Israel

Dual Citizenship Israel

Allowed

The Law of Return (1950) that states Jews and their descendants have the right to reside and be naturalised in Israel. Eligible persons who move to Israel are not considered immigrants, they are seen as individuals carrying out Aliyah. According to Israeli law, persons attaining Israeli nationality through the Law of Return (Jewish nationality) are not required to renounce their original citizenship. Otherwise, as specified in Section 5 of the Citizenship Law (1952), in order to become citizens of Israel, individuals would have to renounce their previous citizenship or prove they will cease to be foreign nationals upon becoming Israeli citizens.

The 1952 Citizenship Law sets the standard on the acquisition of citizenship for different groups: permanent residents who have lived within the territory of Israel immediately after its establishment, newborns who have one parent that is an Israeli citizen, and non-Jewish individuals who go through the naturalisation process.

Dual citizenship is widely accepted in Israel. About 10% of the country’s population has dual citizenship. The Israeli Government, the Knesset, has never tried to fully restrict dual citizenship. There are, however, three restrictions for Israeli nationals when it comes to dual citizenship:

• The law prohibits dual citizenship with enemy countries;
• Members of the Knesset - or anybody who fills sensitive security positions - cannot hold dual citizenships, and;
• Dual citizens must enter and exit Israel with an Israeli travel document (normally a passport)