Your household goods to Israel: three shipments free for olim, and the declaration in the Netherlands
In the first three years after aliyah, an oleh may send up to three shipments for personal use to Israel without customs duties; he pays the shipping himself. In the Netherlands, a move outside the EU always needs an export declaration, with an inventory. You may bring medicines for at most 90 days.
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Anyone making aliyah may send their household goods to Israel without customs duties. According to the Jewish Agency, an oleh can have up to three shipments sent to Israel in the first three years after aliyah, without customs duties being charged on release. It has to be goods for personal use, and you pay the cost of shipping yourself. On the Dutch side, a move outside the EU always requires an export declaration with Dutch Customs, with a list of what you take.
What applies per route?
| Who | What applies according to the sources | Where it is set out |
|---|---|---|
| New oleh | the luggage on entry plus at most 3 shipments, one extra after a mishap; within 3 years of aliyah, for personal use | customs tariff of the Israel Tax Authority (16-10-2026), Jewish Agency |
| Returning Israeli, away for more than 2 years | household goods within 9 months of entry, in at most 2 shipments, one extra after a mishap | customs tariff of the Israel Tax Authority (16-10-2026) |
| Partner or employee | no exemption of their own found | check with customs |
| Everyone, leaving the Netherlands | export declaration with inventory | Dutch Customs |
| Everyone, medicines in the luggage | supply for at most 90 days, no narcotics | embassy in The Hague |
How do you make use of the three shipments as an oleh?
The Jewish Agency mentions three conditions: at most three shipments, within three years of aliyah, and only goods for personal use. That leaves room. You do not have to take everything in one container. You could, for example, send a small shipment first and the rest later, once you have a permanent home.
It also says what it does not cover: the shipping itself. You pay that in full. So ask for quotes in good time, and ask the removal company whether it handles Israeli customs clearance and which documents it needs from you.
The customs tariff of the Israel Tax Authority, valid on 16 October 2026, spells it out. Exempt are the household goods in the luggage that comes with you on entry, plus at most three shipments. If something went wrong with the packing or transport of a shipment, one extra may follow. You then report that to customs, around the release of that shipment.
According to the guide of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (December 2022) you use the goods yourself for at least six years, you usually show a rental or purchase contract, and you get the exemption only once. What is permanently built into the house, such as plumbing or flooring, is not covered. Which appliances exactly are exempt, we did not find in an official text. Ask your removal company or customs.
I am returning as an Israeli, or coming as a partner. What then?
If as an Israeli you lived abroad for more than two years, you are a returning resident for customs. According to the customs tariff you then import your household goods free of duty within nine months of entry, in at most two shipments, with one extra after a mishap. That is shorter and tighter than for an oleh: so plan the container around your return. If you were away for less than two years, the tariff names only personal effects.
For a partner or an employee we found no exemption of their own. Do not assume the exemption for olim applies to you as well. Check with customs or an international removal company before you have a container packed.
What do you arrange in the Netherlands?
If you move to a country outside the European Union, such as Israel, Dutch Customs says you file an export declaration for your household goods. You hand in an inventory of what you take with it. Within the EU that is not needed, to Israel it is. If you have a removal company file the declaration, check that the list matches what is really in the container.
If you take a car or motorcycle, extra rules apply: deregistering for export with the RDW, and an export declaration with Customs for the vehicle too. See car and driving licence.
May you bring medicines?
Yes, within limits. According to the Israeli embassy in The Hague, you may carry a supply of medicines for at most 90 days when entering Israel.
That allowance does not apply to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, even if a product is not considered as such outside Israel. If you use such medicines, find out before you leave what Israel requires for them and how to get them prescribed there.
See also medicines across the border.
And if you come back later?
If you ever return to the Netherlands, you can import your household goods tax-free if, among other things, you lived outside the EU for at least twelve consecutive months, owned and used the goods for at least six months, and import them within twelve months of your return. So keep your inventory and receipts in Israel too. See moving back to the Netherlands. Your pet has its own procedure: see pet to Israel.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey, step 4.2: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Israel or go straight to step 4.2 in the open plan.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- Jewish Agency — three shipments without customs duties in the first three years after aliyah — jewishagency.org
- Israel Tax Authority — customs tariff, group 7, valid on 16 October 2026, an oleh imports household goods free of duty with the luggage and in at most three shipments — shaarolami-query.customs.mof.gov.il
- Israel Tax Authority — customs tariff, group 7, valid on 16 October 2026, a returning resident imports household goods free of duty within nine months, in at most two shipments — shaarolami-query.customs.mof.gov.il
- Ministry of Aliyah and Integration — Guide for the New Immigrant (December 2022), the conditions for the customs exemption — gov.il
- Dutch Customs — moving your belongings to a country outside the EU, export declaration with inventory — douane.nl
- Israeli embassy in The Hague — bringing medicines into Israel, at most 90 days — embassies.gov.il
- RDW — exporting a vehicle, and the customs declaration outside the EU — rdw.nl
- Dutch Customs — household goods back to the Netherlands from a non-EU country, the conditions for exemption — douane.nl
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