Making Aliyah As A Tourist
Main Steps for making Alyah as a Tourist
Under Israel’s 1950 Law of Return, aliyah is the pathway for Jews and their descendants—children or grandchildren of Jews—to immigrate to Israel and acquire Israeli citizenship. This process is relatively straightforward for those who meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the law.
easyaliyah provides guidance on the procedure for tourists in Israel to change their status from a tourist (holding a B/2 visa) to that of a new immigrant (oleh), based on eligibility under the Law of Return.
To ensure a smooth and expedited process, we recommend utilizing the services of our legal team, which includes immigration lawyers specializing in aliyah cases.
Changing Status from Tourist to Oleh
This procedure applies to eligible individuals under the Law of Return who are currently residing in Israel as tourists and wish to change their status to that of a new immigrant (oleh) according to the guidelines established by Israel’s Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPanim).
Who is Eligible for Making Aliyah as a Tourist?
This process is designed for tourists who qualify under the Law of Return and want to transition to permanent residency and citizenship as a new immigrant (oleh).
Main Steps for Tourists
The tourist must submit a request at the nearest Population Authority office (Misrad HaPanim) to their current residence. The request is reviewed and processed at that location, with the final decision delivered at the same office.
Before Submitting Your Application as a Tourist
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Before applying, ensure the following:
The tourist holds a valid B/2 tourist visa.
The tourist is physically present when the application is submitted, as personal presence is required.
The tourist's foreign passport is valid for at least one year from the date of submission.
All necessary forms, photos, and documentation have been prepared.
Original, authenticated, and translated documents include:
Proof of Jewish heritage or eligibility under the Law of Return.
Birth certificate.
Public certificate for any name changes, if applicable.
Personal status documents from the tourist’s country of origin.
An up-to-date criminal background check.
Fees for the Aliyah Procedure
There are no fees for submitting the aliyah request through this procedure.
Submitting Your Request
The tourist must personally submit and sign the aliyah request at the nearest Population Authority office in Israel.
Processing the Application
A Population Authority employee will verify the submission of all required documents and request any missing paperwork.
The authenticity of the documents will be reviewed.
If the tourist has a criminal record or poses a public safety risk, the case will be escalated to the Ministry of Interior’s head office in Jerusalem.
If the request is denied, the tourist will receive a written explanation, and their passport will be marked “Denied for Oleh Status.”
If approved, the tourist will receive Israeli citizenship. They will be asked to return to the Population Authority office to complete forms, receive an Israeli identity card, and have an oleh-status sticker placed in their foreign passport. Shortly thereafter, they will be issued an Israeli passport.