Israel’s Immigration Plan Advances Post-Bondi Terror Attack, Aiming 30,000 Olim

Israel is moving faster to bring in 30,000 new immigrants (olim) in 2026, and that matters if you’re in Australia and thinking about aliyah. The plan focuses on people coming from countries with rising antisemitism, and its momentum increased after the Bondi terror attack became part of the public discussion around safety and Jewish life abroad.

This guide explains what Israel’s current direction means for Australians, Who qualifies under the Law of Return, and how to prepare for a smoother aliyah.

Why Israel’s immigration plan matters if you’re in Australia

Israel’s immigration plan is not just a target number. It comes with policy changes that affect who qualifies, how benefits work, and what Israel expects from new immigrants after arrival.

Key changes and programs shaping the 2025–2026 aliyah environment:

• March 2025 aliyah reforms tightened “split immigration.” Israel restricted it to people eligible by birth under the Law of Return. That change excludes non‑Jewish spouses, converts, and family members who qualify only by relation.
• New residence rules connect benefits to physical presence. For example, you need at least 240 days in the first year for a full passport renewal. The goal is to reduce “passport aliyah” and focus on real settlement.
• A pre-arrival job‑matching program (“Leap to Aliyah”) works with employers to hire olim before they arrive. Since October 7, 2023, 53,680 immigrants arrived, and Israel is filling a 35,000 skilled worker shortage.
• Tax incentives aim to bring talent. New immigrants and returning residents who were abroad 10+ years pay 0% income tax in 2026–2027.
• Faster professional licensing is part of the March 2025 reforms for key fields.
• A December 7, 2025 Supreme Court ruling reversed automatic citizenship for non‑Jewish children of immigrants, tightening eligibility.

If you’re planning aliyah from Australia, these points affect timing, family eligibility, and how you structure your first year in Israel.

Who qualifies for aliyah under the Law of Return

Aliyah is immigration to Israel under the Law of Return. It gives qualifying people the right to immigrate if they express intent to settle in Israel.

In practice, be ready to show:

• Eligibility under the Law of Return (your Jewish status or qualifying family connection)
• A genuine intention to live in Israel, supported by your plans and your time in-country after arrival

What changed in March 2025: “split immigration” restrictions

If you planned to move first and bring family later, pay close attention. Under the March 2025 reforms, split immigration was restricted to those eligible by birth under the Law of Return. It excludes:

• Non‑Jewish spouses
• Converts
• Family members who qualify only by relation

That makes family strategy more important. If your case includes a spouse, a conversion, or relatives qualifying through you, confirm how your family unit fits the newer approach before you commit to travel dates or job changes.

⚠️ Important: Your first-year residence pattern matters now. Israel ties benefits to physical presence, including the 240-day first-year rule for full passport renewal.

Step-by-step: How to plan aliyah from Australia (4 steps)

1) Confirm your eligibility and family plan

Map who in your household qualifies under the Law of Return and how the March 2025 split-immigration limits affect you.

Focus on:
– Who qualifies by birth
– Whether your spouse or children face new limits
– Whether everyone needs to move together to avoid problems later

If your situation includes a non‑Jewish spouse, a conversion, or a mixed-eligibility household, get case-specific guidance before you lock anything in.

2) Build a settlement plan that fits the new residence rules

Israel is prioritizing real settlement. Your plan should show you’re moving your life, not collecting documents.

Your first-year plan should cover:
– Where you will live at first (even temporary housing)
– How you will support yourself
– How you will meet the 240-day presence expectation in your first year
– How you will handle Australian obligations (lease, school, work notice) without interrupting your time in Israel

This helps prevent benefit issues and reduces the risk that an early trip back to Australia breaks your first-year presence.

3) Use pre-arrival job matching if you’re a skilled worker

If you work in high-demand areas, Israel is actively recruiting. The “Leap to Aliyah” job‑matching program works with:
– High‑tech firms
– Medical centers
– Retailers

This program exists because Israel faces a 35,000 skilled worker shortage, and recent arrivals since October 7, 2023 already reached 53,680.

Practical steps:
1. Prepare an Israel-ready CV.
2. Collect proof of credentials.
3. Track licensing needs early if you work in a regulated role.

4) Plan your timing around 2026 benefits and legal tightening

If you’re choosing between moving in 2025 or 2026, timing affects taxes and paperwork expectations.

Two timing anchors:
– 0% income tax in 2026–2027 for new immigrants and returning residents who were abroad 10+ years.
– The December 7, 2025 court ruling tightened automatic citizenship for non‑Jewish children of immigrants, which affects some family structures.

If your case is family-complex, plan early to close document and status gaps before you move.

Documents you should prepare for aliyah (Australia-focused checklist)

Aliyah cases often stall because records don’t match across countries or generations. Start document work while you’re still in Australia, when it’s easier to request replacements.

Identity and civil status documents

• Birth certificates for each person immigrating
• Passports (current and valid for travel)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce documents or death certificates from prior marriages (if applicable)
• Name change documents (if any names differ across records)

Proof of Jewish ties (as used in aliyah processing)

Israel’s aliyah framework uses documentary proof of Jewish connection and family line. Prepare what you have, then fill gaps.

Examples include:
– Documents showing Jewish parentage or lineage
– Community or synagogue records that support Jewish identity
– Any family records that match names across generations

Aliyah processing often involves review through the Jewish Agency, so consistency matters. If your grandmother’s surname is spelled two ways across documents, fix it early with supporting evidence.

Work and education records (strongly recommended)

These help with hiring and licensing after arrival:
– Diplomas and transcripts
– Professional registrations or licenses
– Employment letters and reference contacts
– Evidence of experience in your field

If you have children

• Birth certificates listing parents
• Custody or consent documents if parents are separated
• School records to support enrolment decisions

💡 Pro Tip: Make a single “master file” for each family member. Keep scanned copies plus a physical folder for travel.

Fees and timelines you should know (and what they mean)

Aliyah-related costs depend on your personal situation, but two numbers are set in current policy discussions.

Time planning matters more than a single processing estimate. Build time for:
– Collecting multi-country civil records
– Job matching and credential review in regulated fields
– The first-year physical presence expectation after you arrive

Common mistakes Australians make when planning aliyah

• Treating aliyah like a “backup passport”: Israel is enforcing rules meant to curb “passport aliyah.” If you move and then spend long stretches back in Australia, you can trigger benefit issues. Your first year sets the tone.
• Waiting too long to fix document mismatches: Small inconsistencies slow cases (different surname spellings, missing middle names, unclear parent-child links).
• Assuming professional licensing will be automatic: Israel is speeding licensing in key fields, but you still need full proof and documentation.
• Misjudging family eligibility after the 2025 changes: The March 2025 split-immigration restrictions and the December 7, 2025 ruling create real risks for families with mixed eligibility.
• Confusing ETA‑IL travel rules with aliyah: ETA‑IL is for short visits by visa-exempt travelers. Aliyah is immigration under the Law of Return. Mixing the two causes planning mistakes.

Next steps: What you should do this week if you’re in Australia and considering aliyah

1. Write your family eligibility map (one page). List each person, their basis of eligibility, and any weak points in documentation.
2. Start document replacements now through Australian registries if anything is missing or inconsistent.
3. Decide your first-year presence plan so you can meet the 240-day expectation and avoid benefit issues.
4. Prepare your work package (CV, credentials, references) if you want to use Israel’s pre-arrival hiring push.
5. Book a short, legal-status check-in with a qualified aliyah or immigration professional if your case includes a non‑Jewish spouse, conversion, or mixed-eligibility children.

If you want more practical immigration guides written for everyday people, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.