Immigration to Israel

State sponsored Giyur allows non-Jewish foreign citizens to convert into Judaism. The converts are also considered Jewish in terms of the Law of Return and therefore are eligible to immigrate to Israel. This form of immigration is open to non-Jewish citizens and residents of Israel (who are not Palestinians or East Jerusalem residents). However, those who…

Refusal of the right to migrate to Israel because of “public safety” concerns Aliyah to Israel with mental illness – what are the arguments for and against it? The law offices of Cohen, Decker, Pex, Brosh specialize in Aliyah and immigration to Israel. In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the number of clients…

Legal residency status for children of foreign workers in Israel has changed over the years following various government resolutions on the issue. What does this imply in practice for foreign workers and their children? Cohen, Decker, Pex & Brosh Law Firm, which specializes precisely in the issue of entry and immigration into Israel, tends to…

The B-5 investment visa, implemented in May 2019, allows US citizens to invest in a business venture in Israel and obtain legal status in Israel. The investors and their families can live and work in Israel while the business is active. The visa is applicable even to foreign citizens who are not entitled to Aliyah…

Unaccompanied minors traveling abroad without having both their parents with them present a legally sensitive issue for border control and immigration authorities at airports and border crossings. Parents who want to send their children abroad accompanied by relatives and friends must ensure their documents are in order. Border control officials at the Ben-Gurion Airport and…

Is it possible to deny the fatherhood of an Israeli minor? Denial of paternity based on DNA tests is possible in many Western countries. If the test proves the ostensible father is not really the biological parent, he is freed of obligations towards the child. Family law in Israel, meaning both Jewish rabbinical traditions and…

Surrogacy for same-sex couples in Israel and the 2018 Israeli Surrogacy Law are both a matter of considerable controversy. The law arguably discriminates against single women who cannot conceive without egg donation, and male couples. Neither can become biological parents unless they employ the services of a surrogate mother outside Israel. Even after the surrogate…

How to change one’s registry entry to “devoid of religion”? A “no religion” registration in the Israeli public records registry is a fundamentally different process than a regular alteration of the religion and nationality clause. The change in registration to “religion-less” is essentially a declarative step. It is adopted mainly by Israeli citizens who support…

Do you want to obtain legal status in Israel as an American foreign investor? The B-5 visa – the first Israeli investment visa for citizens of the USA – was approved back in 2014, but only implemented on the 1st of May 2019. In addition to it’s role in encouraging investment in the Israeli economy,…

A “joint life application” starts the process of providing legal status in Israel for the foreign partner of an Israeli citizen / resident. There are two ways to open a joint life application in Israel. One is for a married couple (via procedure 5.2.0008), while the other is for a cohabiting partners, also known as…