Hillel: Birthright Israel Eligibility
Are you eligible for a 10-day trip to Israel? Read over the eligibility guidelines for Hillel: Birthright Israel.
Age
You must be 18–26 years old and have finished high school by the trip departure date. If you’re turning 27 before May 1 (for summer trips) or Dec. 1 (for winter trips), you’re not eligible to participate in the upcoming season of trips.
*UK applicants must be 18–26 years old.
Jewish Background
To be eligible for Birthright Israel, one must identify as Jewish and be recognized as Jewish by their local community or by one of the recognized denominations of Judaism. Applicants must also have at least one Jewish birth parent, or have completed a Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination.
*Young Jews in the Former Soviet Union are eligible if they have at least one Jewish birth grandparent. Their Jewish heritage must also be verified by a local consul before they can be considered eligible.
Previous Israel Experience
If you have traveled to Israel with your family or for other personal matters, you’re still eligible for the trip!
You’re not eligible if…
- You’ve been in Israel for more than three months since the age of 12.
- You’ve been to Israel as part of a touring group, educational program, study program, or an organized, extended residential program since you were 18 years of age or older.
- Note: You’re still eligible if you participated in RootOne, Magen David Adom, the Maccabiah games, or Federation missions. You’re also eligible if you participated in the Maccabee Task Force and Fact Finders programs prior to 2020.
- You were born in Israel or are an Israeli citizen and you didn’t leave before the age of 12.
- You’ve served in the Israeli Army or volunteered on an Israel Army base after the age of 18.
- You were born in Israel or have ever held Israeli citizenship or have held an Israeli passport, unless you can use official documentation to prove that you left Israel before the age of 12. If you’re accepted to the program, you’ll need to obtain army exemption papers from your local Israeli consulate.
- If you don’t hold an Israeli passport, but have Israeli parents, you must obtain army exemption papers from your local Israeli consulate.
For more information on trip eligibility, read Birthright Israel’s eligibility FAQs.
