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Can a divorcing spouse in Israel be prevented from leaving the country?

Yes. Israeli courts — both the Family Court and the Rabbinical Court — have authority to issue a tsav ikul yetsia (exit restriction order) against a spouse during divorce proceedings. The order is typically sought when there is a credible concern that the spouse will leave Israel permanently and evade financial obligations. Any pending claims for alimony, property division, or child support can support an application. The restriction is enforced at all Israeli border crossings through the Population and Immigration Authority and remains in effect until the court lifts it.

The tsav ikul yetsia in a divorce context is authorized under the Courts Law (Consolidated Version) 5744-1984 and a developed body of Family Court precedent granting the court broad powers to issue temporary relief. The Family Court can issue the order on an ex parte basis — without the other spouse being present or notified in advance — if the applicant demonstrates an immediate risk that the spouse will flee before financial claims are resolved. The Rabbinical Court similarly holds authority to impose an exit restriction in get (religious divorce) proceedings where a spouse is delaying or withholding the religious bill of divorce. Once issued, the order is registered with the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), which flags the name in the border control system. The affected person will be stopped at any Israeli land, sea, or air crossing — including Ben Gurion Airport — regardless of their nationality or whether they hold a foreign passport. For more detail on how Israeli divorce proceedings work for foreign nationals, see the full guide.

The exit restriction in a divorce proceeding is legally distinct from the exit order issued by the Execution Office in a debt enforcement context. The divorce-related order is court-issued, not registrar-issued, and the court balances freedom of movement against the risk of asset dissipation or abandonment of financial obligations. Courts can and do consider a spouse's genuine need to travel — for work, family care, or medical reasons — and may impose a limited exit restriction with a provision for supervised travel. For a foreign national visiting Israel who faces an unexpected divorce filing, an exit restriction can have severe practical consequences: the person may be detained at the airport even with booked onward flights and no advance warning. The restriction is lifted when the court orders its removal, which typically occurs after a security deposit (pikadon) is lodged with the court or a binding financial settlement agreement is reached and approved.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Courts Law (Consolidated Version) 5744-1984; Family Court precedent; rabbinical court jurisdiction for Jewish parties
  • Competent authority: Family Court (Beit Mishpat LeMishpacha) for civil matters; Rabbinical Court (Beit Din Rabbani) for get proceedings
  • Grounds for order: credible risk of flight or asset dissipation; pending alimony, property division, or child support claims
  • Duration: indefinite until court orders removal — typically 2–8 weeks from application to lift if the underlying claim is resolved or security is provided
  • Lifted by: security deposit (pikadon) lodged with the court, binding settlement agreement, or a court order on application by the restricted party

From the full guide: Divorce in Israel for Foreign Nationals: A Complete Legal Guide

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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