How many Israelis have dual citizenship?

For centuries, Jewish diasporas have maintained their unique cultural and religious identity while living in various parts of the world. Despite being scattered across the globe, they preserved a deep bond to their ancestral homeland.

In 1948, with the establishment of the State of Israel, this connection became more tangible, offering Jews worldwide the opportunity to return to their historical roots. However, many Jews who had lived in other countries for generations were not ready to sever ties with their adopted homelands entirely. This phenomenon has led to the widespread acquisition of dual and even multiple citizenship among Israeli residents.

This article delves into the intricacies of dual citizenship in Israel and explores statistical data to find out how many Israelis have other passports as well.

Dual citizenship in Israel

The concept of dual citizenship in Israel is rooted in the country’s history and its diverse communities. The Law of Return, enacted in 1950, allows Jews, their children, grandchildren and spouses from anywhere in the world to immigrate to Israel. Over the years, Israel has welcomed immigrants from a wide range of countries in Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.

In 1952, Israeli citizenship was enshrined in the Nationality Law. This law outlines the ways of acquiring citizenship: by birth, marriage, naturalization, and the Law of Return. Almost all these options, excluding naturalization, do not require applicants to give up their previous citizenship. This approach has enabled the widespread acceptance of dual citizenship in Israel.

Number of Israelis with foreign passports

According to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, Israel’s population has grown significantly throughout its history: from less than a million in 1948 to 9.9 million in 2024. This growth is largely affected by waves of immigration, known as Aliyah, from Jewish communities around the world. Many of them come from the countries of origin where they already have roots going back to generations before.

In recent decades, Israel has gone through several major waves of Aliyah.

1. Aliyah “On Eagles’ Wings” (1949) has seen the ancient Yemenite Jewish community move to Israel. By September 1950, a total of 50 000 Yemenite Jews had made Aliyah as the relationship with Yemen remained hostile. In the following years several other operations were conducted regarding the Jewish communities in the neighboring countries.
2. During Operation Moses (1984) 8 000 of Ethiopian Jews arrived in Israel. The operation was conducted thanks to an agreement between the Israeli Mossad and the senior officials of Sudan.
3. Aliyah from the former USSR (1990) happened due to the fall of the Soviet regime. It marked the end of the decades-long isolation of Soviet Jews. Jews were allowed to emigrate, and so they did. Nearly 1 million Jews from the ex-USSR territories moved to Israel in the 1990s.

The waves of Aliyah caused by social and political instabilities mixed with the determination of the American and European Jews popularized the concept of dual citizenships. By CCLEX’s evaluation, approximately 10% of Israeli nationals now hold dual citizenship. Most were born in Israel and acquired citizenship in other countries as adults. For others the Israeli citizenship came second after their “original nationality”.

Most common foreign citizenships among Israelis

Although Israel doesn’t disclose the official data on how many Israelis hold dual citizenship, some unofficial estimates provide interesting insights.

According to Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, since 1948, there have been a growing number of immigrants arriving from the countries in the table below. And while this data cannot reflect the actual number of Israelis with dual citizenship (considering that not all the immigrants keep their initial citizenship and not all the Israelis with dual citizenship decide to migrate), it may show their proportion.

In 2023, Times of Israel mention approximately 200 000 Israelis who held dual American citizenship. Research done by Princeton University estimates 344 000 Israeli nationals who were also citizens of an EU country.

The ranking of dual citizenships likely mirrors the immigration data above. According to that same research, most Israelis who hold dual citizenship do it for the benefits of the passport: visa-free access to the EU, access to the European universities, a form of insurance in case of political or economic instability.

Israel has many historical ties with many countries, including the U.S., Canada, the EU, the UK, and Russia, reflecting its diverse population. Due to historical immigration waves and the size of Jewish communities, many Americans, Russians, Ukrainians, Germans and Poles have the privilege of dual citizenship. But even though dual citizenship in Israel presents many opportunities, it can become a source of challenges for its holder.

Impact of dual citizenship on military service

In Israel military service and conscription is mandatory for most Jewish citizens with men serving 32 months and women serving 24 months. A concept that is foreign to the European democracies, military service is a cornerstone of Israeli society and security. But when it comes to dual citizenship, the issue becomes even more complex.

However, there are specific exemptions for dual citizens residing abroad. If an Israeli citizen was born in another country or moved from Israel before the age of 16, they’re able to receive a special status. It gives the person 120 days in a year to visit Israel without being drafted. The status needs to be adjusted at the consulate in the country of residence before the age of 16. It’s done by submitting a form and presenting proof that the person’s center of life is outside of Israel.

For those who obtain Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return but retain their previous citizenship, there are additional exemptions. Men after the age of 26 and women after the age of 24 are generally exempt from mandatory service upon making Aliyah.

Restrictions for dual citizens in Israel

As was mentioned previously, Israel accepts dual citizenship and doesn’t have any requirements for individuals to renounce their original nationality. But it’s worth mentioning that the country does have some restrictions for dual citizens, especially if they plan to work with politically sensitive information.

The most obvious example of these restrictions is tax residency. Dual citizens who are tax residents in Israel are subjected to taxes on their income. Keep that information in mind and check whether you have tax residency elsewhere. Double taxation may also be applied depending on the country.

Dual citizens may also face restrictions when applying for governmental jobs. Certain positions in the Government and Military may require renunciation of the previous citizenship. Dual citizens may also be scrutinized when purchasing certain kinds of property, especially if they have ties to hostile countries. A set of restrictions not often talked about concerns traveling and entry to the country. By the Israeli law all the citizens — even with dual nationality — must enter and exit the country using their Israeli passports. This policy has had an extension recently.

Dual citizens will be permitted to enter and exit Israel with their foreign passports up until December 31, 2025. This measure was specifically taken for those having trouble renewing their passports.

Obtaining Israeli citizenship while keeping another nationality

For individuals of Jewish ancestry, acquiring Israeli citizenship through return does not require renouncing their previous nationality. This approach reflects Israel’s dedication to welcoming Jews from around the world while allowing them to maintain their ties to their countries of origin.

The process of obtaining Israeli citizenship typically involves providing proof of Jewish ancestry, such as birth and death certificates, marriage certificates. For more information check out our article with a step-by-step process description.

Unlike citizenship obtained through the Law of Return, allowing Jews to retain their original nationality, naturalization often requires applicants to renounce their previous citizenship. The only exception to that rule is naturalization through marriage to an Israeli citizen. Renunciation of foreign citizenship is intended to ensure integration into Israeli society. Exceptions can be made in certain cases, such as when renunciation would cause significant suffering or when the applicant’s home country does not allow it.

Dual citizenship is a widespread and legally accepted phenomenon in Israel. It reflects the country’s diverse population and intention to better the world for every Jewish person wishing to go back to their roots. As long as Israel continues to play the role of a homeland for the Jewish people, dual citizenship will remain a key aspect of its national identity.