Eligibility

Vacationed or studied in Israel before your 18th birthday? Volunteered? As long as you stayed for less than 3 months, you can sign up for a Birthright Israel trip!

If you participated in young adult or college student programs (after the age of 18) including university, study abroad, gap year, yeshiva/seminary, internship or any other experience under the umbrella of Onward Israel or Masa Israel—you’re not eligible (sorry!).

You must be 18 to 26 years old at the time of the trip and not in high school. If you meet that criteria, mazel tov!—you’re eligible for the Birthright Israel trip.

Nearing the end of the age bracket? If you’re applying for a summer trip, you must be 26 before May 1st. For winter trips, you must be 26 by December 1st.

To be eligible for the gift of Birthright Israel, you must be considered Jewish by one of the recognized Jewish denominations (Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox, Sephardic).

You must not be exclusively practicing another religion, and you also need to have at least one Jewish parent who identifies as such. You may also be eligible if you are a Jew by Choice through conversion to Judaism (documentation will be requested).

Please note that final eligibility for Birthright Israel is only determined after you complete the full registration process and is subject to change. If your Jewish story feels complicated and you have questions about your Jewish eligibility, or if you practice another religion, we take these cases seriously and prefer to talk to you 1 on 1. Please contact us.