Israel's Nationality Law
Full version on Hebrew below

Summary of Israel's Nationality Law

Israel's Nationality Law relates to persons born in Israel or resident therein, as well as to those wishing to settle in the country, regardless of race, religion, creed, sex or political belief. Citizenship may be acquired by birth, the Law of Return, residence, or naturalization.

Acquisition of nationality by birth is granted to:
1.Persons who were born in Israel to a mother or a father who are Israeli citizens.
2.Persons born outside Israel, if their father or mother holds Israeli citizenship, acquired either by birth in Israel, according to the Law of Return, by residence, or by naturalization.
3.Persons born after the death of one of their parents, if the late parent was an Israeli citizen by virtue of the conditions enumerated in 1. and 2. above at the time of death.
4.Persons born in Israel, who have never had any nationality and subject to limitations specified in the law, if they: apply for it in the period between their 18th and 25th birthday and have been residents of Israel for five consecutive years, immediately preceding the day of the filing of their application.

See Law of Return above for acquisition of nationality according to the Law of Return.

Acquisition of Nationality by Residence: special provision is made in the Nationality Law for former citizens of British Mandatory Palestine. Those who remained in Israel from the establishment of the State in 1948 until the enactment of the Nationality Law of 1952, became Israeli citizens by residence or by return. According to an amendment (1980), further possibilities to acquire citizenship by residence, were included in the law.

Acquisition of Nationality by Naturalization: adults may acquire Israeli citizenship by naturalization at the discretion of the Minister of the Interior and subject to a number of requirements, including:
1.they must currently reside in Israel and have resided in Israel for three years out of the five years preceding the day of submission of the application.
2.they are entitled to reside in Israel permanently and have settled or intend to settle in Israel;
3. they must have some knowledge of Hebrew (former Palestinian citizens are exempt from this provision);
4.they have renounced their prior nationality, or have proved that they will cease to be foreign nationals upon becoming Israeli citizens;
5. they must take an oath of loyalty to the State of Israel.

The Minister of the Interior may exempt an applicant from some of these requirements.

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