Millions of people around the world have used their right to repatriate to Israel, and over the past years have emigrated to the Promised Land by repatriation based on the Law of Return.
What is repatriation and who has the right to it?
Since the formation of the state in 1948, the repatriation of Jews to Israel has not stopped to this day. The country of Jews has become a new place of residence and homeland for descendants of millions of people. Besides, from year to year, the number of people returning to their historical homeland is increasing.
The conditions for repatriation to Israel are not as simple as they might seem at first glance.
Jewish nationality is inherited exclusively by the mother. So, If you collect the necessary documents for repatriation to Israel, pay attention to the genealogical tree of its female side. With that, the right to repatriation will be issued quickly and without problems.
A person who has proven his/her nationality can take his/her closest relatives and they will also be assigned the status of a repatriate.
It should be taken into account that the fourth generation of Jews in the family (even if they are minor citizens) will not receive citizenship and the right to repatriation. They can obtain a residence permit, which should be issued within three months from the date of moving to Israel, and then renewed every year. It is not a fact that a child will receive citizenship at the age of 18, all these imperfections of the Israeli bureaucracy must be clarified in advance.
Repatriation documents and rules
The repatriation program to Israel in 2021 will always start with proof that a person belongs to the Jewish people nation. This item is a very important condition for obtaining the status of a repatriate.
We recommend that you start the process of repatriation to Israel by collecting the following documents:
- the birth metric of persons related to repatriation (everyone who is indicated in the questionnaire),
- passports valid for at least 6 months,
- photo 3ั 4 of all repatriates,
- labor books (both originals and copies are possible),
- photocopies of the above documents,
- a completed application form.
If there was a fact of registration of a marriage between a family member of a man and a Jewish woman, then documents confirming this are necessary. If this family member has already died, then take a document confirming the death of a person.
Old family photos, which show your Jewish relatives, will not be superfluous. However, even a photo of grave monuments in a Jewish cemetery can play a decisive role in the approval of your candidacy for repatriation. Please note that the rule applies here: it is better to provide more of a variety of documentary evidence than less.
DNA test
It is important to emphasize that the State of Israel does not recognize DNA tests confirming that the applicant is of Jewish ancestry as the main proof of eligibility for repatriation. Evidence that the applicant is Jewish must be documented. These documents may be religious, such as:
- a ktuba (certificate of a religious marriage in Jewish traditions),
- a Bar Mitzvah certificate,
- photographs of tombstones in Jewish cemeteries,
- letter from the chief rabbi of a recognized Jewish community, which confirms the affiliation of the applicant and his/her family to this community.
The non-Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel only if one of his/her parents or grandparents is Jewish.
The State of Israel sometimes requires an Israeli citizen who has a child from a foreign citizen to undergo a DNA test that will prove paternity. A positive result gives the child the right to citizenship following the Citizenship Law. Such a test can only be performed based on a court decision.
Despite Jewish roots, the state may reject a request if:
- Persons acting against the Jewish people
- Persons with a criminal record
- Persons suffering from severe and contagious diseases
- Persons who have converted to another religion