Marriage Registration at the Ministry of the Interior

Some see marriage as a means of expressing commitment and solidifying a relationship, while others view it as a more practical tool to formalize a couple’s status in the eyes of the authorities. Although most Israeli couples choose to marry in a traditional religious ceremony recognized by the Rabbinate or according to any recognized religion, many either decide or have no choice but to get married abroad. In either case, marriage registration at the Ministry of the Interior is required to be recognized as a married couple, thereby receiving the associated rights and benefits. The following article will explain who needs to register their marriage, how the registration process is carried out, what the process requires, what happens afterward, and the implications of registration in terms of divorce.

Who is Required to Register a Marriage?

By law, any Israeli citizen who gets married in Israel or marries abroad, must report the marriage within 30 days of the wedding. This obligation applies even to citizens not residing in Israel. Non-compliance with this law may (theoretically) result in imprisonment or a fine under Section 7 of the Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Ordinance.

Although civil marriages are not possible in Israel, the Supreme Court recognized the Ministry of the Interior’s obligation to accept a marriage certificates from other countries for registration in the population registry, as stated in the judgment HCJ 143/62, “Henriette Anna Katharina Funk Schlesinger vs. Minister of the Interior”. The judgment concerned a Christian foreigner who married an Israeli citizen abroad and sought to be registered as married in Israel.

According to the court’s rationale, personal status certificates issued abroad should generally be accepted according to international law principles, especially for couples married abroad in a civil ceremony. This ensures the population registry serves as a reliable administrative tool and properly records the citizens’ status in the country. However, mere registration does not automatically indicate anything about the couple’s personal status (e.g., alimony) and cannot serve as evidence in complicated issues. By this logic, same-sex couples married abroad are also entitled to register as married at the Ministry of the Interior.

How Do You Update Personal Status at the Ministry of the Interior?

The report should be made by physically visiting the nearest Population Authority office to the couple’s residence and can be done without scheduling an appointment in advance. Israeli citizens residing abroad can report their marriage at the nearest Israeli representation. Only one partner needs to be present during the registration, except for civil marriages conducted abroad and when requesting a family name change. If the marriage involves an Israeli citizen and a foreigner, only the Israeli partner is required to visit the Population Registry office.

Changing one’s name requires updating the ID card and passport. In this case, the couple or the Israeli partner should schedule an appointment in advance at the Population Registry office and complete the request for a family name change upon marriage.

What does the process require?

To complete the marriage registration process, the couple must submit an application form for a change of personal status. One or both spouses must arrive with the identity cards of both partners, the original marriage certificate, an Israeli passport, and a color passport photo against a bright and smooth background, measuring 3.5X4.5 cm.

If it’s a couple who married in civil ceremonies outside of Israel, they will need to attach the original marriage certificate they received outside of Israel, translated into Hebrew and authenticated by a notary. In addition to the translation and notary signature, the marriage certificate must be authenticated with an apostille stamp if the marriage was conducted in a country that is a party to the Hague Convention, and the certificate was issued by an official body in that country. Another option is to check with the Israeli consulate in the country where the certificate was issued to see if other verification options are available.

If the wedding was conducted by a religious body in a foreign country, the marriage certificate needs to be authenticated by the civil authority in charge of marriages in that country. Afterward, the certificate should be translated and authenticated according to the guidelines mentioned in this article.

What happens after registration at the Population Registry?

After presenting at the Population Registry and submitting the marriage registration request, an official of the Population and Immigration Authority will review the application and accompanying forms. If found satisfactory, they will register the couple as married. If there is a problem with the registration or the presented forms, an official from the Ministry of Interior has the right to summon the couple for further clarifications.

In the past, the Ministry of Interior used to delay the registration of marriage for half a year if it involved an Israeli citizen married to a foreigner. This changed in 2019 after the Supreme Court accepted a petition from the “Gisha” association against the Interior Minister, ruling that the Ministry’s officials have no authority to classify an Israeli citizen married to a foreigner as under “inquiry” status. They can only verify the submitted marriage certificate and check for any faults. If the certificate is valid, they should register the citizen as married immediately after they present at the Population Registry, just as they would for someone marrying an Israeli citizen.

Thus, any Israeli citizen presenting a verified marriage certificate at the Population Registry should be registered as married immediately. However, it’s essential to know that registering a foreign spouse for marriage purposes does not automatically grant them permanent status in Israel. The Israeli spouse must proceed according to the procedure of granting status to a foreign spouse married to an Israeli citizen for the spouse to acquire Israeli citizenship or permanent residency.

If an official from the Ministry of Interior refuses to register a couple as married, the couple has the right to appeal the decision within 21 days of receiving it at the office where the decision was made. If the official still refuses, the couple can petition the decision in the Administrative Court.

Are there legal implications for divorce?

A married couple registered in the population registry can get divorced either in the Rabbinical Court or the Family Court, depending on their choice or the earlier referral between the two systems, with the applicable personal law being religious (Jewish, Muslim, or Christian). Same-sex couples can get divorced in the Family Court under civil law. Interfaith couples will need to undergo a more complicated process to annul their marriage.

When registering marriages of couples who got married through a civil procedure outside of Israel, especially when one of the spouses is not Israeli or when the registration application was rejected, it’s recommended to consult with an experienced family law attorney.

Our attorneys in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have expert knowledge and extensive experience in family law. We would be happy to accompany you through the marriage registration process at the Ministry of Interior.