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A noncommercial collection of information about citizenship, dual citizenship and multiple citizenship
 
     

[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

ISRAEL


CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship is based upon the Citizenship Law of 1952 and amended in 1968.

Any Jew who immigrated to Israel before July 14, 1952, was granted citizenship after declaring a desire to reside permanently in Israel.

Any former citizen of Palestine, present in Israel before July 14, 1952, was granted citizenship upon fulfillment of certain (unspecified) conditions.

Any Jew or a member of a family of a Jew who immigrates to Israel after expressing their intention to settle in Israel, if from the date of their arrival as an immigrant, unless, being above the age of eighteen and a foreign citizen, they declare within three months from the date of arrival, that they do not wish to become an Israeli citizen. A "member of a family" of a Jew includes a spouse, a grandchild, and spouses of the child or grandchild of a Jew.

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Israel does not automatically confer citizenship. Being born in Israel to a citizen of Israel. Stateless person, born in Israel after May 14, 1948, is able to apply for citizenship between their 18th and 21st birthdays, provided they have resided in Israel for at least five years before application.

BY DESCENT: Child born on or after July 14, 1952, at least one of whose parents is a citizen of Israel, regardless of the child's country of birth. A person born outside Israel while a parent was an Israeli citizen by Return (a "renaturalized" Jew), Residence, or Naturalization.

BY NATURALIZATION: Israeli citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has resided in Israel a cumulative period of three years, intends to reside permanently in Israel, has some knowledge of Hebrew, and has renounced previous citizenship.


DUAL CITIZENSHIP: RECOGNIZED. Exception: Naturalized Israeli citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship. Citizens of Israel, who have immigrated to another country but still maintain citizenship with Israel, retain certain military obligations to the state of Israel. These obligations come into force if the person returns to live in Israel for an extended period. The Consulate states that these obligations only affect dual citizens.


LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary loss of citizenship is permitted by law. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of naturalized Israeli citizenship: Naturalized citizen either fails to renounce previous citizenship or voluntarily acquires new citizenship after obtaining Israeli citizenship.


ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, should be directed to the address below:

Embassy of Israel Embassy Telephone: 202-364-5557 Consular Section Consular Telephone: 202-364-5500 3514 International Dr., NW Fax: 202-364-5429 Washington, DC 20008

www.israel.org

 

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