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What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Jerusalem

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  • Tobias Karlsen

    There are so many expats here in Jerusalem and the easiest way to get acquainted with them is through InterNations.

Relocating to Jerusalem

Moving to Jerusalem could be an exciting experience, but before expats set off the journey they would need to be prepared. Thousands of international expats and tourist flock to this historic city every year. Many arrive on tourist or student visas before deciding to move to Jerusalem long-term.

About the City

Everyone seems to have a different opinion on Jerusalem, but it really is one of those places you have to see to believe. It is one of the oldest cities in the world (parts of the city date back to the fourth millennium BC) and probably the most historically and religiously significant.

The golden Dome of the Rock is an iconic sight, and due to its central location it can be seen from nearly everywhere in the city and its surrounding hills.

The population of the city is quite low at approximately 1,000,000, although population density is much higher in East Jerusalem than the rest of the city. Within this overall population, approximately 64% are Jewish, 32% Muslim, and 2% are Christian.

Visas for Israel

There are several different types of visa that expats need to consider before moving to Jerusalem. First and foremost, there is the ‘aliya’ visa, which gives any Jewish person the right to live and work in Israel under the Law of Return.

For non-Jewish expats, there are several different types of visa: the student visa; the clergy visa; a spousal visa; a visitor’s visa; and a work visa.

Israel has special visa exemption agreements with certain countries, allowing expats to stay in the country for 90 days without a visa of any kind.

After this period, a full work visa is required if you intend to stay in the country. Only expats with clean criminal records and a good medical history will be considered for a working visa by the Ministry of the Interior, and all applicants are required to take a series of blood tests to prove their good health.

For more information on visa types and regulations, please take a look at our Moving to Israel article.

Getting to Jerusalem

There is no major airport in Jerusalem itself, other than a couple of small recreational and military bases (e.g. Kalandia Airport near the Palestine border).

Most visitors tend to arrive in Jerusalem via Tel Aviv’s busy Ben Gurion airport, which is approximately 50km north of Jerusalem. Outside the main terminal, there is a constant queue of buses and taxis waiting to bring people to other Israeli cities. If you choose to drive from the airport, Route 443 will take you straight there. Border control is tight around Israel, so it is advisable to travel into the country by airplane.

However, once you are in the country, it is easy to get around by car or by bus. Within Jerusalem itself, an efficient tram network is used by many commuters and residents.

Apr 18, 2021, 6:00 PM
20 attendees
After a long time we can meet in person & welcome all new community members! Let's have some fun & chat in a very casual cafe. Green pass is required. we hope no further restrictions will apply. I hop
Hi Jerusalem Community, Join us & welcome new members at a warm jazz evening. At the Terminal you can order food & drinks. The menu is diary. There will be a "hat show" and you are welcome to tip th
The Masaryk Cafe is a well known diary restaurant-cafe since 1996-2012. Now it operates again as a modern coffee room. You can find there a variety of pastas, fish, salads, deserts & more. The place i
Me & the Jerusalem community members will be happy to meet you! Bardak Bar & Beer is a good time eatery where you can relax with friends. Sit inside or outside on the spacious patio and enjoy great b

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  • Tobias Karlsen

    There are so many expats here in Jerusalem and the easiest way to get acquainted with them is through InterNations.

  • Cristina Fernandez

    The high quality of the members makes it fun to get involved in the Jerusalem expat community.

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