Israel Spouse Visa Documents Checklist: What to Prepare for the Gradual Process
This guide shows what documents are usually needed at each stage of the gradual process in Israel.
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List of Documents for the First Application (Opening the Process)
Israeli partner
- Israeli ID card (Teudat Zehut) + ID appendix (sefach - the printed page attached to the ID that shows address, marital status, and children)
- Proof of address in Israel (rental contract, home ownership document, or official address confirmation)
- Documents showing daily life in Israel, for example: National Insurance confirmation (Bituach Leumi), Tax Authority documents, Driver's license / vehicle license
Foreign partner
- Passport (recommended validity: at least 2 years)
- Birth certificate (apostilled + translated into Hebrew)
- Personal status certificate (document proving single / divorced / widowed status, apostilled + translated into Hebrew)
- Name change certificate, if relevant (apostilled + translated into Hebrew)
- Divorce / death certificate, if relevant (apostilled + translated into Hebrew)
- Police clearance certificate / criminal record check (apostilled + translated into Hebrew)
Documents about your relationship and living together
- Application form provided by PIBA / Population and Immigration Authority: AS/1 - if the foreign partner is outside Israel; AS/3 - if the foreign partner is already in Israel
- 2 passport photos of each partner
- Marriage certificate, if married (apostilled + translated into Hebrew if issued abroad)
- Additional forms for married couples: AS/6 (PIBA form that includes declarations about the relationship and housing details; you sign it at the office); MR/6 (PIBA form confirming marriage details; only required if the marriage is not already updated in the Israeli ID)
- Joint relationship letter (one document signed by both partners explaining your relationship: how you met, how long you have been together, and how your relationship developed)
- Recent photos together (recommended: around 10 photos covering the last 12 months)
- Messages / call history (recommended: up to about 10 pages covering the last 12 months, not the full history)
- Travel records (tickets, hotel bookings, trips together)
- Recommendation letters from Israeli family/friends (at least 3; each letter should be signed and include a copy of the writer's Israeli ID)
- Updated rental contract or home ownership proof; if living with parents: signed letter from them + ID copies
- Utility bills (electricity, water, arnona / municipal property tax bill - usually last 12 months)
- Bank statements (joint account OR separate accounts; usually last 12 months; must show transactions and account ownership)
Additional documents (may be required)
- Proof of employment (job letter, payslips; usually last 12 months)
- Proof of financial means (documents showing income, savings, support from family, or another explanation of how you support yourselves; usually covering the last 12 months)
- Health insurance / Kupat Holim or private insurance, depending on the stage
- School / kindergarten confirmation (if children are part of the case)
- Proof of studies (if relevant)
- Declaration of truthfulness (a form where you sign that the information and documents you submitted are true and correct; usually provided by the office to sign)
- Affidavits (official written statements signed in front of a lawyer or notary)
List of Documents for Upgrade and Annual Renewals (B/1 and A/5)
This section covers both:
- upgrading status (B/1 → A/5)
- yearly renewals of the same status (B/1 and A/5)
The document list is the same. You bring the same types of documents each time, updated to cover the last 12 months.
Israeli partner
- Israeli ID card (Teudat Zehut) + ID appendix (sefach - the printed page attached to the ID that shows address, marital status, and children)
- Updated proof of address in Israel (rental contract, home ownership document, or official address confirmation)
- Updated documents showing daily life in Israel, for example: National Insurance confirmation (Bituach Leumi), Tax Authority documents, Driver's license / vehicle license
Foreign partner
- Passport (valid at least 6 months beyond the requested visa period)
- Health insurance / Kupat Holim confirmation (Israeli health fund, for example Maccabi, Clalit, Meuhedet, or Leumit)
Documents about your relationship and living together
- AS/3 form (PIBA form used for renewal / extension when the foreign partner is in Israel)
- 2 passport photos of each partner
- Updated joint relationship letter (what changed since the last check)
- Recent photos together (recommended: around 10 photos covering the last 12 months)
- Messages / call history (recommended: up to about 10 pages covering the last 12 months, not the full history)
- Updated rental contract or home ownership proof; if living with parents: signed letter from them + ID copies
- Utility bills (electricity, water, arnona / municipal property tax bill - last 12 months)
- Bank statements (joint account OR separate accounts; last 12 months; must show transactions and account ownership)
- Recommendation letters from Israeli family/friends (at least 3; each letter should be signed and include a copy of the writer's Israeli ID)
Additional documents (may be required)
- Proof of employment (job letter, payslips; usually last 12 months)
- Proof of financial means (documents showing income, savings, support from family, or another explanation of how you support yourselves; usually covering the last 12 months)
- Declaration of truthfulness (a form where you sign that the information and documents you submitted are true and correct)
- Affidavits (official written statements signed in front of a lawyer or notary)
List of Documents for Final Status / Citizenship Stage
This stage comes after several years in the gradual process. The final outcome depends on your situation:
- married couples usually apply for citizenship at this stage
- unmarried / common-law couples usually apply for permanent residency instead
Israeli partner
- Israeli ID card (Teudat Zehut) + ID appendix (sefach - the printed page attached to the ID that shows address, marital status, and children)
Foreign partner
- Passport / travel document
- Application for Naturalization (only for married couples applying for citizenship; official form, usually given by the office at this stage or available through the official gov.il service page)
- For unmarried / common-law couples: a different permanent residency application handled by the office (no standard public form like naturalization)
- Proof of legal stay history in Israel (previous visas, approval letters, or PIBA status records)
- National Insurance confirmation (Bituach Leumi)
- Kupat Holim membership confirmation (Israeli health fund, for example Maccabi, Clalit, Meuhedet, or Leumit)
- Work / salary records in Israel
- Affidavits, if required (official written statements signed in front of a lawyer or notary)
Documents about your relationship and living together
- Updated joint relationship letter (a new version signed by both partners, describing what changed in your relationship since the last renewal; should cover the last 12 months)
- Recent photos together (recommended: around 10 photos covering the last 12 months)
- Messages / call history (recommended: up to about 10 pages covering the last 12 months, not the full history)
- Updated rental contract or home ownership proof; if living with parents: signed letter from them + ID copies
- Recent utility bills (electricity, water, arnona / municipal property tax bill - last 12 months)
- Bank statements (joint account OR separate accounts; last 12 months; must show transactions and account ownership)
Key difference: married vs unmarried couples
- Married couples: Have a marriage certificate
- Unmarried couples: No marriage certificate; Need stronger relationship proof (more documents, more evidence)
About the Online Application
In many PIBA offices, the process is now handled through online applications on gov.il.
- You are usually required to submit your application online
- This is typically done about 3 months before your appointment (if you already have one) or about 3 months before your visa expires
- After submitting online, the office will review your case and schedule your appointment
Main official application pages:
- Application form for the following cases: first application, B/1 renewal, B/1 → A/5 upgrade, A/5 renewal
- Application form for citizenship (married couples)
Important:
- Not all offices work the same way
- Some offices still use in-person forms and will give you the forms at the office
What Forms Are Used in the Process
- AS/1 – initial application (foreign partner outside Israel) → submitted online
- AS/3 – initial application (foreign partner in Israel) + all renewals and upgrades → submitted online
- Access to AS/1 and AS/3 is through the same link because the system shows different versions of the form depending on your answers, with different questions depending on whether the foreign partner is in Israel or outside Israel.
- AS/6 – married couples only (relationship + housing declarations) → usually provided and signed at the office
- MR/6 – married couples only (if marriage not updated in Israeli ID) → usually provided at the office
- Application for Naturalization (Stage 4, married couples only) → official form available here
How forms are handled
- In many offices, applications are submitted online via gov.il
- Some forms are still given and signed at the office
- The exact process depends on the office
What Else Matters
Documents are only one part of the process - partners are often interviewed separately about their relationship and shared life.
If answers don’t match between partners, it can lead to additional questions or delays.
Quiza Visa helps you prepare for this by letting both partners answer the same questions separately and compare the results in advance.
Common Questions
What documents do I need to renew an A/5 visa in Israel?
You need the same types of documents as before: updated relationship proof, updated shared life documents (rent, bills, bank statements), and forms. All documents should usually cover the last 12 months.
Do I need to bring all documents again every year?
Yes. Each renewal requires the same document set again, but updated with recent information covering the last 12 months.
Do I need to bring full message and call history every time?
No. You usually bring a sample (up to ~10 pages) that shows recent communication from the last 12 months, not the full history.
Glossary: Key Hebrew Terms
If you are going through the spouse or partner visa process in Israel, you may come across Hebrew terms in official documents, communication, or during the interview.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- משרד הפנים (Misrad HaPnim) - Population and Immigration Authority
- רשות האוכלוסין וההגירה (Rashut HaOchlusiya VeHaHagira) - Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) (official name)
- תעודת זהות (Teudat Zehut) - Israeli ID card
- ספח (Sefach) - ID appendix attached to the Israeli ID card
- ביטוח לאומי (Bituach Leumi) - National Insurance
- קופת חולים (Kupat Holim) - Israeli health fund
- ארנונה (Arnona) - Municipal property tax bill
- חיים משותפים (Chaim Meshutafim) - Shared life / common-law relationship
- מרכז חיים (Merkaz Chaim) - Center of life
- הוכחת קשר (Hochachat Kesher) - Proof of relationship
- תצהיר (Tatzhir) - Affidavit / sworn declaration
Important:
This guide is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available sources and practical guidance. It is not an official government publication and is not legal advice. Procedures may change. Always verify current requirements with the official Population and Immigration Authority (Misrad Hapnim) and relevant official sources.