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IsraelResidence permit

A/1 visa for an immigrant in Israel

A status for those entitled to repatriate to Israel under the Law of Return who have not yet decided whether they are ready to become Israeli citizens. It gives time to live in the country, work and decide on the next step — taking citizenship or extending the status.

Visa term
Up to 5 years.
Work
Allows the holder to live and work in Israel for the period of the visa.

Source: Population and Immigration Authority of Israel (PIBA), gov.il

Who can obtain the A/1 visa

Entitled to repatriation, no decision taken on citizenship

  • There is an entitlement to aliyah (repatriation) under the Law of Return, supported by documents on Jewish descent.
  • The applicant is not ready to become an Israeli citizen right now — the visa gives time for that choice.
  • A valid foreign passport is required.

What it costs

State fee for filing the A/1 visa application195 ILS

Documents to gather

The package is submitted in person at an office of the Population and Immigration Authority.

  • Foreign passport valid for at least 6 months
  • Photocopies of all the pages of the foreign passport
  • 3 identical colour photographs on a light background, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
  • Proof of entitlement to repatriation: the original birth certificate, a certificate from a Jewish community or other documents establishing Jewish descent
  • A covering letter of explanation
  • Notarised translation of the descent documents into Hebrew (not required for documents in Arabic or English)
  • Official certification of the descent documents: an apostille if the document was issued by a state authority of a country party to the Hague Convention; if there is no apostille, instructions should be sought from the nearest Israeli consulate in the country that issued the document

How the process runs

The A/1 visa application is filed in person, without intermediaries.

  1. 1

    Collect the documents

    Prepare the foreign passport (valid for at least another 6 months), copies of it, 3 colour photographs 3.5 × 4.5 cm, proof of entitlement to repatriation and the covering letter.

  2. 2

    Complete the application form

    Print out and complete the visa application form.

  3. 3

    Submit the documents in person

    Hand in the form and the package of documents in person at the local office of the Population and Immigration Authority.

  4. 4

    Pay the fee

    Pay for the service — 195 shekels; this can be done by card at the office itself, including with someone else's card if the cardholder is present in person.

  5. 5

    Receive the A/1 visa

    The authority issues temporary resident status for up to 5 years, which allows the holder to live and work in Israel.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

At the end of the 5 years the holder may take Israeli citizenship or apply for an A/5 temporary resident visa.

At the end of the A/1 visa (up to 5 years) the holder may take Israeli citizenship or apply for an A/5 temporary resident visa.

Frequently asked questions about A/1 visa for an immigrant

Who can obtain the A/1 temporary resident visa?
The visa is available to those entitled to repatriate (aliyah) to Israel under the Law of Return who have not yet decided to become Israeli citizens.
How much does the A/1 visa cost?
The state fee for the service is 195 new Israeli shekels. It can be paid by card at the authority's office, including with someone else's card if the cardholder is present in person.
For how long is the A/1 visa issued and what can you do with it in Israel?
The visa is issued for up to 5 years; during that time it allows the holder to live and work in Israel.
Which documents are needed to file the application?
A foreign passport (valid for at least another 6 months) and copies of it, 3 colour photographs 3.5 × 4.5 cm, proof of entitlement to repatriation and a covering letter of explanation.
What happens at the end of the 5-year term of the A/1 visa?
The holder may become an Israeli citizen or apply for an A/5 temporary resident visa.
How and where is the A/1 visa application filed?
The completed form and the documents are submitted in person at the local office of the Population and Immigration Authority.

Other ways to move to Israel

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Israel.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.