What is a Student Visa, and Why Should We Have One? A student visa, or an A/2 visa, allows a non-citizen to live in Israel as a student. It is valid for up to five years and may be renewed as long as the holder remains a student. The spouse and children of students can receive an A/4 visa with the same terms. One who holds a student visa is eligible for Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) after six months of residency in Israel.
If you are a foreign student studying in Israel, it is critical to apply for a student visa as soon as you can. You must have a visa in order to be legally permitted to remain in the country. Your school will require you to have one, too, and you’ll need it as proof of eligibility for certain benefits that apply to students. Additionally, getting a student visa is a prerequisite for Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) enrollment. For more information, see our guides on Bituach Leumi.
Who is Eligible for a Student Visa? In order to obtain a student visa, you must be a non-Israeli citizen and have proof that you or your spouse is enrolled in an educational institution in Israel for at least 40 hours of learning per week.
Where Can We Get a Student Visa? To get a student visa in Israel, you must apply at Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of Interior). Alternatively, you can obtain a student visa before leaving to Israel at an Israeli embassy in your country of origin. Certain schools or yeshivos may arrange student visas for their students.
The Jerusalem visa department is located in the central Misrad Hapnim on Shlomzion Hamalka 1. No appointments are required for student visa applications or renewals. Hours are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8-9 am only. Doors open at 7:30 am. It is advisable to arrive as early as possible to ensure the smoothest possible experience.
Most other visa departments operate similarly, but a few require appointments for visa-related matters.
Check your local office’s hours and appointment requirements before you go – they change often!
If you are located in Jerusalem and would like to take care of Bituach Leumi matters on the same trip, go on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, and early enough to get to Bituach Leumi before it closes at 1:00 pm.
To apply for a first-time visa, all adult applicants must be present. To renew a joint visa, only one spouse must be present. Children never need to be present.
To obtain a first-time visa, or to renew an existing visa, you will need:
Visas are granted on the spot for individuals or families of three or less.
To obtain or renew your family’s student visas, one spouse must go to Misrad Hapnim to submit the following documents:
In Jerusalem, unless you arrive extremely early to Misrad Hapnim, you will need to wait on the line for Modiin, the visa information desk, then submit your documents there and return with all your passports to pick up the processed visas about a week later during visa hours. (You will not lose your passports during this time; Misrad Hapnim only keeps the copies.) Early arrivals are often sent directly to visa clerks who usually print visas on the spot.
If either spouse would like permission to work, request that his/her visa say rashai la’avod, or “permitted to work,” and present the following documents:
The spouse and children of a student are described as nilva’im l’student, accompanying the student, and receive A/4 visas. Their visas are valid as long as the student’s, unless their passports expire before then.
When applying for a first-time visa, adult A/4 applicants must be present at Misrad Hapnim. For renewals, either spouse can go. Confirm visa department hours before your trip.
After submitting the following documents, you should receive your A/4 visa on the spot.
For a child:
To obtain or renew a visa for your child, one parent should go to the visa department of Misrad Hapnim during visa hours. The child is not required to come. Present the documents below. You should receive the child’s visa on the spot.
When your visa expires, you lose your rights to all the benefits that come along with being a resident of Israel – including Bituach Leumi. When your or your children’s visas near expiration, you might get a warning letter from Bituach Leumi saying that you will be kicked off soon. But even if that letter does not come, Bituach Leumi benefits – both health insurance and monetary grants – will be cut off soon after visa expiration. After a short grace period, access to kupat cholim services is also cut off.
As difficult as it may be, stay on top of your family’s visas. Visas can be renewed around two months before they expire. Don’t wait until the last minute! Most children’s passports, and therefore visas, last for a maximum of five years. Their passports must be renewed early enough to allow for time to get a new visa before – or soon after – the first one expires. Without a new visa, they will be without health insurance.
After renewing your visa, you must update Bituach Leumi. They will not be notified automatically. Make a copy of each new visa and label each one with the corresponding Bituach Leumi number. Present the originals and copies to a Bituach Leumi clerk to update your file. A week later, call *6050 with your four digit access code to confirm that every family member’s status has been correctly updated.
If it has been 6 months or more since your visas expired, you need to bring dapei knisot v’yetziot to Bituach Leumi in addition to your renewed visas.
When your visa expires, your water rate will be “reset” to the default two-person residence. For a large family, this can raise the bill dramatically. You must make sure to update Hagihon, the Jerusalem water company, with your updated visas to ensure that they will not charge you wrongly. This cannot necessarily be changed retroactively. Don’t assume that you will receive advance notification.