I recently returned (28M) after living abroad as well for most of my life. I did renew my Israeli passport at my local consulate in person before returning to Israel. With regards to military service, nefesh b’nefesh helped me by reaching out to an IDF recruiter who explained my military service status (apparently Israelis go to one when they are 16). I’m sorry I don’t know the answer to most of the questions, but I will tell you this, returning to Israel as a citizen unexpectedly feels very much like going through the aliyah process for newcomers. I am going through all sorts of hoops with getting a teudat zehut, opening a bank account, and other things dealing with immigration that I thought would be a lot simpler. Many of the Israelis I interact with don’t seem to understand the concept of a returning resident, so a lot of people look at me confused when I explain I don’t have “x document” or things like that. Your mispar zehut on your Israeli passport is the most important thing and is used everywhere, so have that number at the ready in case you need it.

1. Yes, israeli citizens are required to enter Israel with their Israeli passport
2. Probably yes, but contact them and find out for yourself
3. There are tens of thousands of israelis who lived abroad in the conscription years, and when they come visit israel later they don't catch them and send them to the army lol.
4. You won't be required for military service, but once again its important when contacting your consolate give them all the information and they will have the right answer.
5. In the cities you will be totally fine with english, and all israelis have a basic understanding so you'll manage. In the tech sector lots of companies communicate only in english
6. If you are Israeli and you two are married then he is eligible for a legal status. the process if pretty straightforward

https://www.gov.il/en/service/requesting-status-for-foreign-life-partner

1. you can travel with your foreign passport, you should bring with you your expired Israeli passport if you can, but it's temporary decision, in general, Israelis should have their passport.

https://www.gov.il/he/pages/news-exit-foriegn-passport-2025

1. any Israeli who left Israel before 16 years old, don't need join the army, only if your visit is temporary (less than 120 days in year) , you need to get your status in the consulate, It is important to know that married women are exempt from military service, so you have no problem obtaining the permit even if you live in Israel.

https://www.gov.il/he/service/registration_and_regulation_of_idf_status

1. Like most of the world, an Israeli citizen who is married to a foreign citizen can apply for a residence visa, later permanent residency, and eventually citizenship, just like in Canada.

https://www.gov.il/he/service/requesting-status-for-foreign-life-partner

1. There is no problem getting by in English in most of Israel. It is not the official language, but most Israelis speak English. You will still have to learn HEbrew, but there is no problem getting by.

My daughter just returned and we are not far behind. Yes renew your passport- it’s a hassle but you might have more of a hassle if you get there with a foreign passport that says born in Israel. Reach out to the Jewish agency and or Nefesh b’Nefesh - there is a process for returning Israelis and it requires paperwork that will be a lot easier to collect while you’re still in Canada.  They can also help you with dealing with the army - if you want to serve, you probably still could, but at 30 you will likely have no problem getting an exemption. You want to take care of it before you go though. 

Don’t worry about apartments- you actually have an advantage- Israelis assume Canadians are honest and easier to deal with than Israelis. 

Talk to the Jewish agency - seriously- they are built for this and you don’t want to show up and have to deal with the Misrad HaKlita without the paperwork in order to- it’s a bunch of unnecessary headaches. 

I can also tell you - you can’t know from a visit if you can move back. You can. But Aliyah is very hard. It’s a massive adjustment and sometimes it feels like the emotional earthquake of a lifetime. But you grow into it and Israelis will help you in ways you have never experienced in Canada. They will also annoy you in ways you never experienced in Canada but it’s worth it 🙂

Is your husband Jewish?

I think you'll get half a year of money and ulpan to learn Hebrew, as a returning citizen that was taken outside from Israel as a child. Your spouse will not receive it, probably. Maybe it's a good idea to budget for him to pay for ulpan. Try contacting Misrad ha-Klita. Good luck and we'll be glad to see you back in Israel!

Don’t forget: as a תחשב חוזר - you are entitled to a LOT of benefits: discounts to the VAT for purchasing new appliances, and reduced income taxes on salaries to name a few

You won't need military service. You're too old. You can use your CA passport atm. Getting a passport in Israel is pretty easy, at least in Tel Aviv. They can take your picture there, you pay like 200 ILS and it's ready in a week by mail.

Use anglo.net or something. English is actually top tier so there's lots of English only jobs (typically working with USA or England.)

Idk what it's like for spouses. I'm pretty sure he can get citizenship through you but he'll need paperwork and gov officials aren't the easiest to deal with a lot of people give up from the bs. Best to have him go through NBN and avoid the immigration office completely (except for procuring passports).

Yes please go home to Israel. God is calling His people back like in Ezekiel 37. Israel is the safest place for a Jew.

I'm a non-Jewish non-Israeli married to an Israeli. To move to Israel with your foreign spouse, you will have to go through the partner visa/joint life process that others have already mentioned.

It is a time consuming and cumbersome process that involves significant paperwork, so you'd want to start working on it as soon as you have made the decision to move.

You will have to start the process at your local Israeli embassy where you'll submit your documents, go through interviews etc. Then your spouse will receive an official invite to travel to Israel on a tourist visa with the intention to settle in Israel. It can take several months to get this invite. Once in Israel, your spouse will switch to a B1 visa (which gives him a work permit); and then 6months later, to an A5 visa which gives him additional benefits like health insurance. The A5 visa will have to be renewed annually for 4 years (submit docs + interviews at Misrad Hapnim). After 4 years, he will be eligible for permanent residency or citizenship.

When you are ready, I suggest you look into the Association of International Couples in Israel (AIC) and the Facebook group for 'Mixed Couples in Israel' for more resources and info.

Israeli / Canadian here. I can answer some of these based on personal experience.

1. You need to renew your passport here. Everyone saying you can enter with a foreign passport hasn’t mentioned that it’s only exempt until the end of this year and Israeli citizens must enter / exit with an Israeli passport.

2. Yes, they work on appt only tho and getting thru to them is an absolute nightmare. You will need to have already purchased your ticket to show proof of travel otherwise they won’t renew it.

3. You’ll be fine with English especially in big cities like Tel Aviv.

4. As everyone else mentioned you’re too old for military service and you left before you were 15, but if you want some additional reassurance you can ask if the consulate still provides “shichrur mi hatzavah” military exemption papers.

5. Be prepared to be heavily scrutinized at the consulate and at passport control when arriving in Israel. It’s nothing personal. Don’t lose your cool but also don’t be a pushover.

Couple of sidenotes:

1. The consulate here only renews for 5 years. You can only renew for 10 years in Israel. Also your first renewal will only be valid for 1 year iirc.

2. Don’t let your passport lapse after this initial renewal. You’ll understand what I mean after your visit to the consulate. Also renewing on time means you can do everything by registered mail.

Once I got thru the hurdles and had to renew a second time I mailed them my passport, photos, photocopies of my credit card (front and back) and my renewal form. I got my new passport back in less than a month.

Canadian Israeli here. You don't need to apply in-person to renew your passport. To my recollection, it says the following on all of our consular (Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa) websites (ctrl+f "Required Presence at the Consulate"):

https://embassies.gov.il/toronto/en/services/israeli-citizens/issuance-travel-documents-passport-citizens-and-residents-israel

I can only speak to the Montreal consulate requirements, but to register your marriage in Israel at the consulate, you will need an original civil (not Jewish) marriage certificate, both of your original passports, and you'll have to fill out some forms. I don't remember if you have to go in person for this, but I believe you do.

Don't stress! It'll happen eventually. When it's done, you won't care about the process. Best of luck to you both