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Renewal of Israeli passport

July 31, 2024 766 Time to read: 10 min.

An Israeli national document is handy to open many doors to holders without them needing to get a visa, which undoubtedly makes travels easier. In order to avoid problems when crossing borders between different countries, and ensure compliance with all the relevant migration rules, it is extremely important your passport remains valid when you need it. Here we explain the procedures you need to take in case you need to renew your passport from both within Israel, and various countries abroad.

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    Renewing an Israeli passport abroad

    For Israeli citizens residing, or staying abroad temporarily, a few options enable holders to extend the validity of their passports, or to reissue them. You must remember that, due to a number of particular features of the Israeli biometric data legislation, only regular passports may be issued abroad, as opposed to the biometric ones, which may only be issued in Israel. There are two options a person can use to renew an Israeli passport abroad.

    Using the Israeli embassy for passport renewal

    The most usual way to extend or reissue an Israeli national document involves contacting an Israeli diplomatic mission, such as an embassy. This service is very popular within a great majority of countries, which keeps embassy staff busy, therefore making an appointment first is the general rule of thumb. Sometimes, such an appointment needs to be scheduled months ahead, so it is vital to plan your efforts in advance. The right to renew the national document arises six months before it expires.

    An ordinary (non-biometric) Israeli passport is valid for the period of five years, for adults and minors alike. The document may be extended for no more than five years. Once the five-year term ends, you need to have it reissued.

    Two different paths are available to minors and adult citizens:

    • Minors (individuals under 18) are required to appear in person, accompanied by one of the parents. If parents are in divorce, a notarized consent, or presence of the other parent may be required.
    • Adults (individuals 18 y.o. or older) have a choice between a personal visit to the embassy, or send the necessary papers by mail. However, those individuals who have just reached 18, need to appear in person to have their first adult passport issued to them.

    Since biometric passports, which have recently become common for reasons of security, can only be issued within Israel, the individual is issued a regular, non-biometric Israeli national document.

    Mailing your renewal application

    Embassies are located in major cities. In order to simplify your renewal process, there is an option you can use to mail your documents and receive a readily-made passport by mail. Only Israeli citizens who are compliant with these criteria are eligible for a mail-in application:

    • You must be 18 or above: only adult Israeli citizens are eligible.
    • Citizens must have an arranged military status, normally this requirement is relevant for applicants aged 17 to 25 years old.
    • Such applicants must submit their current national document, which must be neither lost nor damaged.
    • The current document must not have any serious damages, a slightly worn item is acceptable, however the damage can’t be too serious.
    • Such a person must have visited Israel at least once over the past 10 years. This is necessary to confirm you are still connected with the country.

    In all other cases, a personal visit is mandated. All of the prepared documents must be posted using registered mail. This is necessary not only to ensure they are safe, but it will also enable you to track their position during transfer. This process may be used only by individuals who have an Israeli ID.

    The renewal of your passport by mail requires that you provide the following set of papers:

    • A renewal application form available both in Hebrew and English, completed and signed.
    • Two 2×2’’ (5×5 cm) passport photos made in line with document standards.
    • Payment card information to pay for the services. This is required to have the document delivered to the applicant. The renewal procedure itself is free.
    • A prepaid envelope stating your name and address for your documents to be returned to you.
    • Your current non-expired passport.

    If, during application processing, it becomes necessary that you either provide additional documents, or visit in person, you will receive the relevant notification with detailed instructions.

    Renewing an Israeli passport in the USA

    Israeli citizens first need to find the nearest Israeli embassies. Israeli embassies are located in a few US major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and San Francisco. All addresses and contacts are available at the official website of Israeli embassy in Washington D.C.: https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.asp

    Or call: +12023645500

    Before you or send your documents through the mail, make sure everything needed is prepared. Israeli embassies in the United States offer advisory and translation services throughout the process, ensuring your information remains confidential and secure.

    Most os authorities require that you schedule an appointment ahead of your visit. You can do this by contacting them directly using the telephone numbers provided or by accessing their official online portal. When it’s time for your appointment, visit the embassie to submit your renewal application along with all the required documents. Processing times can vary, so it’s wise to consult with  staff during your visit to get an estimate on how long the renewal may take. If you are located in a state without an Israeli embassie, mailing your documents is an option.

    Check the specific website to ensure you include all necessary items. Typically, you will need to provide a certain number of prepaid envelopes with your return address, which will be used to safely return your documents and a new passport. Many authorities also offer online tracking services where you can monitor the progress of your renewal application step by step. This feature can provide peace of mind by allowing you to see the status of your application throughout its processing stages.

    Renewing an Israeli passport in the UK

    The renewal procedure in the UK is hardly any different from that one in the US. The UK has a single Israeli embassy in London. Address: 15 Old Ct Pl, London W8, UK Phone: +442079579500.

    Working Hours:

    Monday through Thursday: 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM, Friday: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Saturday, Sunday, Jewish and UK holidays: closed.

    Official email: info@london.mfa.gov.il

    Website: http://embassies.gov.il/london/

    Before applying for a renewal, check the validity period and the number of free pages. If it expires within less than six months, or you are running out of free pages, it is good to initiate the process.

    Renewing an Israeli passport in Israel

    This procedure within Israel is subject to the authority of the Ministry of Interior. To initiate the process, you need to submit the following papers:

    • Your Israel ID;
    • A valid passport;
    • A filled application for renewal either in Hebrew or in English;
    • Your new photo in line with the rules for document photos;
    • A statement of confirmation of fee payment.

    Your fee is paid via official channels, including paying for such services via the Embassie General of Israel. It is important to note that AMEX, personal checks or money transfers are not acceptable payment methods for this purpose.

    Normally you need to schedule an appointment at the Ministry of Interior in advance. You will need to submit all the relevant documents during your visit. After you submit the application, the whole process takes 4 to 6 weeks.Once the national document is ready, it will be mailed to you at the address you have indicated in the application form, or you may receive it in person. You will get the package within a month. The procedure to renew the passport is relatively the same for children and teenagers, however there are a few things peculiar to this specific situation:

    • The child must attend the appointment accompanied by a parent or guardian.
    • If the child’s parents are divorced or not married, the presence of both parents is required. A notarized consent to renew from a parent unable to attend is required, if it is not possible for the other parent to appear in person.

    Renewing an expired Israeli passport

    If an Israeli national document has expired, it can no longer be extended. The only option is having a new one reissued. If you are not in Israel, you can only receive a common, i. e. a non-biometric passport, which is valid for 5 years only. To receive a biometric passport, you need to apply using the Ministry of Interior office within Israel. Schedule an appointment by phone or use the official internet portal of the Ministry.

    The package you need to prepare in advance before you visit, includes:

    • Two identical updated photos: colored, frontal, taken without jewelry or headwear (the only exception is items worn for religious reasons). The size of photos must be 2×2 inches (5х5 cm), taken against a white background.
    • A valid ID with a photo. It may be an Israeli ID or a driver’s license.
    • A filled application requesting to issue a passport or a laissez passer. This form is available either in the Ministry of the Interior office or can be downloaded from the Ministry website.

    Pay the issuance fee. The amount of the fee and payment methods must be clarified in advance, because these may change. Your issuance time frame may vary, so you may need to clarify whether you are eligible to obtain a laissez passer as you submit your documents. Remember that the procedures for extending your passport or getting a new one abroad are handled differently. These require contacting an Israeli  embassy in your country of stay.

    Fees for renewing an expired passport

    If your national document has expired, renewing it may entail an additional fee. Fees and fines may be different depending on the outstanding term and the country you apply from, therefore you need to clarify these in the embassie you plan to use to handle the situation.

    Online renewal options

    Unfortunately this service is not available as of date. Use online services to schedule an appointment with the Israeli Ministry of Interior office or a diplomatic mission abroad and track your queue. In some cases, it is possible to track your application status. You can extend your passport by going to the relevant office in person or use registered mail to file your application and associated documents in.

    FAQ
    Can a passport be renewed via mail, if I received it prior to reaching the age of 18? I am 19 now

    No. You can use mail services to resolve the issue only after you have previously received your adult passport in person.

    Can I submit the required documents by sending them via email to the official email address of the embassy?

    No. You may provide your documents in person, or use regular postal services (provided some conditions are met).

    Is it possible for me to extend my biometric passport while abroad?

    It is not possible to extend your biometric passport outside of Israel. The applicant may obtain a new common document valid for 5 years. To issue a biometric national document, visit Israel and get it from the Ministry of Interior.

    Can my renewal application be submitted in advance, for instance, 3 months prior to its expiry?

    Yes. Your passport can be renewed 6 months prior to expiry, or when you are running out of blank pages in it.

    Is it possible to extend the national document when it is damaged?

    This largely depends on how much it is damaged. A naturally worn document with all the information readable, which does not pose a problem with identifying the holder is extendable, otherwise it needs to be replaced.

    Why can I not extend it online?

    Presently there is no such an option. This is security related. However many embassies aim to simplify the procedure by providing options to make an appointment using online portals, track your queue and your application status.

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