available in the
field of business consultation, through Entrepreneurship
Cultivation Centres, (ECCs) operating in some 20 population centres in
Israel.
ECCs help determine personal business management capabilities,
examine the market and assess how worthwhile it will be to establish the
business, prepare a business plan and liaise with financing sources -
banks and foundations. ECCs also help you find partners or potential
investors as well as providing business apprenticeship services, where
needed. Information is obtainable from the head of the returning
residents division in your residential district, after returning to
Israel, or from the Israeli consulate abroad.
Professional Licencing Procedures
In most academic professions, a licence is required. Professionals
having acquired their education outside Israel, and wishing to engage
in their profession in Israel, are obliged, in most cases, to take a
licencing examination, so as to obtain a local licence of qualification.
In professions such as medicine, law, accountancy, teaching and nursing,
such examinations must be taken. Preparatory courses are usually
available, but not always obligatory.
For further details, please apply to the employment service in
Israel.
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Education
The Ministry of Education runs a department for the absorption of
immigrant schoolchildren, which fulfils a supervisory and instructional
role in state and state religious schools.
Schools may provide pupils, who are children of returning residents,
having lived abroad at least six whole successive years, with extra
coaching.
Assistance to children takes the form of one hour per week. In
schools where there is a large number of immigrant pupils entitled to
extra coaching, study groups may be held, as there may be a greater
allocation of hours. Returning resident pupils are also entitled to join
these groups.
Regarding entitlement in the pedagogic field: the "A" returning pupil
is one who has had at least his last eight successive school years
outside Israel, and he will enjoy that status for four whole consecutive
school years, commencing September 1st following his date of return.
The "B" returning pupil is one who has had at least his last four
successive school years outside Israel, and he will enjoy that status
for two whole consecutive school years, commencing September 1st after
his date of return.
These schoolgoers, whose entitlement expires at the end of the 11th
grade, may take their examinations on the basis of these rights, also
in 12th grade. Also, returning pupils completing their studies before
living four years in Israel, will enjoy these rights for the purposes
of examinations under the aegis of their high-school, until the end of
four years from the date of their immigration. A stint of national
service with the IDF will be excluded from these computations.
High school seniors, having spent four or more years abroad, will
be entitled to special consideration in their matriculation examinations
in the following subjects: Hebrew expression, literature, Bible-study,
Jewish history, civics, history, Judaism and Oral Law. For the
purpose of other subjects, the pupil may elect to take an oral
examination in Hebrew or in the language of the country from which he
has returned. The option of an oral examination in a language other
than Hebrew - depends on the availability of examiners fluent in that
language.
A returning pupil may write final papers in the language of the
country from which he has returned, provided that tutors fluent in that
language are available to grade the papers.
High School Studies in Israel
The Jewish Agency's education authority holds study courses that are
approved and recognised in the pupil's country of origin. There is also
a special "Israeli matric" preparation program in the English, French
and Spanish languages.
Additional details are available from the offices of the education
authority at 8 Hamaalot St., P.O.B. 92, Jerusalem, Tel: 02-251429, Fax:
02-259814.
Aliyat Hanoar - Youth Immigration Project
Admission into the Youth Immigration framework is based on strict
social and economic criteria. Each case is examined individually, and
the enquiry should preferably be made in advance. Parents wishing their
children to study under the auspices of Aliyat Hanoar while they are
abroad, should apply to Mr. Binyamin Alon, POB 92, Jerusalem. As
regards children returning to Israel with their parents, application
should be made to Mr. Dani Lopo, POB 92, Jerusalem.
The foregoing applies to seniors in the 9th to 12th grades, whether
minor returnees or returning residents.
Discount at Pre-Compulsory Kindergarten for Returning
Residents.
Returning residents, in their first year back in Israel, may get a
one-year discount in pre-compulsory kindergarten attendance fees.
This will be the maximum discount, providing for payment of only
10% of the regular fee, depending on the family's economic situation.
But any returning immigrant family which, at the time of registering
children for pre-compulsory kindergarten, is going through a period of
unemployment, will be entitled to a discount.
Entitling conditions are: