Visas for spouses and minors accompanying foreign citizens
In what cases will visas be granted to spouses and minors accompanying foreign citizens? Foreign citizens who come to Israel for the purposes of studies or a religious mission may be allowed to come to Israel with spouses and minor children accompanying them. Applications for an A-4 visa for accompanying spouses must be submitted to the Israeli Population Authority. In some cases, it is also possible to obtain a work permit for the accompanying spouses.
Foreign citizens from a variety of countries come to Israel for the purpose of studies, or carrying out missions for a religious institution recognized in Israel, as clergy members. Subject to compliance with the relevant requirements and procedures, the State of Israel grants a visa for the duration of the student’s or clergy member’s stay in Israel. A student visa in Israel is known as an “A/2 visa” and a clergy member’s visa is known as an “A/3 visa”. Many of those who have these visas wish to come to Israel with their spouses or their minor children, and stay with them in Israel during this period. In principle, this is certainly possible, but it requires submitting a separate visa application, known as the “A/4 visa”. This visa is given to first-degree relatives (spouses or minor children only) who accompany students or clergy during their stay in Israel. Below we will explain the requirements for this visa.
How can one obtain visas for spouses and minors accompanying foreign citizens who are students or clergy members?
The relevant procedure established by the Population and Immigration Authority of the Ministry of the Interior states that in order to obtain a visa for spouses and minors accompanying foreign citizens, an official application must be submitted at the Population Bureau or at an official representation of Israel abroad (embassy or consulate). This requires the visa applicants to arrive together with their relatives who have the student visa or the clergy visa. The application form must be accompanied by the visa issued to the relatives (spouses or parents), a recent passport photo, a foreign passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the requested visa period, an original birth certificate and official documents regarding personal status and the family relationship (marriage certificate or birth certificate), with the required translation and authentication. Submitting the application also involves paying a fee. The application will be examined by the Population Bureau, and as a general rule if there is no restriction on the approval of the application, the visa will be granted. In cases where the spouses or the minors encounter a rejection, this can be appealed to the Ministry of the Interior or the court. For such an appeal, it is recommended to seek the assistance of an attorney specializing in Israeli immigration law.
Are spouses accompanying students or clergy allowed to work in Israel during the period of the visa?
As a general rule, the visa itself does not include permission to work in Israel. However, the relevant procedure permits applying for a work permit for spouses of people granted citizenship eligibility under the Law of Return. In many cases, the foreign citizens who hold these visas are actually entitled to the Law of Return (mainly students). That is, they are foreign citizens who are Jews or descendants of Jews and are entitled to make Aliyah to Israel. In such cases, in order to obtain permits for spouses of people entitled to the Law of Return, a separate application for a work permit for the spouses must be submitted. The applications are usually approved, as long as there is no substantial obstacle to the procedure. It is possible to obtain a work permit in Israel in other cases as well. In order to check this in individual cases, it is recommended to consult in advance with an attorney specializing in Israeli immigration law.
A-4 visa for accompanying spouses – contact an attorney specializing in Israeli immigration law
In this article we have explained the requirements for obtaining visas for spouses and minors accompanying foreign citizens who come to Israel for the purpose of studies or as part of a religious mission (with A/2 or A/3 visas). For any specific question on the subject, advice, or assistance, you can contact our office and an attorney specializing in Israeli immigration law will gladly be at your service. Our office, in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, specializes in Israeli immigration law and obtaining legal status for applicants for various visas for the purpose of staying and working in Israel, including family members. To contact our office, click here.
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