It is not easy to move to a new country, even if it does everything it can to facilitate the transition. Many Jews want to live in Israel for a certain period before deciding whether to make Aliyah or not, or want to stay in Israel for other purposes for a few years, without actually immigrating.
For this very purpose, there is an A1 visa for those eligible for return, which allows those eligible for Aliyah to come to Israel, live in it and work in it, and receive almost all the rights reserved for citizens.
What is an A1 visa, and what are the rights that come with it?
The A1 visa is a resident visa, given to those who are in principle eligible for Aliyah but do not yet want to immigrate. Those eligible for immigration are Jews (those born to a Jewish mother or who converted); son/daughter of a Jewish father and his spouse; grandchild of a Jew and his/her spouse.
The visa gives the holder full social rights like an Israeli citizen – free health insurance, one of the best in the world; social rights such as unemployment benefits or disability benefits, if necessary; and of course, authorization to work or study without restriction.
The visa is given for five years in total, three years the first time, and can be extended for two additional years. Another advantage of the visa is that in order to extend it the applicant does not need to prove that he has a center of life in Israel, in other words, he can be in Israel whenever it is convenient for him during the period without it affecting his ability to extend the visa.
However, there are several things that distinguish the rights of an A1 visa holder from an Israeli citizen: a visa holder cannot receive an Israeli passport; he cannot vote in national elections – but can vote in local authority elections where he is registered; he cannot work in any kind of government job (such as a policeman or civil servant).
A1 Visa Application Process
The A1 visa application process is similar to the immigration process, except that it is shorter and supposed to be simpler.
First, various documents must be submitted to establish eligibility for return. These are the documents:
- Birth certificate, and sometimes parents’ and grandparents’ birth certificates as well, if the applicant is the son/daughter of a Jew or grandchild of a Jew.
- Also, marriage certificate or certificate attesting to other personal status.
- A certificate must also be submitted certifying the absence of a criminal record.
- An original letter must be submitted from a community rabbi abroad, confirming that the applicant is a Jew born to Jews, or the son of a Jew, and so on;
- It is advisable to provide additional documents such as photographs of gravestones of deceased Jewish relatives with a Star of David, etc.
After submitting the documents, they will be sent to the Jewish Agency for approval of Judaism. If necessary, the applicant will be called for a short interview usually on Jewish topics, after which the requested visa will be granted.
Together with the visa it is advisable to request a multiple entry visa to Israel valid for the entire visa period.
Sometimes, in cases that may be problematic, it is advisable to recommend an A1 process before applying for immigration, so as not to stay in Israel for a long period without a permit. In any case, for free consultation with an immigration lawyer from our office, please leave your details on the site, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.