Law of Return in Israel: Who is eligible for citizenship in 2026

Yes. The 1970 amendment to the Law of Return directly grants the right to grandchildren of Jews - regardless of which line and regardless of your own religion. One Jewish grandfather or grandmother is sufficient grounds.

No. Israel does not require renunciation of previous citizenship. Russia formally does not recognize dual citizenship, but does not prohibit having a second passport - only requires you to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 days.

This complicates document collection, but does not close the door. You need to find documents with both surnames and prove the connection: an archival certificate of surname change, a Soviet passport with a nationality note. Such cases are solvable - they just require more time.

Citizenship itself is free - the State of Israel does not charge money for aliya. Your expenses: document translations into Hebrew, notarization, apostilles (if needed), airline tickets. Consultant or attorney services are not mandatory, but justified in complex cases.

No. Citizenship is granted at the moment of entry into Israel with an aliya visa. However, after obtaining citizenship, you are not required to live there permanently - you can visit periodically while maintaining citizenship.

If you yourself are Jewish by birth (Jewish mother), then voluntary conversion to another religion deprives you of the right to aliya under the "Jewish" category. But your children and grandchildren - no. If you are a grandchild or child of a Jew, your religion does not matter at all for the right to aliya.

With a complete document package - 2 to 4 months. If additional archival certificates are needed or there are questions about documents - 6 months or more. Registration for initial interviews at Sokhnut in some cities is scheduled several months in advance.

New repatriates receive 10 years of tax holidays: income from foreign sources is not subject to Israeli tax, foreign assets do not need to be declared. After 10 years - standard Israeli tax on worldwide income.

Children born out of wedlock are included if their Jewish ancestry is confirmed by documentation. Adopted children are included if the adoption is officially registered and the child is a minor at the time of application. Each case is reviewed individually.

No. The right to aliyah does not depend on age. One can apply at any age—even at 70. The only caveat: men under 26 arriving on aliyah may be conscripted for military service in the IDF.

The law does not provide a precise definition, and this is intentional—to allow decisions to be made individually. In practice, this refers to serious criminal offenses: terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, organized crime. A routine administrative offense or minor criminal history will not result in refusal.

Yes, if it was conducted by an accredited Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative community. Conversions by unrecognized or marginal communities may not be accepted. I recommend clarifying the status of a specific community in advance with the consulate or the Jewish Agency.