Status for the foreign spouse of a permanent resident
Published: 18 October 2026
Who this process is for
Permanent residents of Israel can apply for status for the foreign spouse they are married to. The application is handled by the Population and Immigration Authority under procedure 5.2.0011, the procedure for granting status to a foreign spouse married to a permanent resident.
Unmarried couples (common-law partners) are handled under a different procedure, 5.2.0009, which also applies to partners of permanent residents.
This article is based on the version of the procedure updated on 10.12.2020.
How it differs from spouses of citizens
Foreign spouses married to Israeli citizens come under a different procedure, 5.2.0008 (updated July 2026): up to half a year on a B/1 licence while the application is reviewed, then temporary residency (A/5) for up to 4 years, after which naturalisation can be approved. In the process for spouses of permanent residents under procedure 5.2.0011, the B/1 stage is longer and the A/5 stage shorter, and the status at the end is permanent residency, not citizenship.
The stages of the Gradual Process
- Initial review: while the application is reviewed, a B/1 licence can be given for up to half a year.
- B/1 licence: once the process is approved, a B/1 licence is given for 15 months and extended by one more year, 27 months in total.
- Temporary residency (A/5): then a temporary residency licence (A/5), one year at a time, up to 3 years in total.
- Permanent residency: at the end of the process, subject to the conditions, permanent resident status is granted.
At every stage the Authority checks again that the conditions are still met, so an extension is not automatic.
The conditions checked throughout the process
- The sincerity of the relationship.
- A shared centre of life in Israel, with evidence from at least the last year.
- No criminal or security impediment.
- Both partners appear in person, except in the cases the procedure lists.
Interviews
Under the procedure, the decision is made after a review that may include an interview. Before every extension of the licence, both partners are invited to an interview, where the sincerity of the relationship and the shared home are checked again.
The documents to submit
- An application form.
- The original marriage certificate, authenticated and translated.
- Two photographs of each partner.
- The identity card of the permanent-resident partner.
- A foreign passport valid for at least two years.
- A letter signed by both partners about the relationship and how you met.
- A birth certificate, and name-change documents if any.
- Personal-status documents from the country of origin.
- A police clearance certificate from the country of origin.
- Evidence of a shared life, such as photographs, a lease and joint bills.
- A signed declaration by both partners that the details are true.
- Payment of the fee.
How IsraelVisa helps
IsraelVisa helps you understand the stages, organise the documents and prepare the submission, yourselves and at your own pace. If you wish, you can also turn to a lawyer later on.
Frequently asked questions
Does the spouse of a permanent resident get citizenship at the end of the process?
Under procedure 5.2.0011, the status at the end of the process is permanent residency. Citizenship is not part of this process.
How long does the process take?
Under the procedure: up to 27 months on a B/1 licence and up to 3 years in temporary residency (A/5), plus the initial review period.
What if we are not married?
Common-law couples are handled under procedure 5.2.0009, which also applies to partners of permanent residents.
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The information in this article is general and does not constitute legal advice. The procedures are updated from time to time; check the current version on the website of the Population and Immigration Authority.