Do we need Israeli passports?

Silver Member Joined: Jun 08 2010 Posts: 544

We are going to Israel soon.
This is the situation:
I am Israeli and American. My Israeli passport expires while we are there.
DS was born here, according to the State of Israel he doesn't exist.
Do we need passports?
Someone told DH we can go in but not out. He suggested we go to the Misrad HaPnim when we are ther- so not interested in doing that on my vacation! Especially since we are bound to not have some paper or another that you would never think you need.
The Israeli Consulate here is a pain to get too.
What should I do?
TIA!

Executive Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 440

Oh boy... Been there done that.

You should take care of it while you're there. Go in with your Israeli passport, and then try to take care of it, because even if you leave with your American passport, chances are they will see that you have an Israeli one and ask for it. If they take an explanation from you that's cool, but they are usually pretty anal about it.

(I got stuck once and was told that the police would be waiting for me by the airport if I didn't get my papers and passport figured out appropriately by a certain time.)

Clearly, your husband doesn't need an Israeli passport if he's not an Israeli citizen.

Enjoy your trip!!

If you don't want to take care of it on vacation, go to the Israeli consulate in chu"l. Sometimes you can get a passport extension (cheaper, no new photo, etc.)for 5 years instead of renewing your passport (more expensive, new photo, etc.).

Gold Member Joined: Mar 16 2009 Posts: 2332

I'll tell you what I just did, but I take zero responsibility if you copy me.

I went on my American passport, as did my dd. She's still unregistered in Israel.
I did call the closest consulate and this is partially based on their advice, which did end with "we did not have this conversation, wink wink." I brought my expired (!!) Israeli passport with me just in case.

My last name on my American passport is not the same as my last name on the Israeli one, so that may have helped. But it was pretty impossible for me to get an Israeli one in the US because they wanted all sorts of weird things to prove that I am married to dh. DESPITE the fact that we got married in Israel through the not-at-all-free rabbanut.

Anyway, enjoy your vacation!

Do you want DS to be israeli?

If not, renew your israeli passport and send DS through the passport line with DH (and you go alone).
Even if you don't get him a passport they will know that he is israeli through you the second you go through passport control together.

AFAIK, you need to renew your israeli passport regardless, though they might just let you off with a warning if you don't/

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 3652

It was a long time ago but I was able to renew my passport and get passports for my kids by mail through the consulate in Chicago.

You definitely will need an Israeli passport to get out. If you and DH are arriving and leaving together you can send DS through with DH.

Here is a secret to help you if you decide to Misrad Hapnim while you are here. There are few branch offices where the lines are short or non-existant and there is no hassle. There is one in Maale Adumim - as a matter of fact I was there yesterday renewing my daughter's passport. We were in and out in 10 minutes and the clerk was very pleasant.

Please note that while they once gave you the passport on the spot, now they mail it to you but it only takes a few days. You can go to www.moin.gov.il for more info.

renewing an Israeli passport is really no big deal, you fill out the paperwork and pay online (its cheaper if you pay online and in winter) get your picture taken outside (there are always passport picture takers right next to misrad hapnim) if you don't get there 5 minutes before closing it shouldn't take more then 20 minutes (and it may take less). You don't need any paperwork, just your expired passport and maybe your T. zehut, check on their website.

OTOH getting my American passport renewed was a nightmare!
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גשם, גשם בוא!

Silver Member Joined: Nov 07 2010 Age: 33 Posts: 824

I just spoke to the isreali embassy here in europe cause my israeli passport expires in may they said that I can renew the passport every year or to get a new passport for 10 yrs I have to write down my kids on my pp even though they where born here. I dont wont to do that so im goona disown my isreali citizenship but they siad that I still have to put my kids on my name and then they will send it to isreal and they will decide if they let me disown the citizenship including the kids. I dont wont them to go to the idf if I put there names on and what if isreal dosent let?

you should diff. call the embasy to find out what to do. they can tell you over the phone. BH I have a nz pp so I dont really need to have my isreali one. just im scared if I dont do this on time I wont be able to go into isreal.

Senior Member Joined: May 28 2008 Posts: 106

rainbow dash, I have a similar situation here.
My husband has a European and israeli passport, but our kids are not registered in Israel. So what happens when we go to Israel? Will they find out, when I go with the kids through the controls and my husband seperately?

Senior Member Joined: May 28 2008 Posts: 106

rainbow dash, I have a similar situation here.
My husband has a European and israeli passport, but our kids are not registered in Israel. So what happens when we go to Israel? Will they find out, when I go with the kids through the controls and my husband seperately?

Senior Member Joined: May 28 2008 Posts: 106

rainbow dash, I have a similar situation here.
My husband has a European and israeli passport, but our kids are not registered in Israel. So what happens when we go to Israel? Will they find out, when I go with the kids through the controls and my husband seperately?

Senior Member Joined: May 28 2008 Posts: 106

rainbow dash, I have a similar situation here.
My husband has a European and israeli passport, but our kids are not registered in Israel. So what happens when we go to Israel? Will they find out, when I go with the kids through the controls and my husband seperately?

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 3652

[quote="DrMomquote]
Are children (esp those born in chu"l) of Israeli citizens automatically Israeli citizens themselves? I thought they have to apply for citizenship or register in order to be considered citizens of Israel. And I thought this was something optional, at least for those born abroad. Am I mistaken?[/quote]

Children born to even one Israeli parent are Israeli citizens regardless of where they are born and whether or not they have registered. Not optional at all - you have to renounce if you want to be considered a non-citizen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_nationality_law

Deleted because I am confused. Embarassed

Gold Member Joined: Apr 23 2007 Posts: 2443

BTW, the advantage of renewing your Israeli passport at the Israeli Embassy is they don't go on strike. Whereas here in Israel, Misrad Hapnim (which is the agency that takes care of passports) goes on strike on a regular basis.
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