In a significant update to immigration procedures, Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) has introduced a new regulation that allows for the issuance of certain B1 and A5 visas for durations of up to two years. This change, which took effect in July 2026, affects both married and unmarried couples who are navigating Israel’s gradual status process. While the overall length of the process remains constant, the adjustment could minimize the frequency of visa renewal appointments for those involved.
The revised policy stipulates that the initial visa issued in the partner process remains valid for one year. However, subsequent B1 or A5 visas may now be extended to two years, contingent upon PIBA’s evaluation and discretion. For married couples, the procedure typically involves obtaining A5 temporary residency. After the first-year period, these A5 visas can potentially be extended for up to two years at a time. Unmarried couples, meanwhile, usually start with B1 status before transitioning to A5 temporary residency, with the same potential for extended visa validity.
Notably, these changes do not alter the fundamental duration of the process. Married couples generally undergo around four years of A5 status, while unmarried couples typically experience three years under B1 status, followed by an additional four years under A5. The primary impact of this new policy is administrative, as it may reduce the need for eligible applicants to renew their visas annually.
Additionally, the updated procedures provide flexibility in cases where applicants cannot initially present a required document. Under certain circumstances, a PIBA Regional Director can permit an applicant to initiate the gradual process without the document, provided there is a demonstration of genuine efforts to obtain it and an explanation for its absence. However, the document must still be submitted before the process concludes. Furthermore, some PIBA offices now grant deputy office managers the authority to process and approve certain citizenship applications at the final stage of the process for married couples, a responsibility previously held more exclusively by office managers.
The new regulations also address scenarios involving foreign partners without valid legal status in Israel. If PIBA finds that a relationship commenced after the foreign partner’s previous visa expired, the individual may be required to leave the country before proceeding with the partner visa application. However, if an interview confirms the relationship’s authenticity, the foreign partner will not be compelled to leave solely on that basis. Joshua Pex, an immigration attorney and founding partner at Decker, Pex, Levi Law Offices, highlights that the potential for longer visa periods could offer more stability for couples during the gradual status process. Applicants seeking B1 or A5 renewals may request two-year validity under the new procedure, although PIBA retains the discretion to grant such extensions. Decker, Pex, Levi Law Offices continues to advise couples on navigating Israel’s partner visa and gradual status processes.
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