Quick Answer: Every Israeli citizen — including new Olim — is entitled to an Israeli passport under the Passports Law 5712-1952. You apply in person at any Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPanim) branch in Israel, or at an Israeli embassy or consulate abroad. Since 2012, all Israeli passports are biometric and require a brief in-person appointment for fingerprint collection. Adults pay approximately NIS 260–370 (5-year or 10-year passport); standard processing takes 10 to 14 business days. Critically, dual citizens must enter and exit Israel using their Israeli passport — using only a foreign passport at Israeli border control violates Section 6A of the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952.

Making aliyah is a momentous step. But citizenship is just the legal status — the Israeli passport is what makes it tangible for travel. For new Olim, applying for that first Israeli passport is typically one of the first things to arrange after landing, right alongside enrolling in a health fund and registering with the National Insurance Institute. The process is shorter and simpler than many expect, but it has specific requirements that trip people up, particularly around biometric data collection and the dual-passport rules at Ben Gurion Airport.

This guide covers the full passport application process — whether you are applying from inside Israel or from an Israeli embassy abroad, what documents you need, the current 2026 fee structure, how biometric collection works, and the rules governing dual citizens. For the process of acquiring Israeli citizenship in the first place (through aliyah, naturalization, or descent), see our separate guides on making aliyah and naturalization for non-Jewish foreigners.

1. Who Needs an Israeli Passport

Any Israeli citizen who wants to travel internationally needs an Israeli passport. There is no alternative — Israel does not issue international travel documents in lieu of passports except in narrow emergency situations.

The categories of people who should apply:

  • New Olim: You receive Israeli citizenship automatically on the day you land with an aliyah visa under Section 2 of the Citizenship Law 5712-1952. The next step is obtaining the passport that comes with it.
  • Children born in Israel to Israeli citizen parents: Citizenship is automatic under Section 4 of the Citizenship Law; the passport must be applied for separately.
  • Israeli citizens born abroad: Those who inherited Israeli citizenship through a parent under Section 4A of the Citizenship Law, or who were registered with an Israeli consulate at birth, may hold citizenship without having a current Israeli passport.
  • Citizens whose passports have expired: An expired Israeli passport cannot be used for travel; renewal is mandatory before any international trip.
  • Naturalized citizens: Those who completed the naturalization process under Section 5 of the Citizenship Law can apply for a passport once the Ministry of Interior confirms their citizenship in the Population Registry.

One category does not need a passport: Israeli citizens traveling internally within Israel do not need a passport; the Teudat Zehut (national identity card) is sufficient. The passport is for crossing international borders.

2. Applying Inside Israel: Step by Step

The Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPanim), through the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA, Rashut HaHagira VeHaYishuv), processes all Israeli passport applications made from within Israel. There are over 30 regional branches across the country.

The process has four steps:

  1. Book an appointment. Passport applications require an in-person appointment — walk-ins are rarely accepted and result in long waits. Book online at gov.il under the Ministry of Interior service portal. Choose "passport application" or "darkon." Appointment availability in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa typically runs 2 to 4 weeks out; smaller regional offices such as Netanya, Beer Sheva, and Ashdod are often available within days.
  2. Prepare your documents. See Section 4 below for the full list. For a first passport, the core documents are your Teudat Zehut (Israeli identity card), two biometric-compliant passport photographs, and proof of citizenship for those who did not receive a Teudat Zehut at arrival.
  3. Attend the appointment and submit biometric data. At the appointment, a ministry clerk photographs you and collects your fingerprints digitally. The biometric data is embedded in the passport chip. The appointment itself takes 20 to 40 minutes. You pay the passport fee at this stage, either by credit card or bank transfer voucher (shober tashlum).
  4. Collect your passport. Standard passports are ready in 10 to 14 business days. You can collect in person at the issuing branch or pay a small courier fee to have it delivered to your home address within Israel. Urgent service (available for an additional fee of approximately NIS 160) reduces processing to 2 to 3 business days.
In Practice: First-Week Priorities for New Olim

New Olim receive a temporary Israeli identity document at Ben Gurion Airport valid for 30 days. Within that window, you must go to a Ministry of Interior branch to convert it to a permanent Teudat Zehut. Only after you have the permanent Teudat Zehut can you apply for an Israeli passport using the standard application. The efficient sequence for the first week: (1) Book a Misrad HaPanim appointment online at gov.il before you land — central Tel Aviv, the Azrieli branch (Nevi'im Street, 03-7397300), is one of the busiest but has the most appointment slots. (2) At the Misrad HaPanim appointment, both convert your ID and submit your passport application in the same visit — the branch handles both services simultaneously. (3) PIBA's national information line is *3450, available Sunday through Thursday 08:00–20:00 and Fridays 08:00–12:00, for appointment rescheduling and procedural questions.

3. Applying from Abroad at an Israeli Embassy

Israeli citizens who live outside Israel — including dual citizens who have not yet visited Israel since acquiring citizenship, or Olim who returned abroad — can apply for an Israeli passport at the Israeli embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

The process differs from the domestic route in a few important ways:

  • Appointment booking: Each Israeli embassy manages its own scheduling system. Contact the specific embassy directly; many have online booking portals, others require email or phone requests. Wait times vary considerably: the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the consulate in New York are heavily booked and may have 4 to 8 week waits; smaller posts often accommodate within 2 weeks.
  • Document authentication: Foreign civil documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) submitted at the embassy may need apostille certification under the Hague Convention if issued by a third country. Documents issued by Israeli authorities do not require apostille.
  • Processing time: After the biometric appointment at the consulate, the application is transmitted to Israel for printing. This adds transit time. Total processing from consulate appointment to receiving the finished passport runs 4 to 8 weeks at most posts. Some consulates mail the passport back; others require in-person collection.
  • Renewals vs. first-time applications: Some consulates allow postal submission for straightforward renewals (existing Israeli passport, no name change, no biometric update needed). First-time applications always require an in-person appointment because biometric fingerprints must be physically collected.
In Practice: Embassy Contacts and Fees Abroad

Israeli embassies collect the same statutory passport fees as Misrad HaPanim branches, converted to the local currency at the official exchange rate. The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. (202-364-5500, washington.mfa.gov.il) handles consular applications for Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. residents; New York consulate (212-499-5300) covers the northeast; Los Angeles consulate (323-852-5500) covers the western US. In the UK, the Israeli Embassy in London (020-7957-9500) handles all consular applications. In Australia, the Embassy in Canberra (02-6215-4500) and consulate in Sydney handle applications. For countries without an Israeli diplomatic presence, applicants may need to travel to the nearest country with an Israeli mission. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular portal at mfa.gov.il maintains a full list of embassy addresses and hours.

4. Documents Required

The documents you need depend on whether this is a first-time application or a renewal, and whether you are applying inside Israel or at a consulate abroad.

First-time passport (for new Olim or Israeli citizens who never held a passport):

  • Israeli Teudat Zehut (national identity card) — the original, not a copy
  • Two biometric-compliant passport photographs (34 mm × 45 mm, white background, face forward, no glasses, no head covering unless for religious reasons — in which case a signed declaration is required)
  • Teudat Oleh (immigrant certificate) — for those who made aliyah, as proof of citizenship
  • Completed application form — provided at the Misrad HaPanim branch or downloadable from gov.il
  • Payment of the applicable fee

For children under 18:

  • Child's Israeli birth certificate (for children born in Israel) or Teudat Zehut if they have one
  • Identity documents for both parents (Teudat Zehut or valid passports)
  • Written consent of both parents on the application form (or court order granting sole guardianship to one parent)
  • Two biometric-compliant photographs of the child

Renewals (existing expired or expiring passport):

  • Current or most recent Israeli passport
  • Current Teudat Zehut
  • Two updated biometric photographs
  • Payment of the renewal fee

Name changes (due to marriage, divorce, or court order):

  • Marriage certificate or divorce decree, or court-approved name-change order
  • Updated Teudat Zehut reflecting the new name (must be updated at Misrad HaPanim before applying for the passport)
In Practice: Photograph Specifications and Common Rejection Reasons

The Ministry of Interior's biometric photograph standard is strict and applications are rejected for non-compliant photos more often than for missing documents. The exact technical standard under the Population Registration Regulations 5760-2000 requires: image size 34 mm × 45 mm; face covering between 70 and 80 percent of the frame; white or light grey background only; both eyes fully open and clearly visible; no glasses; mouth closed; neutral expression. Digital manipulation to remove blemishes, alter shadow patterns, or change background colour is grounds for rejection. Religious head coverings are permitted provided the entire face from chin to hairline is clearly visible — a signed declaration must accompany such photographs. Photos printed at home on regular paper are rejected; use a professional photo lab or the passport photo machines at post offices and pharmacies (SuperPharm chains have them in most Israeli cities). Bring three or four copies rather than just two to avoid delay if one is borderline.

5. Fees, Validity, and Processing Times

Israeli passport fees are set by regulation and updated periodically. The following are the current standard rates for 2026 — verify the exact figures at gov.il before your appointment as these can change between government budget cycles:

  • Adult passport, 5-year validity: Approximately NIS 260
  • Adult passport, 10-year validity (ages 18+): Approximately NIS 370
  • Child passport (under 18), 5-year validity: Approximately NIS 205
  • Urgent processing supplement: Approximately NIS 160 (reduces processing to 2–3 business days)
  • Home delivery within Israel: Approximately NIS 25
  • Emergency travel document (laissez-passer) issued abroad: Varies by consulate; typically USD 40–80 or local equivalent

Validity periods work as follows:

  • Children under 18: 5-year passport only (you cannot issue a 10-year passport to a minor)
  • Adults 18 and older: choice of 5-year or 10-year passport. The 10-year option is generally the better value for most adults; the additional cost is small relative to the convenience of not needing to renew again for a decade
  • Adults who turn 18 during a 5-year passport term can apply for a 10-year passport early if the 5-year passport is within 6 months of expiry

Processing times inside Israel:

  • Standard: 10 to 14 business days from the biometric appointment
  • Urgent: 2 to 3 business days (additional fee required; not available at all branches — call ahead to confirm)
  • Same-day: not available for biometric passports inside Israel except through the urgent channel at designated branches
In Practice: Timing Your Application Before International Travel

New Olim often discover they need their Israeli passport sooner than expected — a business trip, a family visit home, or an upcoming flight booked before realizing how long standard processing takes. PIBA's internal service-level target under the Population Registry Regulations is 14 business days for a standard passport. During peak periods (August, December–January, and around Jewish holidays), branch backlogs can push standard processing to 18–20 business days. If your flight departs within 25 business days, book the urgent service at the time of application — do not wait to see if the standard timeline holds. The urgent supplement is applied at the point of application and cannot be added retroactively. For trips departing within 5 business days, contact PIBA's central coordination office at 02-6271999 and explain the situation; in genuine emergencies, same-day emergency documents can sometimes be arranged through the branch manager.

6. Biometric Passport: What to Expect at Your Appointment

Israel moved to fully biometric passports in October 2012 under amendments to the Passports Law 5712-1952. Every passport issued since then contains an embedded electronic chip storing the holder's facial image and fingerprint data. The chip is ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) compliant, meaning it is recognized by e-passport readers at airports worldwide.

What happens at the biometric appointment:

  1. A clerk at the Misrad HaPanim passport desk scans your Teudat Zehut and verifies your identity against the Population Registry.
  2. A digital photograph is taken using the branch's biometric camera. If you bring your own photographs, a clerk may still take a branch photograph to ensure compliance — both may be used in the chip and in the printed booklet.
  3. Fingerprints are digitally scanned from the index fingers of both hands using a flat optical scanner — no ink, no rolling. The scan takes about 60 seconds.
  4. You sign the application form electronically on a pad.
  5. You pay the fee and receive a receipt with your application number and expected collection date.

Exemptions from fingerprint collection:

  • Children under 14: no fingerprints required; facial image only
  • Persons with physical disabilities that prevent fingerprint collection: the clerk notes the exemption on the application; the passport is issued without fingerprint data in the chip
  • Persons aged 75 and above: fingerprint collection is optional at many branches though the passport still contains a chip
In Practice: How Biometric Data Is Stored and Used

The biometric data on the Israeli passport chip is protected under Sections 8A–8D of the amended Passports Law and the Privacy Protection Law 5741-1981. The chip can be read only by authorized readers using the passport's machine-readable zone as a cryptographic key — a reader without the physical booklet in its optical reader cannot extract the chip data. PIBA does not retain a separate copy of the fingerprint data after the chip is burned — the Ministry of Interior's stated policy is that the raw fingerprint template is deleted from ministry servers within 30 days of passport issuance. The facial image, however, is retained as part of the Population Registry record. Travelers entering Israel through the automated border gates at Ben Gurion Airport (the e-Gates) have their passport chip data compared in real time against the biometric that was stored at issuance. First-time Israeli passport holders who have not set up their biometric profile at the airport may need to use a staffed immigration lane until their profile is active in the system.

7. Dual Citizens and the Israeli Border Entry Rule

This is the section that catches the most dual citizens off guard — and the rule is firm.

Section 6A of the Entry into Israel Law 5712-1952 (Chok HaKnissa LeYisrael) provides that an Israeli citizen must enter and depart Israel only with an Israeli travel document. The Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) has authority to enforce this requirement at all Israeli border crossings, including Ben Gurion Airport, Eilat Yitzhak Rabin terminal, and the Allenby Bridge crossing.

What this means in practice:

  • At the Israeli border: Present your Israeli passport (or Israeli Teudat Zehut for cross-border land crossings) to Israeli immigration. Your foreign passport is irrelevant for the Israeli border officer.
  • At the destination country's border: Use whichever passport gives you the most favorable entry status. For most Western dual citizens, this is still the Israeli passport for most countries. For US-Israeli dual citizens, the US passport remains the better choice for entry to countries that have stricter entry requirements for Israeli passport holders.
  • What happens if you show only your foreign passport at Ben Gurion: PIBA's system cross-references your passport against the Population Registry using your name and date of birth. If the system identifies you as an Israeli citizen, the immigration officer will ask for your Israeli travel document. If you do not have one (for example, you let your Israeli passport expire), you will be processed under the Entry into Israel Law and may be delayed. You are still admitted — you are a citizen — but the procedure is slower and the officer may flag your file for follow-up.

For US-Israeli dual citizens specifically, the US Embassy in Tel Aviv advises US citizens to always travel with both passports. US citizens who are also Israeli citizens are reminded by the US State Department that they may be subject to Israeli military service obligations — consult our guide on IDF service for new immigrants and dual citizens before traveling if this is a concern.

In Practice: Countries That Restrict Israeli Passports

As of 2026, Israeli passports are not accepted for entry to several countries primarily in the Arab League and some other states. Dual citizens who hold an Israeli passport and a passport from a country whose citizens can enter those restricted countries should use the non-Israeli passport for travel to those states. The Israeli passport, once stamped by Israeli border control, contains exit and entry stamps that some countries screen at their own borders — a concern for dual citizens who travel frequently to certain Gulf states, for example. In recent years, following normalization agreements under the Abraham Accords with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, Israeli passport holders gained direct entry rights to those countries. Check the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advisory page at travel.state.gov (US) or fcdo.gov.uk (UK) for current country-specific entry restrictions affecting holders of Israeli travel documents before booking travel.

8. Lost, Stolen, or Expired Passports

Different rules apply depending on where you are when you lose your passport.

Lost or stolen inside Israel:

  1. File a police report (tlunat gilui) at any Israeli police station. Keep the report number.
  2. Apply for a replacement passport at any Misrad HaPanim branch with the police report number, your Teudat Zehut, and new photographs.
  3. The standard replacement fee applies; there is no additional penalty for a lost passport beyond the inconvenience of reapplying.
  4. Standard processing time (10–14 business days) or urgent service (2–3 business days with supplement) applies to replacements.

Lost or stolen abroad:

  1. File a police report in the country where the loss occurred. The local Israeli embassy will request this as part of their records.
  2. Contact the nearest Israeli embassy or consulate immediately. Under the Passports Law 5712-1952, consular officers are authorized to issue a temporary travel document — an emergency laissez-passer (techefa zmanit) — that permits a single journey back to Israel.
  3. The laissez-passer is generally issued within 1 to 3 business days. It is not a full biometric passport and cannot be used for onward travel to third countries. Use it only to return to Israel.
  4. Once back in Israel, apply for a full biometric replacement at Misrad HaPanim.

Expired passport: An expired Israeli passport cannot be used for international travel. If your passport expired while you were abroad and you need to travel back to Israel, the consulate can issue either an emergency laissez-passer for a single return journey or, in some cases, expedite a full renewal if the consulate has capacity. Contact the specific consulate to find out which service they offer — policy varies.

In Practice: Reporting a Lost Passport to PIBA

Under Regulation 9A of the Passports Regulations, the holder of a lost or stolen Israeli passport has a legal obligation to report the loss to PIBA within 14 days of discovering it. Failure to report does not carry a criminal penalty for first-time offenders but can complicate future passport applications. PIBA's central reporting line is *3450 (from Israel) or +972-2-6271999 (from abroad). Once a passport is reported lost, PIBA marks it as invalid in the international INTERPOL Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database — this prevents it from being used fraudulently at foreign borders. If you later find the passport, notify PIBA; a found passport reported as lost cannot be "un-cancelled" and must be surrendered to any Misrad HaPanim branch.