How to Get Israel Citizenship

Person is the spouse of a citizen. Person may obtain Israeli citizenship even if s/he her/himself does not meet the requirements under the rules for ordinary naturalisation.

Descent (born in country)

Person is born in Israel to a citizen. Children born after the death of their Israeli parent(s) will also be able to acquire Israel citizenship.

Descent (born abroad)

Person is born abroad to a citizen in one of the manners prescribed in paragraphs a-e. Transmission only to first generation abroad. Children born after the death of their Israeli parent(s) will also be able to acquire Israel citizenship.

Person is born in Israel after the establishment of the State (citizenship 'by return'). This only applies if at least one parent was registered in the Population Register at the time of the person's birth (see ISR 2(c)(5)). The clause means that the 1950 Law of Return only applies to these individuals, who must necessarily be Jewish). It does not provide a form of ius soli.

Person is a minor residing in Israel and his/her parent acquires citizenship by naturalisation.

Person is a resident of Israel or a resident of an Occupied Zone and a parent is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation. If the minor is a foreign citizen and only one of the parents naturalised, citizenship shall not be conferred upon the minor if one of the parents declares that s/he does not wish the minor to become a citizen.

Person is a minor who is adopted. Other conditions: person is adopted under the 1981 law for adopting children and his adoptive father or mother is a citizen. Or, when adopted outside Israel, his adoptive father or mother are citizens on the basis of clauses A to E in ISR 4A2, provided that the adopters were not residents of Israel on the day of the adoption and both adoptive parents give their consent.

Transfer from former citizen

Person who is a descendant of a person who was a citizen under ISR 3A(a) shall be a citizen by residence in Israel if s/he is not a citizen by virtue of any other provision of the Nationality Law and was a resident of Israel and was registered in the Population Register on the date of the 5740 amendment.

Transfer from deceased citizen

Person is born after the death of a parent who was a citizen at the time of his/her death.

Spousal coacquisition

Person is the spouse of someone who has applied for citizenship and who meets or is exempt from the requirements listed under the rules for ordinary naturalisation. Person may obtain Israeli citizenship even if he/she does not meet the requirements under the rules for ordinary naturalisation.

The Minister of the Interior may grant citizenship to children of Israeli parents born outside of Israel and who lost their nationality under ISR 10 of the Nationality Law 1953 while a minor, provided they make an application to the Minister between their 18th and 22nd birthday.

The 1970 amendment extends the right of return to the spouse of a Jew and to the child and grandchild of a Jew as well as their spouses, unless a voluntary change of religion has occurred. Provisions are included to exclude persons likely to pose a danger to public welfare and state security. An oleh obtains Israeli citizenship upon arrival in Israel (ISR 2 under the Nationality Law 1953). Jew is defined as a person who was born to a Jewish mother or who converted, and is not a member of another religion.

Foundlings

Person is a minor, resident in Israel and parents are unknown.

Otherwise stateless (born in country)

Person is born in Israel, has never held another citizenship, applies for Israeli citizenship between his/her 18 and 21st birthday and has been resident for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the day of the filing of the application. The application may be denied in case the person was convicted for an offence against the security of the State or to imprisonment for five years or more for another offence.

Person who did military service or a person who has lost a son or daughter in such service is exempt from the naturalisation requirements under the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except the requirement of having settled or intending to settle in Israel and oath of loyalty); The Minister of the Interior may exempt an applicant of all or any of the requirements under the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except entitled to reside permanently in Israel and intent to settle in Israel) if there exists in his opinion a special reason for this exemption; Person is a resident of full age of a zone occupied by Israel, has applied for naturalisation even though he is not in Israel, and the Minister of Interior is satisfied that the applicant identifies with Israel and its objectives and s/he or a member of his/her family has performed a significant act for Israel, including a significant act to further the economy of the country.