The three laws
Migration process
The steps:
aliyah:
Open your aliyah file at the jewish agency for Israel.
An agent from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration will contact you to provide an overview of the aliyah and absorption track.
You’ll have a series of meetings with your agent where you’ll make a plan that works for you, as well as what you need to make Aaliyah.
Topics might include education, housing, employment, language, and whatever else you have on your mind.
Getting the necessary documents.
The documents you need are as follows:
A valid passport
The passport should be valid for at least another 2 years
Birth Certificate with Apostille
Proof of judaism
Your proof of judaism requires diffrent things if you converted vs born into judaism. Consult with your advisor from the jewish agency to make sure you have everything needed.
A current document that is proof of a change of name – If a change of name was carried out (private name/ family name).
Marital status certificates from the last half a year
Single, married, divorced or widowed.
A list of all entries/exists from israel in the past 7 years
backround/criminal check and records
If you have more than one citizenship you need to get this for each one even if you never lived there.
Making AliyahWith help from your advisor you will be able to schedule your Aliyah flight and come to israel.
Integration: choosing an absorption track
The absorption track you choose will shape your experience and journey beginning in Israel so it’s important to choose the right one for you. It’s recommended to do your own research as well as talking to your agent to understand the options you have. That being said you will be able to choose your track even before arriving in israel so that you feel more confident arriving to israel during you day of Aaliyah.
You can read about your options here
Your first arrengments
at the airport - entering israel
On landing you will be met at the entrance to the airport by Ministry of Aliyah and Integration personnel. They will escort you to your initial registration.
In the case that you didn't meet the employee. Use the black phone located at passport control,the call is automatically directed to the call center of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration at the Ben-Gurion airport.
You will receive your the following documents
A new immigrant certificate ("te’udat oleh")
Identification card - valid for three months. Make sure to go renew it before then at the ministry of interior. If you plan on changing your name or sex marker, you can do all of these together.
An authorization of registration for a Health Fund
Form for opening a bank account.
The trans!
hormones
In case you’re already taking HRT, contact your family doctor. show them proof and documentation that you take hormones (such as a doctor's approval for HRT). They will be able to renew your prescription.
If you run into trouble, you can contact maavarim’s social workers WhatsApp at 052-477-6707 for help.
If you are not yet on hormones and wish to start:
You must schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist or family doctor with experience in gender affirming hormone replacement therapy. You should start with the appointment for an endocrinologist, since the waiting times can be longer. You should know that even an experienced family doctor may not give a prescription without the recommendation of an expert endocrinologist.
If you wish to, you can arrange for fertility preservation before starting HRT.
Reach out to a mental health professional (social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist) and ask for a letter affirming your ability to give informed consent to gender affirming HRT. Not every endocrinologist requires such a letter, but you should bring one just in case. You can get this service from some of the trans community organizations which offer individual assistance, such as maavarim’s social workers.
You must get several medical tests done before starting the treatment.
The following list specifies the required test:
Blood count and full chemistry (glucose, liver functioning, kidney functioning, lipids), testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, TSH, FSH, LH.
In addition, for feminizing HRT you must also get blood clotting tests (PT, PTT), and for masculinizing HRT you may need to do a pelvic organs ultrasound (uterus and ovaries; this can be an external ultrasound).
Your family doctor will be able to write you referrals for these.
You need a referral from your family doctor to your appointment with the endocrinologist. If the appointment is at a hospital clinic you must also get financial coverage (Form “Tofes” 17) from your Kupat Holim. If you’ve encountered difficulties acquiring the Tofes you can ask for help from the Os Trans service, or from some of the hospitals where you can get the appointment.
You must come to the scheduled endocrinologist appointment with your recommendation letter, test results, and (if needed) the Tofes 17.
In your meeting with the endocrinologist you will discuss your treatment plan, your goals, concerns and any other subject you or your doctor wish to. If things go smoothly the entire process can go as fast as a couple of months.
How to change your name.
Print and complete the Change of first name form, and submit it in person, together with required documents (see below), at your local Population and Immigration Authority offices.
documents you need:
your ID card.
your Israeli passport (if one has been issued).
a detailed reason for the change of name.
There’s a service fee of 125 NIS.
Notice! You can only change your name once every 7 years unless you receive special approval (for example: getting married)
How to change your I.D. sex marker.
Your I.D. and passport should reflect your current documents, if you still have your AGAB sex marker you may choose to change it in israel.
The process is thus:
You must come personally to an office of the Population and Immigration Authority (PIA) with the following documents.
Application form for changes, additions and corrections to population registry details.
Personal I.D.
Israeli passport
A medical certificate indicating that sex reassignment surgery has been performed or confirmation of gender reassignment without sex reassignment surgery, which is given from Sheba’s Gender Reassignment Board.
Getting the documents to change the sex marker in your ID
To get your confirmation of gender reassignment approval you must contact Sheba’s Gender Reassignment Board.
Gender-affirming surgery
In Israel, in order to do gender affirmation surgeries, you have two options:
Go to a private surgeon and pay by yourself (or, if you have private insurance, you can try contacting it about the surgeries and see where, and if, it can help you with the pay.)
Gender Affirming Surgeries (Funded by the HMO/IDF). In order to do that, you have to go through Sheba’s Gender Reassignment Board. For more information, see the rest of the document.
Sheba’s Gender Reassignment Board
The gender reassignment board is the national and only board that operates under the instructions of the Ministry of Health in regards to gender identity and gender reassignment.
The board's approval grants eligibility to undergo gender reassignment surgeries that are included in the basket of services set by the Ministry of Health, Funded by the applicant’s HMO or by the IDF, in public medical centers only. Gender reassignment surgeries include GRS surgery, top surgery, FFS, neck flattening, voice ,and surgeries to remove the uterus and ovaries. In addition, the board approves the issuance of a public certificate necessary to change the registration of the sex section in the population registry.
The board operates at the Sheba Medical Center. After receiving the board's approval, it is possible to undergo surgeries in other public medical centers.
The process of the Gender reassignment begins with an application to the board’s coordinator.
Ziva.margalit@sheba.health.gov.il
The commeete length from the moment of first contact up to approval of surgeries will not exceed a year.
It is possible to get approval of your sex marker change in your I.D for minors with parental approval. This process can take up a few months
You can contact the board about surgeries from age 18.
For every meeting with a professional you must have the appropriate form 17 (commitment of payment by HMO). if you do not have the form it is possible to make a deposit, you will then have one month to pay. Afterwards your deposit will be returned to you.
The board has three possible routes:
Approval Process for Gender-Affirming Surgeries (Funded by the HMO/IDF)
The process includes:
A meeting with a psychiatrist from the board.
A meeting with an endocrinologist from the board (alternatively, a medical summary from the last six months from another endocrine clinic + Form 17 for Sheba can be provided).
Consultations with surgeons based on the desired surgeries and according to Ministry of Health guidelines.Approximately three meetings with a social worker/psychologist from the board (additional support can be provided based on the applicant’s preference). If a summary from a treatment provider from the last six months is available, it is recommended to share it with the psychologist/social worker accompanying you through the board process.
At the end of the process, you will receive an approval document that allows you to obtain financial coverage from the HMO or the military and schedule the desired surgery(ies). The approval will be granted for the surgery(ies) you have expressed a need and desire for and have consulted with the board's specialized physicians.
Estimated duration of the process: About a year (depending on doctors’ availability).
Approval Process for Gender Marker Change in the Population Registry and ID Card
The process includes:
A meeting with a psychologist/social worker from the board.
A meeting with a psychiatrist from the board.
A meeting with an endocrinologist from the board for applicants interested in hormone therapy (alternatively, a medical summary from the last six months from another endocrine clinic may be submitted). Note: Hormone therapy is not a prerequisite for obtaining approval.
At the end of the process, you will receive an official public document that enables the gender marker change in the Population Registry and your ID card. The board’s approval will be sent via email both to the applicant and to the Ministry of Interior to finalize the process, in coordination with the applicant and at a time of their choosing.
Estimated duration of the process: Several months (depending on appointment availability).
Once the approval and applicant’s details have been submitted, the Ministry of Interior will invite the applicant for an appointment to change the gender marker on their ID card (other details can also be updated during this meeting). Afterward, the new ID card with the updated gender marker will be mailed to the applicant.
Important Notes:To ensure that the updated details are reflected in various institutions (hospitals, medical centers, banks, credit card companies, etc.), the applicant should provide a copy of their updated ID card along with the Ministry of Interior’s confirmation document to all relevant organizations.
If an individual wishes to change their gender marker again after a previous update, they must reapply to the board and complete the process anew.
Obtaining Board Approvals for Gender Marker change if you a had gender affirming surgery
This process applies in the following cases when applying to the board:
To obtain approval for changing the gender marker in the ID card after previously receiving approval for gender-affirming surgeries through the board. The applicant must contact the board coordinator, and the approval will be sent via email.
To obtain approval for surgeries after previously receiving approval for a gender marker change without surgery. In this case, previous meetings with board members will be taken into account, and the process can be completed without needing to start from the beginning.
To obtain approval for changing the gender marker in the ID card following privately performed gender-affirming surgery in Israel or abroad. In this case, the following documents must be submitted to the board coordinator:
A written medical summary from the surgeon. If the summary is not in Hebrew or English, an official translation into Hebrew or English must be provided along with a signed affidavit verifying the accuracy of the translation.
A confirmation from the applicant’s primary care physician stating that a gender-affirming surgery was performed.
A signed declaration from the applicant confirming that a gender-affirming surgical procedure has been completed.
A copy of the applicant’s ID card and its appendix.
To Schedule an Introductory Meeting or for Additional Questions, Contact the Board Coordinator, Ms. Ziva Margalit:
Email: Ziva.margalit@sheba.health.gov.il
Phone: 03-5302677
Reception Hours: Sunday–Wednesday, 08:30–14:30. Emails can be sent at any time.
Initial Contact with the Board via Email Should Include:
Personal details: Full name, ID number, and preferred pronouns.
Requested procedure: The specific process you are applying for within the board's scope.
Contact information: Phone number, email address, and residential address.
Required documents: A scanned copy of your ID card.
If you have a recent (last six months) medical summary from an endocrinologist, it is recommended to send it to the board coordinator with your initial inquiry. You may also request an appointment to obtain financial authorization from your HMO (Form 17), which should then be submitted back to the board. This allows the board’s endocrinologist to review the summary without requiring an in-person meeting.
Contact Ziva.margalit@sheba.health.gov.il at Sheba with the following stuff:
Proof of surgery by the surgeon. If the surgeon’s letter is not in english or hebrew it must be professionally translated with a signed declaration of the fidelity of the translation to the original
Confirmation from your family doctor that you underwent a gender affirming surgery
A picture of your ID
Sheba will reply to your email with the required documents.
services and community
There are many services for the LGBTQ community, and for trans people in particular. Here’s a list of them:
Maavarim - database and a social worker system.
Trans Israel - provides activities and support for trans women, as well as a social workers system.
The Trans Center - activities for trans people and a social worker system.
Project Gila - Personal counseling and guidance in gender reassignment processes.
Brit Haleviot - Provide support to parents of trans youth.
THE Aguda (the association for LGBTQ in Israel)- responsible for a variety of things, including a system for reporting LGBT phobia, an attentive line and legal aid.
Havruta - religious LGBTQ association
Bat Kol - religious women association
TransWiki - database about everything a trans person should know.