What does ת״ז mean on an Israeli form?

ת״ז is short for תעודת זהות, the national ID card. On a form, ת״ז or מספר ת״ז usually asks for the nine-digit identity number, including leading zeroes.

The ספח is the separate appendix to the teudat zehut. The ספח lists your registered address, former names, marital status, spouse and children, and you can also download it from mygov.

Is teudat oleh the same as teudat zehut?

No. תעודת עולה is a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration benefits booklet, while תעודת זהות is the national ID card from the Population and Immigration Authority.

Does a teudat zehut prove Israeli citizenship?

No. A תעודת זהות is issued to registered residents, not only citizens, and records the holder's legal status.

How long is an Israeli ID card valid?

An in-person biometric card is generally valid for ten years, and a card ordered through the remote online service for five years. A temporary resident's card follows the residence permit, and a temporary card lasts until the expiry date printed on it.

Israeli ID Documents: Teudat Zehut, Sefach, Oleh

Identity Card and Appendix

On the label or sign

תעודת זהות ביומטרית: biometric ID card

תעודת זהות / ת״זIsraeli national ID card

teudat zehut

US English

No single equivalent; state photo ID plus SSN roles

UK English

No equivalent since the UK ID card ended in 2011

What it is

תעודת זהות, written ת״ז, is the Population and Immigration Authority's identity document for every registered resident. The current תעודת זהות ביומטרית is a credit-card-sized smart card with a portrait, a gold chip and Hebrew, Arabic and English labels.

The difference

A תעודת זהות is issued to residents, not only citizens, and records legal status, so the card alone does not prove citizenship. An in-person biometric card is generally valid for ten years; a card ordered through the remote online service is issued for five years.

Common mistake

Do not use a תעודת זהות as a passport or as proof of citizenship.

On the label or sign

מספר ת״ז: ID number

מספר זהות / מספר ת״זIdentity number

mispar zehut

US English

Identity number, not simply an SSN

UK English

Identity number, no exact equivalent

What it is

The מספר זהות is the unique registry number assigned at birth or when status is granted and kept for life. Current government systems expect nine digits including the check digit.

The difference

Older short identity numbers are padded with leading zeroes to reach nine digits.

Common mistake

Do not enter a passport number or drop leading zeroes where a form asks for the מספר זהות.

On the label or sign

צילום ת״ז: copy of ID card
ת״ז כולל ספח: ID card including appendix

צילום ת״ז / ת״ז כולל ספחID copy, with appendix

tzilum teudat zehut / teudat zehut kolel sefach

US English

Copy of ID, with appendix

UK English

Copy of ID, with appendix

What it is

צילום ת״ז on a form means a copy or photo of the card. ת״ז כולל ספח means the card together with its appendix.

The difference

A field labeled only ת״ז usually wants the number; צילום ת״ז and ת״ז כולל ספח ask for documents.

Common mistake

Do not send only the card face when a form says ת״ז כולל ספח.

ספח תעודת זהות / ספחID appendix (sefach)

sefach teudat zehut / sefach

US English

No direct equivalent; proof of address plus family records

UK English

No direct equivalent; proof of address plus family records

What it is

The ספח is the separate appendix to the ID record. The ספח lists registry details such as registered address, former names, marital status, spouse and children.

The difference

A change to ספח details needs an updated appendix, not necessarily a new smart card. A child under 16 may be identified through a parent's ספח, since first ID cards are ordinarily tied to age 16.

Common mistake

Do not call the ספח a paper ID or discard it as packaging; the card face alone does not prove address or list children.

ספח דיגיטלי של תעודת הזהותDigital ID appendix

sefach digitali

US English

Downloadable ID appendix

UK English

Downloadable ID appendix

What it is

The ספח דיגיטלי is the current appendix downloaded from the government personal area (mygov) to a phone or computer after logging in.

The difference

The ספח דיגיטלי is the appendix record only, not a digital version of the biometric ID card.

Common mistake

Do not say "I have a digital teudat zehut" when the file is only the ספח דיגיטלי.

תעודת זהות לתושב ארעיTemporary resident ID

teudat zehut le-toshav ara'i

US English

State photo ID plus temporary status evidence

UK English

Closer to an ID credential plus an eVisa record

What it is

A תעודת זהות לתושב ארעי is a teudat zehut issued to a temporary resident, with the status shown on the document.

The difference

The validity of a תעודת זהות לתושב ארעי follows the residence permit, not the ordinary ten-year period.

Common mistake

Do not read a תעודת זהות לתושב ארעי as proof of citizenship or permanent status.

תעודת זהות זמניתTemporary ID card

teudat zehut zmanit

US English

Temporary national ID

UK English

Temporary national ID

What it is

A תעודת זהות זמנית is a short-lived card issued to new immigrants and, in exceptional cases, while a biometric card is produced. The תעודת זהות זמנית is printed in the old format with a glued photo, lamination and a prominent expiry date.

The difference

Official sources conflict on how long a תעודת זהות זמנית lasts, so the printed expiry date is the guide. An existing card that is clipped and carries a security sticker is a shortened-validity card, not a newly printed temporary card.

Common mistake

Do not rely on a fixed number of months or keep using the תעודת זהות זמנית after the biometric card is received and activated.

תעודת זהות ישנה / ת״ז כחולהOld blue ID card

teudat zehut yeshana / teudat zehut kechula

US English

Legacy national ID card

UK English

Legacy national identity card

What it is

A תעודת זהות ישנה, colloquially the blue ID, is the non-biometric predecessor without a chip. Cards issued before 26 August 2012 were extended through 31 December 2027.

The difference

Old cards issued from 26 August 2012 through 30 June 2013 without a printed expiry have a twelve-year term from issue, and some later transition cards expire on their own dates through 2027.

Common mistake

Do not assume a blue ID with no printed expiry is valid for life, or that every old card expired on the same day.

Aliyah and Benefits Documents

תעודת עולהOleh benefits booklet

teudat oleh

US English

New-immigrant certificate, not a green card

UK English

New-immigrant certificate, not a BRP or eVisa

What it is

A תעודת עולה is a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration booklet or card issued to an eligible oleh or oleh family to record and administer benefits. A family booklet shows both spouses' photos and records qualifying children; certain adult children get a separate booklet.

The difference

A תעודת עולה is not the national ID, a passport, a visa or a residence permit. Each benefit has its own eligibility rules and periods.

Common mistake

Do not treat a תעודת עולה as status evidence or as proof that every benefit is still active.

תעודת זכאותEligibility booklet

teudat zaka'ut

US English

No direct equivalent

UK English

No direct equivalent

What it is

A תעודת זכאות is a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration booklet or card for a person entitled to assistance as an oleh without ordinary oleh status. A תעודת זכאות is issued at Ben Gurion Airport or a ministry office after an eligibility review.

The difference

A תעודת זכאות is a separate document from a תעודת עולה. Other ministries use the phrase תעודת זכאות for unrelated programs.

Common mistake

Do not translate תעודת זכאות as a generic certificate of eligibility without naming the issuing ministry.

אזרח עולהCitizen oleh status

ezrach oleh

US English

No direct US category

UK English

No direct UK category

What it is

אזרח עולה is a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration eligibility status for a person born abroad to an Israeli parent who meets the current residence, age and Law of Return conditions. The current ministry procedure links אזרח עולה to a תעודת זכאות.

The difference

A Tax Authority guide uses the phrase תעודת אזרח עולה, so read the issuing authority and the exact title on your document.

Common mistake

Do not assume אזרח עולה means a תעודת עולה, or that the status shows the holder lacks Israeli citizenship.

On the label or sign

אישור על קבלת מעמד עולה: confirmation of oleh status

אשרת עולה / מדבקת עולהOleh visa or status sticker

ashrat oleh / madbekat oleh

US English

Immigrant visa or status endorsement

UK English

Immigrant visa or status endorsement

What it is

An אשרת עולה or מדבקת עולה is Population Authority evidence of oleh status, usually a visa or sticker in a foreign passport or a printed status confirmation (אישור על קבלת מעמד עולה).

The difference

The ministry procedure warns that a passport stamp or sticker labeled אשרת עולה or תעודת עולה is not the ministry's benefits booklet.

Common mistake

Do not believe the אשרת עולה sticker is the benefits booklet, or that the booklet replaces your status evidence.

תעודת תושב חוזרReturning resident certificate

teudat toshav chozer

US English

Returning-resident eligibility certificate

UK English

Returning-resident eligibility certificate

What it is

A תעודת תושב חוזר is a Ministry of Aliyah and Integration document for a person recognized as a returning resident after an eligibility check.

The difference

The ministry lists the תעודת תושב חוזר separately from the תעודת עולה and the תעודת זכאות.

Common mistake

Do not call every returning Israeli an oleh or use a תעודת תושב חוזר as a national ID card.

The form or clerk asks for this. Here is what to hand over.
They ask for	Hand over	Keep in mind
ID number	מספר ת״זmispar teudat zehut	Nine digits, keep leading zeroes
Copy of your ID	צילום ת״זtzilum teudat zehut	Photo or copy of the card
ID with appendix	ת״ז כולל ספחteudat zehut kolel sefach	Card plus the ספח
Proof of address	ספחsefach	Lists the registered address
Oleh benefits document	תעודת עולהteudat oleh	Ministry booklet, not your visa
Proof of oleh status	אשרת עולהashrat oleh	Visa, sticker or printed confirmation

The form or clerk asks for this. Here is what to hand over.

They ask for

Hand over

Keep in mind

ID number

מספר ת״זmispar teudat zehut

Nine digits, keep leading zeroes

Copy of your ID

צילום ת״זtzilum teudat zehut

Photo or copy of the card

ID with appendix

ת״ז כולל ספחteudat zehut kolel sefach

Card plus the ספח

Proof of address

ספחsefach

Lists the registered address

Oleh benefits document

תעודת עולהteudat oleh

Ministry booklet, not your visa

Proof of oleh status

אשרת עולהashrat oleh

Visa, sticker or printed confirmation

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Identity Card and Appendix

תעודת זהות / ת״זIsraeli national ID card

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מספר זהות / מספר ת״זIdentity number

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

צילום ת״ז / ת״ז כולל ספחID copy, with appendix

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ספח תעודת זהות / ספחID appendix (sefach)

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ספח דיגיטלי של תעודת הזהותDigital ID appendix

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תעודת זהות לתושב ארעיTemporary resident ID

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תעודת זהות זמניתTemporary ID card

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תעודת זהות ישנה / ת״ז כחולהOld blue ID card

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Aliyah and Benefits Documents

תעודת עולהOleh benefits booklet

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תעודת זכאותEligibility booklet

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אזרח עולהCitizen oleh status

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אשרת עולה / מדבקת עולהOleh visa or status sticker

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תעודת תושב חוזרReturning resident certificate

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

The Form or Clerk Asks for This. Here Is What to Hand Over.

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