Aliyah - Immigration under the Law of Return

The Law of Return extends the right to settle in Israel and acquire citizenship to Jews, to the children and grandchildren of a Jew, and to the spouses of those eligible persons. Eligibility is assessed by the Israeli authorities, and certain statutory exclusions apply. Confirm your specific situation against the official Population and Immigration Authority guidance.

Persons eligible under the Law of Return can become citizens as olim, or alternatively obtain a Type A/1 temporary residence visa, which allows them to live and work in Israel for a fixed multi-year period while retaining their existing citizenship. The A/1 pathway is one option within the Law of Return framework; verify current terms on the PIBA service page.

Applications made from abroad are typically processed through the Jewish Agency, while applications made from within Israel go directly through the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA). Confirm the current process on the official PIBA service page.

An oleh visa can be barred on grounds such as activity directed against the Jewish people, or grounds of public health or state security, and membership of another religion may affect eligibility as a Jew under the Law. Eligibility and any exclusions are assessed by the Israeli authorities — verify your situation against the official PIBA guidance.

Typical evidence includes a valid foreign passport with photocopies of relevant pages, passport photographs to specification, proof of eligibility under the Right of Return (ancestry or relationship documents), and birth and marital-status certificates plus a police background check from your country of origin. Check the official PIBA page for the exact current list.