Following, find a thorough explanation of all visa procedures and requirements that you need to know about in order to successfully apply for an Israeli A/2 Student Visa.

Who Can Apply for A/2 Student Visa?

Everyone admitted at an education institution in Israel that has the required documents to prove it to the Israeli embassy in their country of residence, can apply for an Israeli student visa. This includes those admitted in elementary and high schools, academic institutions, yeshivot and youth institutions of the Jewish Agency.

However, note that you will not be eligible to apply for an A/2 Student Visa for Israel if you have Israeli parents (e.g. an Ezrach Oleh). By law, those who qualify for Israeli citizenship must apply for an Israeli passport.

How to Apply for an A/2 Visa for Israel?

To complete the application process for an A/2 Student visa for Israel, you need to strictly follow some step-by-step procedures.

The procedures are common for most countries; however, a few countries may have specific less or additional steps and requirements. You should check for that with the embassy of Israel in your country.

You must follow the application procedures for an A/2 Visa for Israel as clearly explained as below in this article. Make sure you do not miss a single thing from the requirements either.

When to Apply for an A/2 Student Visa?

First thing you should do, is to check when is the best time to lodge your application for an Israel visa in your country of residence. Many applications fail because they are filed too early or too late.

You should file your application for an A/2 Visa to study in Israel between one to two months before the date you plan to enter the country of Israel.

Where to Lodge my Application for an A/2 Visa?

Next, check where you need to submit your application. Depending on how the Israeli authorities have regulated visa application submission in your country of residence, you may have to apply at the visa section of one of the following:

• The Embassy of Israel
• A Consulate of Israel
• A third-party visa processing center to which Israel has outsourced visa admission

You can get this information from the Israeli embassy in your country of residence, in their website or by asking through phone or email.  Make sure you check before you start the application procedures.

Complete the A/2 Student Visa Application Form

Now you can start the concrete application procedures for a visa to study in Israel. First, find and download the application for an A/2 student visa and complete it.

The form is available in two languages: English and Hebrew. You can complete it in either language. You can complete the form with your computer and then print it, or with a pen of any other color than black. If you are applying at a third-party visa processing center you are highly recommended to complete it with a computer, as some of these centers do not accept handwritten applications.

The application form for a student visa for Israel contains questions on your nationality, full name, parents’ full names, your occupation and your intended trip to Israel.

You also need to attach a photo to the application form in the given space.

Collect the Required Documents for A/2 Visa

The required documents for an A/2 student visa make up the most important part of the application process. You should pay full attention to each of these documents, their dates, their validity, and if they meet the rest of the criteria set by the Israeli authorities.

Make a checklist of all these documents, and check out each document you obtain, in order to have it easier to collect them all, and leave none behind.

The requirements for an A/2 visa to Israel are as follows:

• Student Visa application form. The form differs depending on the visa you are applying for. Make sure you download and complete the right one.
• Two passport-style photographs with a white background and be in size 5.5 cm X 5.5.
• Your valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in the Israel territory and with at least one blank page to affix the visa.
• Older passports. You must submit all passports that you hold, including current/old/cancelled/expired/special passport.
• Proof of Flight Booking. You do not need to purchase the tickets as if your application is rejected, you will lose your money. You just need a saved seat on a flight to Israel as a proof of the date you intend to travel here.
• Your birth certificate.
• Proof of paid A2 visa fee.
• A letter of approval by the institution where you are going to study. The letter should indicate your name, passport number, and the duration of your study.
• Evidence of source of financial support. The Israeli authorities want you to have how you are planning to support yourself financially while in Israel. The following are acceptable:
• Personal Bank statements for the last 3 months. Statements downloaded from the internet are not valid.
• Proof of scholarship, if you will be studying on a scholarship.
• Proof of Accommodation. A document that shows where you will be staying while you study in Israel, i.e. a dormitory acceptance letter.
• Resume.
• Other educational documents.
• If you are under 18 years of age:
• Birth certificate notarized with apostille stamp.
• Parental Consent to Granting a Visa to Israel. Both parents (or legal guardians) must sign the form in the presence of a notary or consular representative.

On the day of your appointment, you will have to meet with a consular officer to whom you will submit all these documents at the embassy/consulate/visa processing center.  Make sure you bring all these documents in original and with two photocopies for each.

Pay A/2 Student Visa Fee

On the day of the visa appointment at the Israel representative authority in visa issues in your country of residence, you will need to pay the fee for applying.

The fee for an A/2 Visa is €41 for every applicant. If you file your application at a visa-processing center, you will have to pay an additional service fee, which cannot be higher than the price of the visa itself.

Note that the fee is non-refundable if your application is rejected or you decide to withdraw the application before the embassy processes it. If you apply again, you will need to pay the fee again.

Israel Student Visa Processing

The Israel authorities take a minimum of five days to process an A/2 Student visa for Israel.

How Long Can I Stay in Israel with a Student Visa?

A student visa for Israel is valid for one year. Before the expiration of your visa, you can apply for a visa extension for another year. You can extend or renew your visa as long as you are enrolled at an education institution in Israel.

A/2 Student Visa Renewal/Extension in Israel

You should submit your visa renewal/extension application at the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapanim), located at Government building.

You need to include the following documents in your application file:

• An official letter from the education institution you attend, stating that you are a student.
• Visa extension forms.
• Your passport with the current student visa sticker on it.
• Two passport-sized pictures.
• Paid fee receipt.

Tips for Applying for an Israel Student Visa

When applying for an A/2 Student Visa for Israel, pay attention to the following tips, and make sure you do not make any mistake that could cost you with your visa:

• Complete your application form carefully with all correct details. Make sure you did not do any typos, or other mistakes in a hurry.
• Bring original copies and photocopies of all supporting documents with you on the day of your appointment.
• Do not present false documents as the embassy can easily detect them and it will affect your every other visa application for Israel.
• Please make sure not to miss your appointment, believing that you can just reschedule another one. The Israel embassies are known to be very difficult to reschedule.

What Are the Best Universities in Israel for Foreign Students?

Israel has some very good universities, where world renown professor teach. Here’s a list are some of the best universities in Israel for foreigners:

• Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Tel Aviv University
• Ariel University in Samaria
• Bar-Ilan University
• The Jerusalem School of Business Administration
• Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

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