Israeli ID Number for Temporary Residents Eligible To Make Aliyah

On June 6, 2023, a sensational decision was reached by the Population and Immigration Authority and the Special Committee for Public Petitions – a decision that has made life much easier for A2 and A4 visa holders who are eligible to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return. Now holders of these visas are able to immediately receive an ID number for temporary residents.

Today, tens of thousands of non-residents live in Israel with these visas, who would not have been able to realize their rights vis-à-vis the various governmental ministries without an ID number. This article explains which visas are included in the decision, what the Law of Return is, who is eligible to receive an ID number under this law, what the procedure is for receiving the ID number, and more.

Our law firm, which has offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, specializes in all issues of immigration to Israel, including how to obtain a visa, naturalize, and obtain an ID number for temporary residents. If you have questions on this subject your are welcome to contact us and we will be happy to help.

WHAT ARE THE A2 AND A4 VISAS?

As mentioned above, the new decision applies to anyone holding an A2 or A4 visa. Before we go into how these visa holders can instantly receive an ID number, we will first elaborate on what these visas are.

An A2 visa is a visa for students who come to Israel for academic studies. This visa is usually granted for one year at a time. It may be extended for an accumulated period of up to five years, depending on the student’s academic field of study. However, there are exceptional cases, in which it is possible to extend the visa for a longer period of time. A student visa, or an A2 stay visa, does not grant the student who holds it the right to work in Israel. It is important to note that the student visa is not granted based on the Law of Return but, rather, only on the holder’s academic studies.

An A4 visa is a visa that allows the families of foreign students to stay temporarily in Israel. This visa is granted to the family members of students who hold an A2 visa. The A4 visa allows the student’s spouse and children to stay with the student in Israel. This visa is not granted to non-minor children of the student.

WHAT ABOUT THE A1 VISA?

An A1 visa allows eligible immigrants under the Law of Return to stay in Israel for a period of up to five years and to study/work in Israel during their stay. Holders of this visa have time to decide whether to immigrate to Israel permanently. Those who choose to immigrate will receive an ID card with an ID number, which will allow the immigrant to realize various rights in the country. Those who choose not to immigrate to Israel after staying in the country for five years with an A1 visa may receive an A5 visa, which is a temporary stay visa for non-citizens.

WHAT IS THE LAW OF RETURN?

Holders of an A2 or A4 visa may receive an instant ID number if they are eligible to immigrate under the Law of Return. The following part of the article explains what the Law of Return is and who is eligible to immigrate under this law.

The Law of Return, which was enacted in 1950, stipulates simply that any Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel. In 1952, the Israeli Citizenship Law (a.k.a. the Israeli Nationality Law) was enacted, which details the six possible ways to naturalize in Israel. The first section of this law refers to obtaining citizenship under the Law of Return.

At the time when this law was enacted, there was no requirement for applicants to prove their Jewish identity when immigrating to Israel—anyone who claimed that their children were born to a Jewish mother, or that the children had converted to Judaism with an Orthodox rabbi and did not belong to any other religion, was allowed to register the children as Jews and bring them to Israel under the Law of Return.

To ensure that those who receive Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return are indeed Jews, an amendment was made to the law in 1970. The amendment stipulates that a Jew is anyone who was born to a Jewish mother or who converted to Judaism and does not belong to any other religion. In addition, a section was added that stipulates that family members who are not Jewish but are descended from a Jew up to three generations, as well as their spouses, are eligible to receive an “oleh visa” (immigrant visa) and Israeli citizenship.

The Law of Return includes restrictions that stipulate that a Jew shall not be allowed to immigrate to Israel under the law if the Jew acts against the Jewish people, constitutes a danger to public safety or to the security of the State of Israel, or has a criminal record.

In conclusion, those who hold an A2 or A4 stay visa and who are eligible to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return may receive an Israeli ID number instantly.

HOW CAN A2 AND A4 VISA HOLDERS OBTAIN AN INSTANT ISRAELI ID NUMBER?

Temporary residents who are staying in Israel with an A2 or A4 visa may turn to the Population and Immigration Authority for an instant ID number. This requires arriving at one of the Population and Immigration Authority’s branches to receive the service on the spot.

It is important to know that receiving an ID number allows temporary residents to enjoy a variety of rights and services that were not available to them before getting the ID number, such as medical services, taxation services, and other administrative services.

A STAY VISA—WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO OBTAIN IT?

Our offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specialize in the process of obtaining stay visas in Israel. We are proficient in all of the bureaucratic and legal requirements, which allows us to make the process as smooth and as clear as possible. Each process for obtaining a visa is unique, so it is important to receive professional consultation on the subject. If you are interested in obtaining a certain stay visa in Israel or wish to learn more about the new regulation for A2 and A4 stay visas, we can provide you with the required information to go through the process successfully. You are welcome to contact us via the phone numbers or email address listed below, whichever suits you best.