Israel, a country with rich culture and history, becomes home to many couples where one spouse is an Israeli citizen and the other is a foreigner. However, when it comes to the legal side of the issue, many are faced with the need to understand the procedure for a foreign spouse to obtain legal status in Israel, in order to start a family and continue living in Israel. In this article, we will look at how a foreign spouse can obtain legal status in accordance with the formal policy for obtaining legal status based on marriage to an Israeli citizen.
The main difference between the process of obtaining legal status on the basis of non-married relationship with an Israeli citizen and the process of obtaining legal status on the basis of a marriage, is the need to provide an official marriage certificate, and the duration of the process.
Since only marriages between members of the same religions can legally take place in Israel. But a marriage legally performed in another country will be valid and registrated by the State of Israel.
A foreign citizen who married an Israeli citizen is eligible to apply for legal status in the country. This status will allow him to legally reside, work and enjoy virtually all the rights and privileges of a citizen.
The first and most important step is to submit an application to the Ministry of Interior in the place of the couple’s residence. The application shall be supported by the documents confirming the sincerity of the couple’s relationship and also the personal documents of a foreign spouse, which shall bear Apostille and are notarized and translated into Hebrew.
After submitting the application, the couple is usually scheduled for an interview with an immigration official. At the interview, the authenticity of the marriage/relationship is verified and other aspects related to the couple’s life in Israel are discussed.
Based on the documents submitted and the results of the interview, a decision on granting legal status is made. In case of a positive decision, a foreign spouse receives a temporary work visa which will be upgraded for temporary residence permit (A5) in 6 months if the couple is married or 3 years if the couple is not.
The residency visa will be extended for 4 years(a year at a time) and then be changed to a permanent residency, with the possibility of applying for citizenship.
As with any legal process, there are a number of difficulties and nuances. For example, an application may be rejected due to insufficient documents or if there are reasons to believe that the marriage is fictitious. In such cases, it is recommended that the applicant seek legal representation.
By obtaining legal status through marriage, a foreign spouse is granted a number of rights, such as the right to work, access to health care and education.
In order to successfully complete the process of obtaining legal status, it is important to carefully study all the requirements and steps described in the instructions for obtaining legal status in Israel on the basis of marriage. Only by strictly following the instructions and submitting all the necessary documents will the process be completed successfully.
We hope that this article will help you better understand the procedure for obtaining legal status by a foreigner married to an Israeli citizen, and make the process as clear and simple as possible. For further details, you can contact our office and schedule a free consultation with an expert immigration lawyer.