The Population and Immigration Authority in Israel, part of the Ministry of Interior, performs several functions related to population registration and migration regulation. Here are the main tasks of this authority:
- Population Registration: The Authority keeps accurate records of all residents of Israel, including citizens and permanent residents. This includes issuing identity cards (Teudat Zehut) and passports.
- Registration of Personal Status: The Authority registers significant life events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death. This ensures official documentation of changes in family status and personal data of citizens.
- Migration Regulation: The Authority is responsible for processing visas and residence permits, as well as citizenship and asylum procedures. It also controls entry and exit from the country, ensuring compliance with immigration laws.
- Issuance of Work Permits: For foreign nationals wishing to work in Israel, the Authority issues work permits, coordinating processes with other government agencies.
- Provision of Asylum: The Authority handles applications for asylum from people seeking protection from persecution in their home countries.
- Coordination with Other Government and Local Authorities: The Authority works with other ministries and local authorities to ensure compliance with laws and coordination of actions related to population and migration.
From the functions listed above, it’s evident that the Population and Immigration Authority is an agency with a broad range of powers and tasks, which is one of the reasons for the high workload of the authority and leads to delays in decision-making and issuance. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Interior’s instructions do not regulate the timelines for decision-making by the authority, but the timelines are set by the Law on Administrative Procedures Reform. This law states that a public servant, or a worker of local authority bodies, or any authority granted powers by law (such as the Tax Authority or the Population and Immigration Authority), must fully and responsibly address each inquiry and respond in writing, not orally, provided that the applicant has submitted their inquiry in writing. Normally, a response to an inquiry and its justification should be provided within 45 days, although in some cases the period may be extended.
Thus, if an applicant has not received a decision from the Population and Immigration Authority, they can appeal to the appellate tribunal with a demand to compel the authority to make a decision or file a complaint with the State Comptroller.
Also, an effective tool in the decision-making process is submitting reminders and written demands to the Population and Immigration Authority.
If you would like to expedite receiving a decision from the Population and Immigration Authority, the lawyers of our office will be happy to assist you.
