Frequently asked questions

Short answers, with a link to the guide that goes deeper. If your question is not here, the first guide explains the process from the beginning.

What is the Gradual Process?

It is the Population and Immigration Authority's procedure for giving status in Israel to the foreign partner of an Israeli citizen, in stages over several years. Married couples follow procedure 5.2.0008; common-law and same-sex couples follow procedure 5.2.0009, which also covers couples in a shared life who have not formalised the common-law status. The first guide explains it step by step.

How long does it take?

About four years for married couples, plus up to six months on a B/1 permit while the application is reviewed, and about seven years for common-law couples (nine if the Israeli partner is a permanent resident). The count starts on the day the Authority approves the application, not the day you file. The stages are in the guides for married and common-law couples.

What is the difference between a shared life and common-law partners?

A shared life is where every unmarried couple begins: you live together, usually with the foreign partner on a B/2 visitor visa, and you collect proof from day one. Common-law partners is a recognised status that couples formalise with declarations and a registration, and that carries rights at various institutions. The Authority's track for unmarried couples is named after the status, but your file starts with the shared life. The common-law guide explains both.

How does it start when my partner is abroad?

In most cases with an invitation: the Israeli partner files it with the Authority, with proof of the relationship. When it is approved, the foreign partner enters Israel as a visitor on a B/2 visa, and the couple lives together in the shared-life stage. The first interview comes early, and the Authority already expects proof of the relationship from before: messages, photographs, letters, visits. The common-law guide walks through it step by step.

Do we need a lawyer?

No. Most couples file on their own, and the portal helps you prepare every document. A lawyer is optional; some couples consult one when something is unusual, such as a past refusal, a criminal record, or a partner who is still married to someone else. If the foreign partner has no valid status in Israel on the day you file, involve a lawyer before filing.

Does IsraelVisa file the application for us?

No. You file it yourselves at the Authority office. IsraelVisa helps you check which track applies, collect and organise the documents, keep them safely in one place, and, if you want, find an independent lawyer. IsraelVisa does not give legal advice and does not represent you before the Authority.

We married online, for example in Utah. Does it count?

Yes. A marriage performed online can be registered with the Authority, and a registered marriage puts you on the married track. Same-sex couples who married abroad are handled under procedure 5.2.0009, with four years on A/5 and no B/1 stage; see the guide for same-sex couples.

Can the foreign partner work during the process?

Yes. The first stage is a B/1 stay-and-work visa, and the A/5 temporary residence that follows also allows work. Keep the permit valid: apply online for each renewal three months before the current one expires.

What does the Authority check?

Four things, at filing and at every renewal: that the relationship is genuine, that your centre of life is in Israel, that there is no criminal or security impediment, and the foreign partner's legal status on the day you file. The Authority may interview each of you separately.

What documents do we need?

Identity and civil-status documents for both of you, proof that you live together, proof of life in Israel, and a criminal record certificate for the foreign partner. Documents from abroad need the certification and translation the Authority requires, and older documents are treated as expiring within months. The documents guide lists everything, and in what form.

What does it cost?

The Authority charges a fee at filing and at each renewal; the amounts are set by the Authority and change from time to time. IsraelVisa's own plans are shown in the portal before you choose one.

How does the process end?

For married couples, the foreign partner chooses at the end between Israeli citizenship and permanent residency. For common-law couples, the process ends in permanent residency; citizenship can be applied for later under the naturalisation rules.

What if the application is refused?

A refusal can be appealed, and the deadline is fixed and short. Act immediately: this is a case for a lawyer, and you can find independent lawyers through IsraelVisa. Keep every letter from the Authority, with the date you received it.

What if we separate during the process?

The foreign partner's status depends on the relationship, and the Authority must be told of a separation. Separate procedures exist for some situations, for example when there is a shared child. This is a case for a lawyer.

IsraelVisa does not give legal advice and does not represent you before the Authority. Most couples file on their own. Consulting one of the lawyers you can find here is optional; they are independent and are not employed by IsraelVisa.