Regardless of how often you are there, making sure your address, military exemptions, and passport are up to date stops problems from arising later.
If you have dual citizenship in Israel, you are an Israeli citizen and also retain your citizenship from another country. You don’t have to pick sides in Israel. Many Israelis today also have a second passport, from the U.S., France, Canada, Russia, or Australia. It happens often and is allowed by Israeli law. This often happens with immigrants and children of immigrants who were born outside Israel. Israel dual citizenship has become a practical status for many families with international ties.
There are various ways you can gain dual citizenship. If either you or one of your grandparents is Jewish, you would usually be eligible for the Law of Return. If you are married to an Israeli or have lived in Israel for a long period, you could apply for naturalization. If your parents are Israeli and you were born outside of Israel, you could be a citizen, unaware of the fact. Even so, Israel will want to see your paperwork, proof, and may even arrange a personal interview. It’s not only about being able to apply. It requires you to prove you meet the requirements of Israeli law. As soon as you become a dual national, you have rights and duties, whether you are living in Israel or not.
Key Laws and Legal Updates (As of 2025)
Israel’s dual citizenship is governed by the Law of Return (1950) and the Citizenship Law (1952). The Law of Return means any Jew is permitted to settle in Israel and become a citizen. Their children, grandchildren, and spouses are part of this group as well. For this reason, this process is often the quickest way to get citizenship. The law also describes how people who are not Jewish can apply for citizenship through birth, naturalization, or marriage. It also explains the circumstances in which the state can deny or cancel citizenship.
Important changes have happened recently. From early 2024 onwards, background checks have been made stricter, mainly for applicants from places where creating fake documents is a problem. There is greater control available for family-based applications. You should expect closer checks if you want to bring a foreign spouse to Israel as an Israeli citizen. In 2025, new laws enable the government to strip citizenship from anyone with another nationality who takes part in terrorism, spying, or major crimes against the state. They are a result of giving more emphasis to national security and better control over who can get a visa. If you are applying today, you must follow the latest legal rules.
Legal Rights and Benefits of Dual Citizens
If you are considered an Israeli citizen by two countries, you are treated with the same rights as any other Israeli citizen. Civil, social, and economic rights are all part of human rights. You have the option to live in Israel for all your days or only some of them. You may work, study, buy real estate, and even become involved in politics. Being from another country doesn’t make you any less of a citizen.
Even so, certain rights must be exercised. You have to enroll with one of Israel’s four public health funds to receive national health coverage. If you are living in another country, you may not be able to use your account unless you go back and renew it. Voting is open to you, but you have to be in Israel on election day; there is no online voting.
Here’s what you get as a dual citizen:
- Once you join a health fund, you may use public healthcare.
- Being able to vote in both national and local elections.
- The right to have property and establish a business.
- Eligibility for help with tuition fees or free university for new immigrants who meet certain conditions.
- Guarantees are set out in Israeli labor and pension laws.
- Having the privilege of carrying both an Israeli and another passport.
- You don’t need to let go of your other nationality.
Legal Responsibilities and Restrictions
Military Service
Even if you live far from Israel, you may be required to join the army if you are an Israeli citizen. At age 18, most people in Israel are required to serve in the military. For those who didn’t grow up in Israel, there may be exceptions, but they have to make an effort. If you were born in the U.S. to Israeli parents and have both passports, the Israeli army could still call you to serve if you return before a certain age. In some cases, people choose to hold off on receiving services by providing proof of a long-term stay abroad, but this requires official confirmation.
Taxes and Residency
The “center of life” test is used by Israel to determine your tax residency. If most of what you own is in Israel, even if you live outside the country, you may still need to pay taxes on global income. It becomes complicated when the second country charges taxes on your income as well. As a dual citizen, you must deal with both countries’ tax systems, which is sometimes made easier with the help of a tax advisor knowledgeable about both systems.
Passport and Travel Rules
Dual citizens should use their Israeli passport to come and go from Israel. It doesn’t matter if your other country allows two vaccines; this rule still applies. If you remain abroad for a long time and do not keep your information updated with Israeli officials, you could lose some rights, such as health care or residency status, until they are renewed.
Risks and Common Legal Challenges
There are benefits to being a dual citizen in Israel, but some people encounter problems if they don’t know the rules. A lot of the time, people who get Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return don’t know what that status means for them. For instance, some people have to pay taxes or serve in the army, regardless of where they live. If someone chooses to renounce their citizenship in the future, they will find it is not an easy process. The Ministry of Interior reviews and approves the documents, and it might take a long time.
A further problem is when laws differ from one country to another. For example, if your other country doesn’t allow dual citizenship, you may lose one if you become a citizen of the new country. If you have a legal concern in another country and your second country doesn’t regard you as its own, you may receive less help from the embassy. Certain individuals run into issues when trying to renew their passports or get benefits, since their documents or records are no longer the same in both countries. Most of these gaps occur because someone didn’t realize a rule was in place, rather than because they broke one. So, it’s still a good idea to follow news from Israel, even if you don’t live there all the time.
One Rule That Saves Trouble Later
You might not realize this, but you should always keep your documents up to date in Israel. Regardless of how often you are there, making sure your address, military exemptions, and passport are up to date stops problems from arising later. Most legal problems come about when someone fails to get a letter from the Ministry of Interior or doesn’t notice their medical benefits have expired. If it’s been some time since your last check, get in touch with the nearest Israeli consulate — they will guide you through fixing your status.
Here’s the trick: make sure to record life events that matter. Got married? A child? Are you moving to a different country? Israel won’t understand unless you tell them how you feel. It’s surprising how many people with dual citizenship can’t renew their passports or access benefits because they didn’t file their birth or marriage documents. Ensure your status is clean, even if it’s not required by law, to make it simpler for yourself when it matters most.
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