Aliyah of a Minor Without Their Parents

Each year, a number of minors make Aliyah to Israel without their parents, whether through the Israeli Ministry of Education’s Naale program or independently. These youth face language and acclimatization difficulties, alongside the difficulty of living in a foreign country without family and a social envelope. For these reasons, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration grants minors who immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return many rights that help them acclimate in Israel more quickly and easily.

The current article explains all about Aliyah of a minor without parents — who is considered an immigrant minor, what the legal status of such an immigrant is, and what their rights are. The article also explains how the immigrant minor can realize their rights if they have not yet done so.

WHO IS CONSIDERED AN IMMIGRANT MINOR?

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration defines an immigrant minor as a minor child who meets any of the two following conditions:

The minor child immigrated to Israel at the age of at least 14, lived in a residential framework during the first year in Israel, and studied in the framework, at least until age 17, and the parents had not made Aliyah.
The minor child immigrated to Israel between the ages of 14 and 17 and received a new-immigrant visa (“oleh visa”) from the Population and Immigration Authority.

Moreover, immigrating to Israel as a minor child requires the permission of a parent or other legal guardian, and a minor child in the shared custody of divorced parents is required to obtain the permission of both the parents. In certain cases, the minor child will be required to show the existence of a supportive social envelope in Israel.

Those who meet the conditions may be children of one or two Israeli parents who lawfully became Israeli citizens but never lived in Israel, or descendants of a Jew as defined in the Law of Return.

WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF AN IMMIGRANT MINOR WHO COMES TO ISRAEL WITHOUT PARENTS?

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration grants a variety of rights to immigrants who come to Israel under the Law of Return and, especially, to minor immigrants. However, these rights may vary depending on the program through which the immigrant minor made Aliyah or the minor child’s specific situation. In general, the Ministry grants each minor immigrant an absorption basket (Sal Klita), a program for learning Hebrew, assistance in finding a job, assistance in business entrepreneurship, assistance during IDF military service, financial assistance with academic studies in Israel, and Assured Income for a certain period.

As stated above, the eligibility for these rights may vary depending on the immigrant’s situation. Therefore, it is necessary to consult with a lawyer who specializes in the laws of immigration to Israel regarding your specific situation.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANT MINORS

Aliyah of a minor without parents under the Law of Return is not simple, especially if the minor child has no family in Israel. It requires a long acclimation process and significant help from the community and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Consult with an immigration lawyer to ensure that the minor child realizes all of their lawful rights, so that the minor child receives as much support as possible during their first years in Israel.

This article explained who is considered to be a minor immigrant under the Law of Return and what their rights are. For further information regarding your rights and personalized advice, we will be happy to be at your service. Our offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specialize in immigration to Israel and have experience with a variety of minor immigrant clients. You can contact us via the phone numbers or email address listed below.