Do I Need a Lawyer to Successfully Get a Partner Visa?

Navigating the process of obtaining a partner visa in Israel can feel overwhelming, especially for the initial application and the beginning of the gradual process. Many couples face the question: Is hiring a lawyer necessary for a successful partner visa application?

In this article, we’ll provide a breakdown of what legal representation in a partner visa application means, its price range, and how it affects the process. We will then share firsthand experiences from four international couples, insights from AIC’s chairperson, who is both part of an international couple and a lawyer, and advice from an active immigration attorney. By exploring their experiences and opinions, you can make a more informed decision on whether legal representation is right for you.

This article focuses on legal representation during the initial visa application process at PIBA. It does not concern appeals, court petitions, partner visa denials or deportation cases. In these cases – AIC recommends seeking legal help immediately.

What Does Legal Representation Mean in the Partner Visa Process?

Being represented by a lawyer means having a legal professional act on your behalf throughout a legal process. In this case, it’s your mutual immigration process to Israel. Ideally, the lawyer will be a professional guide through every step of the way to your first visa (and beyond, if you wish).

While services may vary between lawyers, in general, being represented during the initial partner visa application means:

• A single point of contact for all information about the process
• Review and preparation of your documents to ensure the application is complete
• Submission of the online application on your behalf
• Preparation for the couple’s interview
• Attendance at meetings and interviews at PIBA to ensure the clerks follow official procedures
• When applicable – assistance with collecting certifications from abroad (often for an additional fee)
• When applicable – submitting appeals for lack of response or other issues (for an additional fee)

Additionally, all communication with PIBA is managed by your lawyer—PIBA contacts them instead of you directly, and decisions regarding your application are sent to them. In some cases, PIBA clerks may refuse to give you service if your lawyer is not present.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of legal representation for the initial partner visa application in Israel (from beginning until first visa) depends on the scope of services that the lawyer has offered. It typically ranges

from 8,000₪ to 30,000₪^*

This price varies significantly based on the complexity of the case and the amount of work required from the lawyer, as well as the lawyer’s experience.

Cases that involve unique circumstances—such as a criminal record, prior deportation, lack of passport, problems obtaining certificates from abroad, cases with an accompanying minor, the need for a simultaneous interview, or when the foreign partner is from a risk country—are likely to require more legal work and, therefore, incur higher costs.

_{*Based on a poll conducted by AIC among international couples. Approx. poll average: 15,600₪}

So… Do I Need A Lawyer?

If you still can’t make up your mind, we’re here to help!

There’s nothing quite like learning from someone else’s experience. That’s why we’ve gathered insights from several international couples of diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives. Additionally, you’ll find contributions from AIC’s chairperson and an active immigration lawyer featured in our lawyer index.

Sandra & Alex (Israeli-Romanian couple):

My husband (Romanian) and I used a lawyer for the first part of the visa process, up until he got his first A5. We are together for many years, our case was pretty simple, but we decided to take a lawyer because we were having trouble finding reliable information online regarding the visa process. We wanted to make sure we would not make any mistakes that will complicate our case in the future or will make us be apart more than needed. It helped us take the burden of the start of the process off us, make sure the Ministry of Interior clerks were treating us fairly and according to the laws.

For these same reasons we would recommend other couples to take a lawyer for the first part of the process when you need to bring most documents and to prove your relationship is real. Even though now there is this amazing site, association and community, a lawyer will ensure everything is being done correctly as they know the laws and your rights.

Anna & Ichechi (Israeli-Nigerian couple):

From our perspective, we didn’t see the need for a lawyer to submit the application and start the process. It may seem overwhelming at first, but there’s detailed information available, and wonderful people willing to help with any questions in the Facebook group and AIC. Ichechi is from Nigeria, a country often associated with stereotypes, and I was concerned they might make things difficult for us because of that. Additionally, he has lived in Russia for the past few years, and we realized we needed to obtain original documents from both Nigeria and Russia.

Once we had collected all the documents, we submitted the application, nothing was missing, and after waiting (9 months, which included a physical document submission meeting and a simultaneous interview), we received the first visa and later the A5 visa without any issues. Therefore, we wouldn’t recommend immediately hiring a lawyer for tens of thousands of shekels; rather, learn the process yourself and consult with other couples who are going through or have gone through it. That’s what helped us the most.

Despite this, we decided there was no reason to hire a lawyer before anything actually happened. It took us some time, but we managed to gather all the documents we knew were required. In the end, the hardest part of the process is waiting for a response, and a lawyer cannot help speed up the Ministry of Interior.

Tlalit & Tobias (Israeli-German couple):

We are an Israeli-German couple and our experience of going through the partner immigration process without a lawyer was successful overall. At first, it took quite a bit of work to understand the process fully. The lack of clear guidelines and instructions from the immigration office was frustrating, we had to dig deep into the testimonies of others in the “Mixed Couples in Israel” Facebook group to gather all the needed information. We prepared all the printed documents in a neatly organized folder, so we could quickly find any of them during the meetings. We believe that made a good impression on the clerk and helped the process go smoothly.

For straightforward cases like ours, we do not see a need to hire a lawyer to succeed in the process. Although an experienced lawyer might have saved us some time researching and helped ease some emotional stress we believe anyone with a bit of patience and ability to deal with basic paperwork could do the process. Now that the AIC has made all information accessible in one place the need for additional help is even smaller.

Osher & Nick (Israeli-Thai couple):

We, Osher and Nick (a Thai citizen), began the shared life process in 2019. We initially submitted an independent application to the Ministry of Interior, underwent a simultaneous interview—Osher in Israel and Nick in Thailand—and about three months after the interview, we received a rejection.

We recommend using a lawyer’s services for submitting a visa application because the process is much more organized this way. There is guidance, and a lawyer can identify cases where there might be inconsistencies in the interview or even misunderstandings of one of the partners. This is particularly important to minimize the emotional distress when you open a letter from the Ministry of Interior and discover your request has been denied. The long wait, the time zone differences, and missing each other could perhaps have been avoided.

Based on our personal experience, we chose to continue with a lawyer for the next steps of obtaining a B-1 visa and later transitioning to an A-5 visa after we got married. We recommend using a lawyer, especially for couples from East Asia, after hearing repeatedly about the difficulties encountered. All this is to expedite the process of bringing the spouse to Israel and reuniting as quickly as possible, without delays, longing, or sorrow.

Adv. Lior Beres, Chairwoman of AIC:

Whether you need a lawyer to apply for and successfully obtain a partner visa in Israel depends on several factors. Firstly, consider your and your partner’s ability to manage extensive bureaucracy, your organizational skills and assertiveness. Secondly, evaluate the time you have available to dedicate to learning the process. Lastly, assess if there are any unique circumstances in your relationship that could complicate your application.

In 2024, the process has become more accessible thanks to resources like AIC’s comprehensive guides and our diverse support community, many times making legal representation more of an added convenience rather than a necessity on the way to obtaining a partner visa. For those who have the time and capacity to understand and navigate the procedures, obtaining a partner visa independently is totally achievable, and many couples have successfully done so thus far (including myself).

However, couples facing complex situations or feel like they cannot handle the bureaucratic workload on their own (or don’t want to) should definitely consider hiring an immigration lawyer to assist with the application process. In this case, it’s critical to choose a lawyer who specializes in partner immigration to Israel, as inexperienced professionals could potentially harm your case. Getting a few quotes and doing proper research is essential before engaging legal assistance.

Adv. Nechama Ovadia:

There are many couples who successfully go through the process of regulating the status of a foreign partner without the assistance of a lawyer and obtain a visa without representation.

However, there are certain cases that are more ‘prone to complications,’ where it is crucial to be represented by a lawyer specialized in this field. These cases include the following: when the foreign partner was a caregiver or held refugee status before the relationship; when the foreign partner stayed in Israel for an extended period without a valid visa; when there is a large age gap between the partners; when it’s the second or more application for either partner; when the partners struggle significantly with bureaucracy or suffer from anxiety before interviews; when the foreign partner comes from a third-world country or a country at war; when either partner has a criminal record; or is dealing with mental health issues or diseases that make interviews challenging, such as Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia. 

In all these cases, proper legal representation at the start of the process can save years of legal disputes, as the Ministry of Interior tends to be highly suspicious in such cases and often disqualifies couples over minor missteps. Especially during the interview, even minor mistakes that would normally be overlooked can cause problems under these special circumstances. If the above-mentioned circumstances or other issues don’t apply, it is possible to go through the process without a lawyer’s assistance.

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Need an immigration lawyer? Please visit AIC’s advance Immigration Lawyer Index!