Every citizen of the country must have an Israeli ID card, known as Teudat Zehut. There are several possible options for identification: passport, international passport, driving license, and military ID. However, only the passport is recognized abroad. In Israel, citizens have both internal and foreign passports, and here we are discussing the internal one.
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In Israel, the term Teudat Zehut is widely used. What exactly is the Teudat Zehut? What is its biometric version? How does this document differ from other types of identification used in Israel? And how can one obtain a Teudat Zehut? You can find all the details in our material.
Components of the Israeli ID Card
Teudat Zehut (Hebrew תעודת זהות) is an approximate Hebrew sound of the words, usually translated as “identity card”. And this is actually so—this concept is understood as an official state document that serves to certify the identity of a citizen of the Israeli state.
Israeli identity cards are issued by the Population Authority of the Ministry of Interior, and in general, non-residents are ineligible for the issuance or renewal of an identity cards. The law in the State of Israel mandates that each resident must carry their identity card at all times, and present it to certain officials, such as police officers and soldiers, per their instruction.
The paper appendix to Teudat Zehut contains information:
If you experience difficulties with registration or activation of Teudat Zehut, you can contact the WRAI for help. Here you will receive assistance in renewing your Israeli identity card (replacing a temporary document with a biometric passport), and you will also be able to resolve other equally important issues during repatriation.
How to apply for an Israeli identity card
Israeli identity cards are issued by the Population and Immigration Authority of the Ministry of Interior. Those wishing to obtain identity cards are required to make:
- Book an appointment at Misrad Hapnim for EACH person who needs a biometric Teudat Zehut.
- Go to Misrad Hapnim on the assigned day, with your background check(s) with apostille(s), and follow the instructions given to you there. Everyone who needs a Teudat Zehut must be physically present. Ezrachim Olim and Ktinin Chozrim are exempt from bringing their background check(s).
- Your Teudat Zehut will be couriered to the home address listed for you in the Misrad Hapnim files 7-10 business days after you applied for it. You must have an Israeli cell phone number as the Misrad Hapnim will confirm your contact information via SMS. You will need to give the courier a code, which was provided to you at the Misrad Hapnim meeting, in order for the courier to deliver your card.
- Diligently check your text messages for the message from Misrad Hapnim asking if you received your biometric Teudat Zehut. Following their directions, confirm receipt of your new ID card.
Biometric Teudat Zehut
Since June 1, 2017, the issuance of non-biometric identity cards has been cancAnd although the old Teudat Zehut are still in use, they will be used only until their validity expires. And thereafter, the owners of documents that have lost their validity will already receive Teudat-zehut of a new biometric sample.
If we are not talking about a biometric Teudat Zehut, then this document is a laminated plastic card, but complements its paper application in a blue leatherette case, on which the country’s coat of arms is embossed.
On the margins of Teudat Zehut, you can see inscriptions in Hebrew and Arabic, since both of these languages are state languages in Israel. But the document is filled out only in Hebrew. The Teudat Zehut contains information:
- about the name and surname of the owner;
- the gender;
- the place and date of birth;
- the mother’s and father’s name and surname;
- the date and place of issue of the document.
Also in Teudat Zehut is his official nine-digit number. It belongs to one of the main identification codes of a citizen. The number is issued to a person at birth or upon arrival in the country for permanent residence, and, as a rule, people remember it by heart.
Temporary Teudat Zehut
To apply for a temporary Teudat Zehut at the Interior Ministry in Haifa, you will need the following documents and their copies (mandatory!!):
- Birth certificate for each family member (originals and COPY).
- Marriage or divorce certificates (original and COPY).
- All documents proving Jewishness (originals and COPY).
- Passport- original and COPY and COPY of entry visa to Israel.
- Teudat ole.
- Documents received at the airport.
- 2 passport photos for each person (for a temporary passport issued locally).
- Copies and passport photos can be made at the photo shop at 28 Natanzon St. (for a fee), near the MIA building.
Ministry of the Interior employees do not make copies during the reception. If the family did not come as a whole (the spouse with Jewish roots could not come at the moment), it is necessary to prepare documents and copies:
- Birth certificate of the spouse and his/her parents on the Jewish line;
- marriage certificate;
- children’s birth certificates.
Biometric ID benefits & security
In the Jewish state, identity cards of a new type began to be issued in a test mode back in 2013, and now the country has completely switched to issuing such biometric smart cards. According to specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, such documents cannot be forged, or the information contained in them can be used with criminal intent.
Biometric Teudat-zehuts are based on individual biological parameters for each person. We are talking about fingerprints, facial movement and other factors. At the same time, these biometric data are carefully guarded: the state stores them in a super-secure database.
The new-style Teudat-zehut itself is made in the form of a credit bank card with additional protection in the form of various ciphers and holograms. So no one has yet succeeded in forging the biometric Teudat Zehut.
Talk to a specialist.
Find out in 15 minutes
if you qualify.
Tell us, in your own words, what you are weighing. A principal of the office will respond personally within two business days.
Activating the biometric feature
Upon receipt of a biometric Teudat-zehut, it is necessary to undergo a procedure related to scanning fingerprints, filming facial movements in a special format, and answering identification questions. The collected information will be encoded and mapped as unique holograms. Moreover, the information will be sent to a special top-secret database.
- In order to issue a new Teudat Zehut you will need to visit your local branch of Misrad Hapnim (the Ministry of Interior). You must book an appointment at Misrad Hapnim for EACH person who needs a biometric Teudat Zehut. You must have an Israeli cell phone number to book the appointment, as they will SMS you with the appointment time.
- After receiving your Teudat Zehut, you will be sent an SMS message from the Population & Immigration Authority (‘Activation SMS’) in order to verify the document was in fact received by you (the SMS may arrive a day or two later). If you do not have a cellphone, a voice message will be sent to the home phone number you provided upon application.
- You will be asked to respond to the SMS or voice message in a simple fashion confirming whether or not you have received the Teudat Zehut (1= Yes, received 0=No, haven’t received).
Only after confirming receipt, your new Teudat Zehut will become valid in the Ministry’s registry. (This can take a couple of hours, and you will receive an additional SMS stating your ID has been activated). This will allow you to perform various actions on the government website and via the automated self-service machines.
WRAI Assistance
If you have any questions regarding the Teudat Zehut (Israeli ID), the experts at WRAI are here to help. Our team provides professional guidance on all matters related to Jewish repatriation to Israel, including the issuance of the biometric Teudat Zehut.
Over 5,000 clients have already become proud holders of Israeli citizenship with our assistance. At WRAI, we carefully analyze each individual case and provide a personalized approach tailored to your specific situation.
Request a callback or contact us at: info@welcome-israel.com – we’re ready to assist you on your path to Israeli citizenship.
FAQ
Teudat Zehut” in English translates to “Identity Card.” It’s an official personal identification document used in Israel.
A Teudat Oleh is a document issued by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration to those who have been granted Oleh status. This booklet, intended for family use rather than individuals, details all types of support provided to the family. It is necessary to show this Te’udat Oleh when visiting any office.
An Israeli Identity Number, assigned to every citizen at birth by the Ministry of the Interior, consists of nine digits. This includes a one-digit prefix, a sequence of seven digits, followed by a check digit at the end.
In Israel, individuals from foreign countries can drive using their U.S. driver’s licenses. However, this is allowed for only up to twelve months. After residing in Israel for more than a year, foreigners must acquire an Israeli driving license.
Israeli citizenship is granted at birth to those born in the country, provided that at least one of their parents is an Israeli citizen. For non-Jewish foreigners, obtaining citizenship through naturalization is possible after residing in Israel for a minimum of three years with permanent residency status and showing proficiency in Hebrew.
