The Israeli passport might be alluring for many people. After all, it’s not just a biometric passport or ID document. For most people, it represents the history of the Jewish nation and that’s hard to let go.
Gaining citizenship of any country is generally considered to be a difficult, and time-consuming, process. It tends to consist of various legal, financial, and even social problems.
There are many reasons why anyone would want to get citizenship in another country. It could be due to social reasons such as a better lifestyle, cultural inclusion, and even religious inclusion.
Sometimes this decision is economic as well, especially if the country of choice offers better economic opportunities, such as better hiring, a cheaper cost of living, more growth opportunities, and more chances to expand.
That is how one defines the idea of getting another citizenship.
Immigration, in general, can be a very difficult procedure. There are many things to take into account when making these massive decisions.
Why do People Change their Citizenship?
There are many reasons why someone would want to renounce their citizenship and get a new one, or perhaps get a second passport in addition to their current one. After all, passports are an integral travel document.
But it isn’t easy to get citizenship in a country you are not born into but this doesn’t stop those who are determined to have another passport.
1. Political Instability
People in other countries tend to suffer a lot from political instability. Failed states and democratic systems tend to undermine people’s lives.
Many people become homeless and frequently live at or below the line of poverty.
Another kind of political instability that could result in people fleeing from countries and looking for the fastest citizenships to obtain is war.
Escaping the 2022 war with Russia, 20,000 Ukrainian Jews arrived before the fighting and will be able to stay temporarily.
Around 100,000 Ukrainian Jews and their families are expected to arrive in Israel in search of safer pastures.
Israel is considering aiding them by taking a new wave of immigrants, as they did in 2014.
2. Better Economic Opportunities
There is no doubt that the world is distinguishingly capitalistic in nature, and so many people are always looking for options to climb the ladder much faster than they otherwise would.
Citizenships offered by many countries are at the expense of a better economic framework. That is why many people look to other nationalities to avail these opportunities.
3. Religious Indifferences
Minorities in many parts of the world are unsafe.
Although every country in the world talks about equality, only a handful of places are safe for everyone. In most cases, it is difficult for certain groups to survive as they are stripped out of the basic areas of life.
These religious indifferences are often hard to configure. That is why many minority groups prefer migrating elsewhere to benefit from their freedom in other citizenships.
4. Better Options
While some of the reasons are more self-explanatory, having dual citizenship and secondary residency is more than a mere document. The truth is that the country where you are born determines the way your life will unfold and later on that of your children.
Numerous studies have found that immigrants raise the wages of the native-born by complementing the skills of the native-born and by buying goods and services. All of which expand the size of the economy.
Jewish Persecution Around the World, Is It Real?
Jewish persecution has been a problem around the world throughout various eras of history. There are many areas of the world where it still exists in one form or the other.
Jews are subject to some form of discrimination in certain areas for their beliefs and practices.
As a result, they sometimes can not openly claim their ethnicity and religion in some parts of the world. In many countries, if there is no open violence, there is indirect violence to cope with.
So, it is fair to say that Jewish persecution is a problem that still exists. That is why many Jewish families choose to migrate to Israel to live peacefully.
Are Jews Israeli Passport Holders?
All Jews in the world have the unrestricted right to immigrate to Israel and become Israeli citizens. The Individuals born within the country receive the Israel passport at birth if at least one parent is a citizen.
Non-Jewish foreigners may naturalize after living in the country for at least three years while holding permanent residency, renouncing any previous citizenships, and demonstrating knowledge in the Hebrew language.
Israel is located in Western Asia and is the largest Jewish country in the world. It is a democratic country, sharing borders with Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries of the world.
Israel is the historical capital in terms of religion. It has been host to many different religious groups where their journey started.
The Law of Return
Israel offers free second citizenship under the ”Law of Return.” It is part of migration law that exists in the Israeli constitution.
As a Jew, you will be pleased to know that Israel is willing to offer its citizenship for free. So, if you are looking to escape minority prosecution, Israel is a good place to go. You will be offered a series of advantages which you can benefit from.
Benefits of Having an Israel Passport
There are many benefits to being an Israeli citizen. Firstly, it offers security and immunity, which is not granted elsewhere. As a Jew living in Israel, you benefit from safety.
There is no level of discrimination that you face in any area of life. You are safer than most nationalities. In Israel, you will meet people from the same religious background as you. This tends to create a sense of relatability that is greater than most places. You can be free to practice your religion without any restrictions.
The Israeli passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world. With it, you have a big list of visa-free countries to travel to. There is almost no restriction to where you should be going with a visa-free entry. You can easily get visas, especially for European states.
The Economy of Israel
Economically, Israel is a very prosperous country.
Many major brands such as Pepsi and McDonald’s have their headquarters in Israel thanks to the country’s good ties with the US.
There is even an abundance of wealth in the country. But all that comes with a price: a top marginal tax rate of 50%.
It means that you can benefit from all the welfare benefits offered as well. For instance, your kids can enjoy going to good public schools and even study at other places. Religious schooling is available too.
A Sense of Community
Since you are part of the Jewish community, there is help available at all levels. When migrating to Israel, the Jewish society in Israel can help in setting up your own house.
You can easily find a property or rental house. Normally the incrimination regarding such procedures is very easy. You do not have to look around much, nor do you have to hide your identity.
You will always feel welcomed and part of the group where you will get help in all aspects of life.
There are initiatives such as child allowance, which help support the community. The National Insurance Institute in Israel (HaMossad LeBituach Leumi) pays a child allowance to families living in Israel with children under 18.
In most cases, the payment is automatic, with Olim having their details passed to the NII by the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption following their Aliyah.
However, it is recommended to make sure that the money is going into your bank account and be proactive if payments are not made.
How to Get an Israeli Passport?
It’s not that difficult to get Israeli citizenship.
The Law of Return passed in 1950 allows Jews to get Israeli citizenship. Those who immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return are immediately entitled to citizenship in Israel.
Every Jew in the world has the unrestricted right to immigrate to Israel and become an Israeli citizen. Individuals born within the country receive an Israeli passport at birth if at least one parent is a citizen.
Non-Jewish foreigners may naturalize after living in the country for at least three years while holding permanent residency, renouncing former citizenship, and learning Hebrew.
In 2017, Israel passed a law allowing new immigrants to apply for and receive a passport just 90 days after they arrive in the country.
Processing is generally fairly quick and the Passport takes approximately 2 weeks to be mailed out.
As of February 2022, Israel’s Interior Ministry is set to require all individuals applying to immigrate under the Law of Return to declare their plan to move to Israel “immediately” and “permanently,” Haaretz reported.
Aliyah (people who migrate to Israel) advocates are concerned about the new initiative forcing applicants to provide proof of their intent to live in the Jewish state will decrease the number of people coming in.
While the Israeli Interior Minister said the new regulation will simply enforce the law.
Legal Things to Know Before You Get The Israeli Foreign Passport
The Citizenship Law was amended in 1971 to allow Jews who formally expressed their desire to migrate to Israel to immediately become Israeli citizens without entering Israeli territory.
This change was made to facilitate the emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union, who were routinely denied exit visas. The Law of Return (1950) grants every Jew, wherever he may be, the right to come to Israel as an Oleh (a Jew immigrating to Israel) and become an Israeli national.
For this law, “Jew” means a person born of a Jewish mother or has converted to Judaism and is not a member of another religion.
Your Israeli citizenship becomes effective on the day of arrival in the country or receiving an Oleh’s certificate, whichever is later. A person may declare, within three months, that they do not wish to become a citizen.
You can easily get access to citizenship. If you qualify for Oleh status under the law, you must obtain an appropriate visa at your local consulate or obtain said visa in Israel after arriving on a tourist visa.
If You’re an Eastern European Citizen
However, if you are a citizen of an Eastern European or a former Soviet state, you must apply at your local consulate or a Jewish agency instead.
You may enter and exit Israel with your foreign passport. There is a 90 day waiting period before you can be awarded citizenship. However, citizenship is automatically granted unless you specifically ask the government not to grant you Israeli citizenship.
You are not required to remain in Israel during the 90 days and are free to travel on your current passport so long as you obtain an exit permit, which is typically just a formality.
Even if you choose not to claim your Israeli citizenship, you will retain the Oleh status you arrived at and which confers permanent resident status.
You can even purchase property and reclaim your Jewish identity. That is one of the easiest ways to reclaim your Israeli passport. All you have to do is discuss it with your lawyer. The property could be anything, a house or even an apartment. Israeli law allows Jews to purchase property. After showing your Jewish ancestry, you can easily reclaim it.
What If You Don’t Fit in The Ancestry Definition?
If you don’t fit the ancestry definition, the law also provides the ‘right of return‘ to all converted Jews of all denominations, and the conversion need not take place in Israel for it to qualify.
In either case, the onus is on the applicant to provide adequate documentation proving either Jewish ancestry or conversion to Judaism. The Israeli authorities won’t just take your word for it. They will check.
Additionally, the Israeli government will conduct a brief background investigation to determine if the applicant is a fugitive, convicted violent criminal, or known associate of any enemy of the state.
The Israeli government is very precise about its identity. As a result, it may involve you in cross-cultural questioning to see where you stand.
Should I Get an Israeli Passport? – FAQs
If you are Jewish are you a citizen of Israel?
No, you have to go to Israel for 90 days to get the passport.
How to get an Israeli passport?
Visit Israel for 90 days, and you will automatically be granted an Israeli passport.
Nomad Capitalist is Here to Help
If you are a Jew looking for a place to migrate, Israel is the place to be. But it can be quite difficult to be able to collect the documents needed to begin the process of reclaiming your Israeli passport.
Nomad Capitalist is here to ensure that you have everything you need to get it.
This makes it perfect for those looking to experience their culture and tradition in Israel. It is a historically significant country as well. There are many holy places for Jews, and also other religions as well.
It is safe and is one of the richest economic countries in the world. Israel has the added advantage of being near Europe and the middle east as well. While historically, Israel hasn’t had great relations with other middle eastern countries, this is changing as well.
So, don’t miss out on your chance to get an Israeli passport today. Nomad Capitalist will be more than happy to help!
