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Population Registry Law, 5725-1965

חוק מרשם האוכלוסין, תשכ"ה-1965

Published: 1965-08-01Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-02-03 · Last amended 2025-02-02✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter III: Powers of a Registration Officer

Requiring Information and Declarations§

19.

A registration officer may require from a person who has given notice under Chapter II and from any other person who was obligated to give such notice, even if that person is exempt by virtue of section 18 or if the period prescribed for the giving of the notice has elapsed –

(1)to furnish to the officer any information or document in that person's possession relating to the registration particulars to which the notice refers, unless the information or document would incriminate that person;
(2)to give a declaration in writing or orally as to the truthfulness of any information or document furnished.

Definition§

19a.

In sections 19b to 19e, "public document" has the meaning assigned to it in the Evidence Ordinance.

First Registration§

19b.
(a)A registration particular of a resident being registered for the first time shall be registered on the basis of a public document presented to the registration officer, and in the absence of such a document – on the basis of a notice given pursuant to sections 5 to 14.
(b)Where a registration officer has been requested to register a registration particular on the basis of a notice alone, and after having exercised the officer's powers under section 19 had reasonable grounds to presume that the notice is incorrect, the officer shall refuse to register on the basis thereof; however, with respect to personal status, the officer shall not so refuse unless the notice contradicted another registration in the registry or a public document attesting to the particular in question.

Registration of Changes§

19c.
(a)A change in a registration particular of a resident shall be registered on the basis of a document furnished pursuant to sections 15 or 16, or on the basis of a notice under section 17 accompanied by a public document attesting to the change; however, a change of address or digital address shall also be registered on the basis of a notice alone, and in respect of a digital address – on the basis of a notice in relation to which that which is stated in section 5a(b)(2) has been fulfilled.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), where a person has given notice of a change of address and gives further notice as aforesaid within 12 months of the date on which the first notice was given, the registration officer shall require from that person a written declaration as to the truthfulness of the notice and as to the circumstances of the change of address, as well as additional information and documents relating to the notice and corroborating its accuracy; nothing in this provision shall derogate from the powers of the registration officer under section 19 in respect of any notice of a change of address.

Correction of Registration§

19d.

Without prejudice to the provisions of section 19e or section 23, no registration in the registry shall be corrected except at the request of the resident to whom the registration relates and on the basis of a public document attesting that the registration was incorrect.

Registration on the Initiative of the Chief Registration Officer§

19e.
(a)Where the chief registration officer has ascertained that a particular, or a change in a particular, required to be registered has not been registered, or that its registration or the correction of its registration is incomplete or contradicts another registration in the registry or a public document, the officer may, on the officer's own initiative and after having investigated the matter and given every person to whom the particular relates an opportunity to present arguments and adduce evidence – register the particular or the change in the particular, or complete or correct the registration, provided that a registration made on the basis of a public document shall not be altered, completed or corrected under this subsection except on the basis of a public document attesting to that particular.
(b)With respect to nationality, religion or personal status, the chief registration officer shall not act as provided in subsection (a) except with the consent of the person to whom the particular relates, or on the basis of a declaratory judgment of the Family Court given at the request of the chief registration officer; the application shall be submitted to the Family Court in whose jurisdiction the address of the person to whom the particular relates is situated; it shall be submitted and heard as an application by way of motion, and every person to whom the particular relates shall be a respondent.
(c)The chief registration officer or a registration officer may, where the officer sees an urgent need to do so, register on the officer's own initiative the address of a resident, or alter or correct it, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), provided that the officer has given the resident seven days' prior notice.

Citation of Authority§

19f.

The authority for every registration of personal status and of any other registration particular prescribed in the Regulations shall be cited in the registry.

Registration of Adoption§

20.

Where a child has been adopted, the adopters shall be registered in the registry and in every document issued under this Law as the child's parents, and the adoptee shall be registered as the child of the adopters, under the name assigned to the adoptee in the adoption order.

Registration of a Child Pursuant to an Embryo Carrying Agreement§

20a.
(a)Where an order has been granted under the Embryo Carrying Agreements Law (Approval of Agreement and Status of the Newborn), 5756-1996, the registration particulars prescribed in the order shall be registered in the registry.
(b)The Minister of the Interior may prescribe provisions in Regulations with respect to registration procedures, including temporary registration pending the granting of an order by the court.

Father's Name where the Woman is Unmarried§

21.

The name of the father of a child born to an unmarried woman shall be registered on the basis of a joint declaration by the father and the mother, or on the basis of a judgment of a competent court or tribunal.

Father's Name where the Woman is Married§

22.

No person shall be registered as the father of a child born to a woman who was married to another person within 300 days before the date of birth, except on the basis of a judgment of a competent court or tribunal.

Correction of Clerical Errors§

23.

A chief registration officer may direct the correction of a clerical error or clerical omission that has occurred in the registry or in any document issued under this Law.

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Chapter IV: Identity Cards

Definitions§

23a.

In this Chapter –

"electronic identification means" – information enabling the unique and exclusive identification of a resident, possessing characteristics determined by the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Justice under section 25(c);

"Electronic Signature Law" – Electronic Signature Law, 5761-2001;

"information" and "computer material" – as defined in the Computers Law, 5755-1995;

"electronic authentication certificate" – an electronic message as defined in the Electronic Signature Law, issued by the Minister of the Interior in accordance with provisions determined jointly with the Minister of Justice under section 25(c), certifying that a particular electronic identification means belongs to a particular person.

Right to Receive an Identity Card§

24.

A resident present in Israel who has attained the age of 16 is required to receive an identity card; a resident who has not attained the age of 16 may receive one with the consent of that resident's representative as defined in section 80 of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, 5722-1962, or with the approval of the chief registration officer.

Contents of an Identity Card and Computer Material Contained Therein§

25.
(a)An identity card shall contain the registration particulars to be determined by the Minister of the Interior with the approval of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset, and such additional particulars as shall be determined and approved as aforesaid; the names of children shall be recorded both in the identity card of their father and in the identity card of their mother; the facial image of the cardholder shall appear on every card; the identity card shall be signed with the cardholder's handwritten signature or thumbprint.
(b)The identity card shall include a chip containing computer material as detailed below:
(1)biometric identification means or biometric identification data, as defined in the Inclusion of Biometric Identification Means and Biometric Identification Data in Identification Documents and in a Database Law, 5770-2009; such biometric means or data shall be stored in the chip in a manner that permits access thereto solely in accordance with the provisions of that Law; access for the purpose of viewing the facial image, as provided in section 26a of that Law, shall be enabled by means of a short-range wireless interface, following scanning of the security code only;
(2)an electronic authentication certificate and electronic identification means; such certificate and means shall be stored in the chip in a manner that permits access thereto only by the cardholder or with the cardholder's authorisation;
(3)at the request of the cardholder – signature means, signature verification means and an approved electronic certificate, as defined in the Electronic Signature Law; such means and certificate shall be stored in the chip in a manner that permits access thereto only by the cardholder or with the cardholder's authorisation;
(4)additional particulars to be determined by the Minister of the Interior in Regulations; in Regulations under this paragraph the Minister of the Interior shall, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, determine the manner of storage in the chip of the particulars so determined.
(b1)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), an identity card whose validity has been limited under section 26 to a period not exceeding one year shall be issued without a chip.
(c)The Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Justice shall prescribe provisions with respect to the manner of issuing electronic authentication certificates and the characteristics of electronic identification means to be included in the chip under this section, and the means of securing them and securing other computer material contained in the said chip.

Period of Validity of Identity Cards§

26.

The Minister of the Interior may prescribe in Regulations the period of validity of identity cards and the dates for their updating, replacement and expiry, and may do so generally, or by categories according to the date of issue of the cards or the age of their holders, or according to another criterion approved by the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset, all subject to the provisions of section 5a of the Inclusion of Biometric Identification Means and Biometric Identification Data in Identification Documents and in a Database Law, 5770-2009.

Prohibition of Recording in an Identity Card§

27.

Nothing shall be recorded in an identity card except pursuant to a provision in a law or in regulations made by the Minister of the Interior.

Power to Take an Identity Card§

28.
(a)A registration officer may require the holder of an identity card to produce it to the officer for the purpose of noting a change in a registration particular, or where the card has become defaced or its validity has expired, or where the photograph no longer accurately depicts the cardholder.
(b)Where a registration officer, while dealing with an identity card, forms the opinion that an unauthorised alteration, correction, addition or deletion has been made therein, the officer may retain it pending completion of the examination.

Obligations of an Identity Card Holder§

28a.

A resident to whom an identity card has been issued is required –

(1)to take reasonable measures to safeguard the identity card issued to that resident and to prevent misuse of the electronic authentication certificate and the electronic identification means contained in the chip in the identity card;
(2)to notify a registration officer or a person determined by the Minister of the Interior, in the manner determined by the Minister, immediately upon becoming aware that the resident's control over the identity card or over the information stored therein has been compromised.

Liability for Use of an Identity Card§

28b.

A resident to whom an identity card has been issued shall not be liable for damage caused by reliance on an action performed by means of the electronic identification means in the chip, without the resident's authorisation, unless the resident has agreed otherwise in writing; however, a resident shall not be liable for damage as aforesaid if the resident gave notice in accordance with the provisions of section 28a(2).

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Chapter V: Receipt of Information

Information§

29.
(a)Any person is entitled to receive information regarding the registration in the Registry relating to that person, as well as a copy or extract of the registration.
(b)Any person is entitled to receive information regarding the name and address of any other person registered in the Registry.
(c)A person who has an apparent interest in the matter is entitled to receive information regarding the date of birth of a person registered in the Registry and regarding other registration particulars as shall be prescribed by Regulations.

Provision of Registration Particulars to a Body Acting by Virtue of a Legislative Provision§

29a.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 29, and without derogating therefrom, the Administrator, or a person authorised by the Administrator for that purpose, may, at the request of a body as set out below, provide to it registration particulars as referred to in subsections (b) and (c) of that section, except for the place of birth and nationality, as well as the date of death (in this section – registration particulars), which are required by that body for the purpose of fulfilling its obligation or function as referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2) as applicable, in relation to any person whose registration particulars were requested as aforesaid, provided that that body has undertaken not to make use of the registration particulars provided to it except for the purpose for which they were provided:
(1)a body upon which a legislative provision imposes an obligation to verify a person's identification particulars against the registration particulars appearing in the Registry in respect of that person;
(2)a body upon which a function has been imposed by a legislative provision, and the performance of that function requires it to verify a person's identification particulars against the registration particulars appearing in the Registry in respect of that person.
(a1)The Administrator, or a person authorised by the Administrator for that purpose, may, at the request of a public body that sends digital messages as defined in the Digital Communication with Public Bodies Law and for the purpose of implementing the provisions pursuant to that Law, provide information that constitutes a digital address in accordance with the provisions of that Law in respect of any resident whose registration particulars were requested as aforesaid, provided that that body shall not be entitled to make use of the registration particulars provided to it except for the purpose for which they were provided.
(b)The provision of registration particulars to a body as referred to in subsection (a) may be effected by granting that body authorisation for direct access to the Registry by way of a query in respect of a specific person.
(c)The Director General of the Ministry of the Interior shall appoint a person with appropriate qualifications who shall be responsible for information security within the meaning thereof in section 17b of the Privacy Protection Law; similarly, a person as aforesaid shall be appointed in every body to which registration particulars are provided pursuant to this section.
(d)Use of registration particulars provided pursuant to this section for a purpose other than that for which they were provided shall constitute a civil wrong under the Privacy Protection Law.
(e)Use of registration particulars provided pursuant to this section for a purpose other than that for which they were provided, or their disclosure contrary to the provisions of this section, shall constitute an offence under the Privacy Protection Law.
(f)The Minister of the Interior may direct the cessation of the provision of registration particulars to a body pursuant to this section, if the Minister has found that that body used the registration particulars for a purpose other than that for which they were provided to it, breached its undertaking pursuant to subsection (a), or failed to fulfil any of the conditions prescribed pursuant to subsection (g), provided that the said body has been given an opportunity to state its case.
(g)The Minister of the Interior, with the consent of the Minister of Justice and with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, shall prescribe provisions regarding the manner and conditions of the provision of registration particulars, including means of information security and oversight of the use thereof, and regarding the transfer of information to a person regarding the provision of registration particulars relating to that person pursuant to this section.
(h)The Administrator or a person authorised by the Administrator for that purpose shall maintain a list that shall include all of the following and shall be published on the website of the Ministry of the Interior:
(1)bodies to which registration particulars have been provided pursuant to this section and the legislative provisions pursuant to which the registration particulars were provided to them;
(2)bodies that have been convicted of an offence pursuant to subsection (e);
(3)bodies in respect of which the Minister of the Interior has directed, pursuant to subsection (f), that the provision of registration particulars to them be ceased.
(i)The Administrator or a person authorised by the Administrator for that purpose shall maintain a record of the provision of registration particulars pursuant to this section.
(j)Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the provision of information from the Registry to a public body as defined in Chapter IV of the Privacy Protection Law shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of that Chapter; however, the provision of information that constitutes a digital address from the Registry shall be effected only for the purpose of implementing provisions pursuant to the Digital Communication with Public Bodies Law.
(k)In this section –

"Privacy Protection Law" – Privacy Protection Law, 5741-1981;

"the Administrator" – the Administrator of the Population Administration in the Ministry of the Interior.

Birth and Death Certificates§

30.
(a)A person who was born in Israel and is registered in the Registry is entitled to receive a birth certificate.
(b)A person who has an apparent interest in the matter is entitled to receive a birth certificate or death certificate of another person registered in the Registry, if the birth or death occurred in Israel.

Choice of Calendar for Registration of Date of Birth§

30a.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Law, a person may request that his or her date of birth be recorded in a birth certificate, identity card or any certificate, information, as well as any copy or extract of the registration, according to the Gregorian calendar only; where a person is a minor or a person for whom a guardian has been appointed, the representative of that person, as defined in section 80 of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, 5722-1962, may make such a request.

Inspection of the Registry§

31.

The Registry and the documents therein shall not be open for inspection except to the following persons and for the purpose of fulfilling their functions:

(1)the Minister of the Interior or a person authorised by the Minister for that purpose;
(2)the Minister of Defence or a person authorised by the Minister for that purpose;
(3)the Attorney General or a representative thereof;
(4)the Inspector General of the Police or a person authorised by the Inspector General for that purpose;
(5)a person authorised for that purpose by a court or a religious court in respect of a particular matter pending before them;
(6)a marriage Registrar or a person authorised by the Registrar for that purpose.
(7)the Registrar of Couplehood as defined in the Civil Union for Persons Having No Religion Law, 5770-2010.

Information on Adoption§

32.

Nothing in sections 29 to 31 shall derogate from the provisions of section 27 of the Adoption of Children Law, 5720-1960, and particulars capable of leading to the identification of an adopter, an adoptee, or the parents and other relatives of an adoptee shall not be disclosed except to the persons specified in that section; the Minister of the Interior shall issue instructions the purpose of which is to enable a marriage Registrar, or a particular person who requires knowledge of those instructions for the purpose of fulfilling his or her function in the registration of marriages, to ascertain whether a particular marriage candidate is an adoptee.

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