Israeli Passport by Descent - Who is Eligible for Israeli Citizenship?

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The Basic Laws of the State of Israel (laws with constitutional status) establish Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Consequently, the Israeli Citizenship Law states that anyone who can prove their ethnic origin from a Jewish mother, father, or grandfather may be recognized as an Israeli citizen and subsequently receive a full Israeli passport. The same applies to spouses of Jews and their descendants; anyone who can prove they are the spouse of a Jewish person or a descendant of a Jew may be recognized as an Israeli citizen and receive an Israeli passport.

 

Those who do not meet one of these conditions may convert to Judaism and become eligible for full Israeli citizenship. Additionally, anyone who can prove they were born to an Israeli citizen parent may be recognized as an Israeli citizen by birth. "In this case, the person claiming citizenship is not asking to be naturalized in Israel, but rather to be recognized as an Israeli citizen by birth through one of their parents," explains Adv. Tomer Gal. "However, the claimant bears the burden of proving the source of their eligibility."

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So what does this mean for you?

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If you have Jewish or Israeli ancestry, or are a spouse of someone with such a background, you have a real chance of receiving Israeli citizenship and a passport! Adv. Tomer Gal explains that "the application for citizenship approval is submitted to the Israeli consulate where the applicant resides abroad or to the Ministry of Interior in Israel, and it does not require representation by a lawyer."

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However, the process involves presenting many complex documents, and often requires additional proofs, various affidavits, and court rulings from Israeli courts to verify your family history or nationality, which is the basis of your eligibility for Israeli citizenship and an Israeli passport for new immigrants.

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We Can Help You!​ Our firm will check your eligibility for Israeli citizenship and prepare your Israeli citizenship file in an organized and professional manner, based on your specific case. Our team will ensure that all required documents are collected and legally verified according to the law and the requirements of the consulate or Ministry of Interior. This way, you can present all the documents proving your eligibility for Israeli citizenship at your very first meeting.

 

Arriving at your appointment with an organized citizenship file will save you from the need for repeat appointments, unnecessary document supplements, and delays in the process. This will allow you to become an Israeli citizen in the fastest and most efficient way possible, reviving your family heritage and granting you full access to the State of Israel and global freedom of movement to over 160 countries.

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We understand that the process can be complex. The research and preparation work require professional knowledge not only of Israeli citizenship laws but also of citizenship file preparation. Therefore, it is important to seek the assistance of a lawyer who specializes in Israeli citizenship law, speaks both English and Hebrew, and is professionally involved in these matters.

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How does the process for obtaining Israeli citizenship and an Israeli passport work?

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First, you must identify the source of your eligibility for Israeli citizenship and a passport, according to one of the following sources that grant an "Oleh" visa, which entitles you to Israeli citizenship:

1. Born to a Jewish mother: The applicant was born Jewish and is eligible for Israeli citizenship, provided he do not practice another religion.

2. Born to an Israeli citizen parent: The applicant is an Israeli citizen by birth, provided one of his parents is an Israeli citizen by Return, birth in Israel, or naturalization.

3. Born to a Jewish father or grandfather: The applicant is eligible for Israeli citizenship by descent, provided that the person granting the eligibility (the Jewish father or grandfather) never willingly converted to another religion.

4. Spouse of a Jewish person or a person of Jewish descent: The spouse is eligible for Israeli citizenship, even if their Jewish partner does not seek recognition of this right.

5. Someone who does NOT meet one of the above conditions: They can convert to Judaism and become eligible for full and immediate Israeli citizenship.

 

Second, after identifying the source of eligibility, the process of proving this eligibility begins, which can be complex, especially when there is a need to locate documents that prove your origin or conversion, depending on your case. To approve Israeli citizenship, the applicant must present all required documents to prove their claims, all of which must be legally verified. Additionally, in some cases, the applicant may be required to provide the registration clerk at the Ministry of Interior with a Israeli court ruling that confirms they were born to an Israeli citizen parent or that they converted to Judaism, as a condition for approving Israeli citizenship.

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We are aware that the process of obtaining Israeli citizenship can be complex

 

With the right guidance and advice, it can be made easier. It is important to know that the entire process with our firm is conducted online, so there is no need to travel to Israel or our office. We will accompany you through each of the following stages:

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1. Eligibility Check: In the first stage, we will conduct a thorough review of your specific case, based on your family history and existing documents. Adv. Tomer Gal is a member of the National Immigration Committee, will ensure there is a solid legal basis for your citizenship application. Our firm does not handle unreasonable applications.

2. File Preparation: We will help you gather all the required documents, such as documents proving Jewish heritage, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and declarations. We will personally guide you in preparing a detailed family tree and submitting the legally verified official paperwork.

3. Application Submission: After verifying the integrity of your documents and once your file is complete, we will prepare your application for Israeli citizenship. This way, on the day of your appointment, you will arrive prepared with all the information and documents required for your application's approval.

4. Legal Support: Throughout the entire process, we will provide you with close legal advice and handle any questions or issues that may arise until the process is complete.

5. Registration and Citizenship: After your application is approved, we will accompany you in your registration as a new immigrant in Israel, so you can receive an Israeli identity card and subsequently a full Israeli passport.

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We can assist you!

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Our office is proficient in Israeli immigration and citizenship laws and has an experienced team from the Population and Immigration Authority. Adv. Tomer Gal is a member of the National Immigration Committee of the Israel Bar Association and has extensive experience in the field. We personally guide our clients, even remotely, while understanding the complexity of this important and exciting process in your lives. We will provide you with close and personal support at every stage and handle all the bureaucracy with the Israeli Consulate or the Ministry of Interior.

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Don't miss the opportunity to become a part of the Israeli heritage and the Israeli nation! Contact us and we will be happy to help you succeed.