How to Join the IDF

There are three ways to join the IDF: (all information is up to date: 2024) If you need any assistance whatsapp Baruch: 052-8600062 (Israel)

 

Aliya - Becoming an Israeli citizen. Once you are an Israeli citizen with a tuedat zehut you can start the enlistment process. The first step is to waive the one year acclimation period that is granted to you by the IDF. (if you desire to draft immediately). To do this you need to fill out the following form and send it to - once the form is processed than you will be able to schedule a tzav rishon at your assigned draft office. Draft offices are assigned based on the location of the address that is written in the sefach of your tuedat zehut. 

Israeli Passport (without Aliya/Mahal) - If you have an Israeli passport but have not made aliya it is possible to go straight to the draft office and request a "tzav rishon" and begin the process without making aliya or joining mahal. The length of your service will be decided based upon your age. If you are eligible for mahal and want to do mahal (18 month service) then you need to register with the mahal department first and they will arrange for you a tzav rishon. There are different draft offices in Israel. Only the draft office that you are assigned to will process you. To find out which draft office you are registered call 1111. 

Mahal - 18 month regular IDF service or 21 month "mahal hesder" service for non Israeli citizens or "Bnai Mehagrim" (children of Israeli citizens) who fullfil the following criteria:

- Must be eligible for aliya under the "law of return."

- Men ages 18 - 23 (until 24) Woman ages 18 - 20 (until age 21)

- Non Israeli citizens can not have been been in Israel after the age of sixteen for more than 12 cumulative months in a program not recognized by the Israeli              Ministry of Education or more than 18 cumulative months in a program recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education. IMPORTANT - if visits are withing 60 days of    each other than the time in between visits will also count as you were in Israel. For example if one left Israel August 1,2025 and then returned September 1,2025      all of August will be considered as if you were also in Israel. 

- Bnai Mehagrim can not have been in Israel after the age of ten for more than 120 cumulative days in one calendar year in a program not recognized by the Israeli    Ministry of Education or more than one year in a program recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education. One must also remain at least 60 days outside of Israel      to reset the clock between the (one time allowed) one year stay in a recognized program or 120 cumulative days in one calendar year.

- Your father/mother or both did not live in Israel for more than 180 cumulative days in a calendar year after your tenth birthday.

- One or both of your parents did not make aliya after you were ten.

The enlistment dates and deadlines for Mahal change annualy. The early you start the better. Generally there are 3 drafts a year December, April and August. You should start the registration a draft before your preffered enlistment date. For example, if you want to draft in August then start the process in the begining of April. Each draft has registration deadlines. The deadlines will be publicized at the beginning of each year via Mahal's website mahal.org.il. Mahal is the fast track into the IDF. Within 4 months of your initial registration you will be in uniform. To enlist in Mahal follow the instructions below:

 
Step 1: Apply online via the Official Mahal site: mahal.org.il and send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Once you have registered online a representitive from the Mahal office will respond to you via email and request from you to submit all of the documents listed below.
 
Step 2: Submitting all the required documents to the Mahal department - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to the Jewish Agency https://lln.tfaforms.net/1885 (follow their instructions regarding the format and size of the documents) 
 
Mahal and the Jewish Agency will request from you to submit the following documents: Do not cut corners comply to all of their requests! *(If you are a bnai mehagrim i.e. one of your parents has Israeli citizenship then skip until the end of step 2. You are required to submit fewer documents all of the following does not apply to you)
 
  - Original Birth Certificate + Apostille stamp from the state it was issued.
  - Valid Passport for at least 3 years from your desired draft date
  - Medical Form (you must use the official medical form for Mahal) Mahal Medical Form
  - Confirmation letter stating that your mother is Jewish and therefor you are Jewish by birth or Your father is Jewish therefore you are eligible to become an Israeli        citizen under the Israeli Law of return, signed by a rabbi residing outside of Israel who knows your family. The confirmation must be written on official stationary      with a detailed letterhead including the name of the Jewish community, address, phone, fax and e-mail. The exact name of the rabbi must be clearly readable.          Click here to see a sample letter.
  - Letter from a notary stating that you are not an only child (if you are planning on serving in combat) - Bring your siblings birth certificates to a notary and have              him write a letter affirming that you have siblings and are not an only child. You can use this "Not an only child" template. Or you can just apostille one of                   your siblings birth certificates as proof that you are not an only child.
  - Letter from a recognized program from the Israeli Ministry of Education confirming that you were their student with the exact dates you attended. (For bnai                  mehagrim that were in Israel over 4 months but less than one year or non Israeli citizens that were in Israel for more than a year but less than 18 months).
  - Criminal History check - with an Apostille stamp - see below
 

For the US: You are required to obtain an  FBI criminal background check (with Apostille certification from the State Department in Washington D.C.). Please see details here: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

For Canada: You are required to obtain a certified criminal record check. As Canada is not a member of The Hague convention the documents will need to be sent to the Israeli consulate for legalization.

Please see details here: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/steps-getting-a-certified-criminal-record-check

For the UK: you are required to obtain an ACRO police check (with Apostille certification): https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

For Australia: https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks

For South Africa:https://www.saps.gov.za/services/applying_clearence_certificate.php

 
 
*If one of your parents have Israeli citizenship then you only need a valid Israeli Passport, medical form and proof you are not an only child if none of your siblings are Israeli citizens. If one of your siblings is a citizen with an Israeli passport than it is possible to check the Ministry of Interior for proof.
 
If you are the child of an Israeli and do not have an Israeli Passport than your Israeli parent/s needs to report to the Israeli consulate or Ministry of Interior and claim you as their child. In order to claim you they will need to bring your birth certificate with an apostille stamp + their marriage certificate with an apostille stamp. If divorced they will need the divorce document with an apostille also. (They will sometimes require proof from the mother that she was pregnant with you, for example an ultrasound report from the hospital)  When you request a passport it is important to tell them that you do not want a tuedat zehut card, only a passport. If you recieve a tuedat zehut card then you have made Aliya and are technically ineligible for Mahal. Please contact us if you need help receiving a Passport. On the passport there will be a tuedat zehut number but that is not a tuedat zehut card and is not considered making aliya.
 
Step 3: Once you have been approved by the Jewish Agency then you will receive an Interview with the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
 
Mahal will send you a date to arrive to Israel for an interview. Mazal tov! If you made it this far than you are on your way. The next step is to purchase a ticket and arrive to Israel for your interview. Under certain circumstances Mahal will allow an interview via Zoom before arrival in Israel.
 
You will need to bring with you all the original copies of the documents in step 2 to the interview with mahal.
 
Step 4: Tzav Rishon
 
Await your "Tzav Rishon". "Tzav Rishon" is a day of tests at the draft office were you will take a medical, intelligence and Hebrew test to determine which units you are eligible to serve with.
 
 
Step 5: Pre Army Program
 
In order to enlist with Mahal you must participate in their 4 week pre army program. Upon completion of their pre army program the staff will submitt an evaluation of you to the IDF. A positive evaluation will allow you to draft. While a negative report will disqualify you from the draft.
 
It is possible to contact Mahal via phone or email - 03-6084502 / 03-6084506 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.