What Is Sal Klita?
One of the most valuable benefits you receive as a new immigrant is the סל קליטה (Sal Klita) - literally the "Absorption Basket." This is a financial grant paid by the Israeli government, through the Jewish Agency and ביטוח לאומי (Bituach Leumi), to help new olim cover living expenses during their first year in Israel. Think of it as a financial runway while you settle in, learn Hebrew, and find your footing.
The Sal Klita is not a loan - it is a grant you keep regardless of your income or future employment. Every oleh and olah who made aliyah with the Jewish Agency or Nefesh B'Nefesh is entitled to it.
Who Is Eligible?
Sal Klita is available to anyone who:
- Made aliyah (immigrated as a Jew or family member under the Law of Return)
- Holds a valid Teudat Oleh (immigration certificate)
- Is a new immigrant, not a returning resident or tourist
Children under 18 are included in the family payment and do not receive a separate basket. Spouses who are not Jewish but immigrated together are also covered.
How is Sal Klita paid out?
Sal Klita is paid in installments over six months, with an optional six-month extension:
- Airport payment - A lump sum paid immediately upon landing, while you are still at the airport. This covers your first days: a hotel, initial groceries, and getting a SIM card.
- Monthly payments (months 1–6) - Six monthly installments deposited directly into your Israeli bank account, starting from your first full month of residency. This is why opening a bank account on day one is so important.
- Extended payments (months 7–12) - An optional additional six months, available to olim who enroll in an ulpan (Hebrew language school) and maintain at least 75–80% attendance. These are somewhat lower than the first-year payments.
Knowledge Check
When do you receive your first Sal Klita payment?
How Much Will You Receive?
Amounts are set by the Absorption Ministry and updated periodically. As of 2025–2026, the approximate totals over the standard 6-month period are:
- Single adult: approximately 25,000–27,000 NIS total
- Couple (married): approximately 35,000–38,000 NIS total
- Each child under 18: approximately 3,000–3,500 NIS additional
These figures include the airport payment plus all six monthly installments. The airport lump sum is roughly 20–25% of the total. Exact amounts vary slightly based on the date of aliyah and any mid-year government adjustments.
How do you receive your Sal Klita payments?
The process is largely automatic once you land:
- At the airport: The Absorption Ministry representative will hand you a check or arrange a direct transfer for the airport payment. Keep your Teudat Oleh accessible - this is your entry document for everything.
- Monthly payments: You must register with the local Absorption Ministry office (Misrad HaKlita) in your city within the first few weeks. They will set up your ongoing payment schedule to your Israeli bank account.
- Bank account required: Payments after the airport go directly to your bank account via bank transfer. Open your account as quickly as possible - ideally within your first week.
The Absorption Ministry has English-speaking staff in most major cities and can walk you through the full process. Offices are located in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and other absorption centers.
What Can You Use It For?
Sal Klita is completely unrestricted. Use it for rent, groceries, ulpan tuition, public transport, setting up your apartment - anything you need. There is no reporting requirement and no accounting to anyone for how you spend it.
Sal Klita ("Absorption Basket") is a financial grant, not a loan, paid by the Israeli government through the Jewish Agency and Bituach Leumi to every qualifying new oleh during their first year. Over the standard 6 months it totals roughly 25,000-27,000 NIS for a single adult and 35,000-38,000 NIS for a married couple, with each child under 18 adding about 3,000-3,500 NIS. Around 20-25% arrives as a lump sum at the airport on arrival; the rest comes as six monthly bank transfers, so you need an Israeli bank account and must register with your local Misrad HaKlita office within the first few weeks. An optional months 7-12 extension exists for olim enrolled in an ulpan with at least 75-80% attendance. The money is unrestricted, with no reporting on how you spend it.
Sal Klita, literally the "Absorption Basket," is a financial grant paid by the Israeli government, through the Jewish Agency and Bituach Leumi, to help new olim cover living expenses during their first year in Israel. It is not a loan. It is a grant you keep regardless of your income or future employment, and there is no repayment. Every oleh and olah who made aliyah with the Jewish Agency or Nefesh B'Nefesh is entitled to it.
Sal Klita is available to anyone who made aliyah (immigrated as a Jew or family member under the Law of Return), holds a valid Teudat Oleh (immigration certificate), and is a new immigrant rather than a returning resident or tourist. Children under 18 are included in the family payment and do not receive a separate basket. Spouses who are not Jewish but immigrated together are also covered.
As of 2025-2026, the approximate totals over the standard 6-month period are about 25,000-27,000 NIS for a single adult and about 35,000-38,000 NIS for a married couple, with each child under 18 adding roughly 3,000-3,500 NIS. These figures include the airport payment plus all six monthly installments. Amounts are set by the Absorption Ministry and updated periodically, and exact figures vary slightly based on your date of aliyah and any mid-year government adjustments.
Your first payment is a lump sum handed to you at the airport while you are still there, immediately upon landing. The Absorption Ministry representative will hand you a check or arrange a direct transfer for this airport payment, which is roughly 20-25% of your total. After that, six monthly installments are deposited directly into your Israeli bank account, starting from your first full month of residency. You do not need to wait three months for money, the first payment arrives almost immediately upon arrival.
Yes. Every payment after the airport lump sum goes directly to your Israeli bank account via bank transfer, so you should open an account as quickly as possible, ideally within your first week. You must also register with your local Absorption Ministry office (Misrad HaKlita) in your city within the first few weeks, and they will set up your ongoing payment schedule. The Absorption Ministry has English-speaking staff in most major cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and other absorption centers) to walk you through the process.
Months 7-12 are an optional six-month extension beyond the standard six months. It is available only to olim who enroll in an ulpan (Hebrew language school) and maintain at least 75-80% attendance. These extended payments are somewhat lower than the first six months of payments.
Sal Klita is completely unrestricted. You can use it for rent, groceries, ulpan tuition, public transport, setting up your apartment, or anything else you need. There is no reporting requirement and no accounting to anyone for how you spend it.
No. There is no equivalent program in the United States, the UK, or any other country; most governments do not provide financial grants to citizens who emigrate or to immigrants arriving under any legal status. The closest UK comparison might be a private, discretionary employer relocation package. Sal Klita is entirely unique to Israel and reflects the Law of Return and the state's mission to absorb Jewish immigrants from anywhere in the world. For US olim it may feel small relative to American salaries, but it provides a genuine cushion during a period when you are unlikely to be earning a full income.
Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics, the next article covers how to maximize your Sal Klita payments - including the extended months 7–12, timing strategies, and what to do with the airport payment the moment you land.
