Am I eligible?

Not sure if you qualify for a Birthright Israel trip? Read through the points below to know if you are eligible.

Who is eligible?​

The Birthright Israel gift is open to all young Jewish adults, ages 18 to 32 who have not participated in an educational trip since they turned 18, nor lived in Israel past the age of 12. 

Eligible individuals are those who identify as Jewish and are recognized as such 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 Jewish conversion through a recognized Jewish denomination. 

What are the age requirements for the trip?

All participants must be between 18 and 26 and have finished high school by the time their trip departs.

Birthright Israel now also offers trips for 27-32 years old but with very limited availability.

I’ve been to Israel before. Am I eligible?

If you have been to Israel before with your family, for leisure or business purposes, you are still eligible, as long as the duration of your trip was under 3 months.

• Applicants who traveled to Israel prior to turning 18, on a program designed for high school teens, for a period shorter than three months in length are eligible. Even if you were 18 at the time of the trip, you are eligible, as long as the trip was designed for high school students.

• Applicants who participated in most “High School in Israel” programs for up to a semester are eligible.

• Applicants who traveled to Israel since turning 18 on a family trip, a multi-generational trip, or some interfaith/secular experiences are eligible.

• Applicants who traveled to Israel after turning 18 on programs designed for college students or young adults are not eligible. Programs include University, study abroad, gap year, yeshiva/seminary, internship and any other experience under the umbrella of Onward Israel or Masa Israel.

Volunteering on programs such as Magen David Adom, participating in the Maccabiah games and/or traveling with multi-generational and family Federation missions will not affect your eligibility as long as you were in Israel with these programs for under 3 months. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact us at

I am an Israeli citizen. Am I eligible?

If you are an Israeli citizen, you are only eligible if you never lived in Israel or left before the age of 12 (official documentation will be required). If you are accepted to the program, you will need to obtain army exemption papers from your local Israeli consulate.