Israel offers a pathway for parents of soldiers to obtain residency status, recognizing the significant contribution of their children to the country’s defense. This process, while detailed, is designed to be both respectful and accommodating to the needs of soldiers’ families.
Eligibility criteria
The process primarily applies to biological parents of soldiers serving in regular service as defined by the Security Service Law.
The soldier must be within the service (but he has to pass at least 12 months of his service and called to serve for at least 18 months) or be within a specific time frame post-service to apply, but not more than 64 months after the day he started his service.
Special conditions apply if the soldier was released due to medical reasons or other specific circumstances.
Document preparation:
- Essential documents include the parent’s valid passport, recent photographs, and detailed explanation letters.
- Official documents like birth certificates of both parent and soldier with apostille stamps, personal status document of the parent with apostille and background checks with apostilles from countries of residence of the parent are required.
- Documents verifying the service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the inviting party (the soldier):
- For a soldier currently serving in regular service, the verification is issued by the city officer, detailing the start date of the service and the planned end date.
- For a soldier who has completed their regular service in the IDF, a discharge certificate from the IDF is required, which details the duration of the soldier’s regular service.
Application process
The application can be initiated regardless of the parent’s current location.
An appointment with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) is necessary, and specific conditions apply if the parent has previously stayed in Israel.
Post-approval status and timeline
Upon arrival, the parent can apply for a temporary resident status (type A/5) for a year, which can be extended annually up to four years, subject to specific conditions. This includes regular checks on the parent’s and soldier’s center of life, the continued relationship between them, and the soldier’s military service status. After four years under the A/5 status, the parent may qualify for permanent residency, provided the soldier has completed their regular service as defined by the term “completion of regular service.
This process underscores Israel’s commitment to supporting families of those serving in its defense forces. With careful attention to the required criteria and documentation, parents of soldiers can navigate this path to reunification and residency in Israel.