Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) has introduced new procedures for the legal status of foreign partners of Israeli citizens, allowing certain B1 and A5 visas to be issued for up to two years. Implemented in July 2026, the changes apply to both married and unmarried couples undergoing Israel’s gradual status process, potentially reducing the frequency of visa renewal appointments while maintaining the overall duration of the process.
Under the revised guidelines, the first visa issued in the partner procedure typically remains valid for one year. Subsequent B1 or A5 visas may now be issued for up to two years, based on PIBA’s evaluation and discretion. Married couples generally follow a path involving A5 temporary residency, with the possibility of two-year renewals after the initial one-year period. Unmarried couples usually start with B1 status before transitioning to A5 temporary residency, with both statuses now eligible for extended validity.
The updated procedures also offer flexibility in situations where applicants cannot initially provide a required document. In exceptional cases, a PIBA Regional Director may authorize the applicant to enter the gradual process without the document, provided the applicant shows genuine efforts to obtain it and explains the current inability to submit it. However, the documentation must be supplied before completing the gradual process.
Changes extend to the citizenship application process as well, with Deputy office managers at some PIBA offices now authorized to process and approve certain applications for citizenship once married couples reach the final stage of the gradual status procedure. This authority was previously more centralized with the office manager. Additionally, the new rules address foreign partners in Israel without valid legal status, allowing them to remain if a genuine relationship is established, even if it began after a previous visa expired.
According to Joshua Pex, an immigration attorney and founding partner at Decker, Pex, Levi Law Offices, the option for longer visa periods could provide greater stability for couples in the multi-year process. While the revised procedure allows applicants to request up to two-year validity for B1 or A5 renewals, the issuance of such visas remains at PIBA’s discretion. Decker, Pex, Levi Law Offices continues to advise couples on partner visa and gradual status procedures, including visas for work, temporary residency, permanent residency, and citizenship. For more information, interested parties can contact Joshua Pex directly.
Legal Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article has been provided by independent third-party contributors, clients, or content partners. We do not independently verify the accuracy, completeness, legality, ownership, licensing, or reliability of submitted content, including text, images, videos, trademarks, or other media materials. The submitting party is solely responsible for ensuring that all content, including images and media assets, complies with applicable copyright, trademark, licensing, and intellectual property laws. We disclaim liability for any unauthorized use of copyrighted or proprietary materials by third parties. If you believe that any content published on this platform infringes your intellectual property rights, kindly contact the author above for prompt review and resolution.