Two documents, two stages
At the airport (day zero): the Ministry of Aliyah desk issues you a temporary paper Teudat Zehut and your Teudat Oleh. The paper Teudat Zehut is valid for roughly three months and is enough to open a bank account, register with a health fund, and book your absorption meeting. The Teudat Oleh is your proof of new-immigrant status; it is what you present to claim olim benefits across every agency.
Within the first weeks (by appointment): you book an appointment at Misrad HaPnim (the Population and Immigration Authority) to receive the permanent biometric Teudat Zehut smart card. The initial issuance is free for olim. The card arrives roughly a month to six weeks after the appointment.
What the temporary paper ID can and cannot do
This is the table olim wish they had in week one:
| Task | Temporary paper TZ | Need biometric card |
|---|
| Open a bank account | Yes | No |
| Register with a kupat cholim | Yes | No |
| Book the Misrad HaKlita meeting | Yes | No |
| Most online government services (with a digital ID) | Limited | Yes |
| Travel as proof of Israeli citizenship | No | Use your passport |
The practical rule: the paper TZ unblocks your week-one critical path, so do not wait for the biometric card to start. But book the Misrad HaPnim appointment early, because the card takes weeks and you will want it for online services.
The most common mistake here is assuming the paper document is "not real" and delaying the bank or health-fund steps until the plastic card arrives. It is real. Use it.
For the specifics of what to bring to your Misrad HaPnim appointment and how the biometric enrollment works, the israeli-aliyah-navigator skill covers the document checklist in detail.