What If We Don't Want to Marry Through the Rabanut?

Updated 18 August 2026

Many couples in Israel choose not to register their marriage through the Chief Rabbinate — for ideological, secular, or personal reasons. The problem: Israel does not recognize civil marriages performed within the country. The solution: marry abroad, which Israel does recognize — and you can do it without leaving home.

What Is the Legal Situation in Israel?

Since Israel's founding, marriage and divorce for Jewish citizens has been governed by the Orthodox Rabbinate. There is no civil marriage option within Israel. Couples who don't want a religious ceremony, couples where one partner is not Jewish according to religious law, and same-sex couples — none can marry domestically through the standard route.

However, Israel fully recognizes marriages performed legally abroad — including civil marriages. Once the marriage is registered with the Ministry of Interior, the couple is recognized as married for all purposes, including applying for a Dira BaHanacha (Mehir LaMishtaken) eligibility certificate.

What Is the Common Solution? Marrying in Utah via Zoom

Utah state law permits remote marriage ceremonies conducted entirely via video call with a licensed officiant, without any physical presence in the US. The marriage certificate is issued by the Utah authorities. Utah Zoom weddings have become extremely popular among Israeli couples — convenient, affordable, and requiring no travel.

• No physical presence required — the ceremony is conducted via Zoom only
• Total cost is typically a few hundred dollars (ceremony + service fee)
• The marriage certificate is recognized by Israel
• No proof of religion, ethnicity, or conversion required
• Alternatives: Cyprus and Czech Republic — but both require physical presence

How Do You Go From Zoom Ceremony to Eligibility Certificate?

1. Find a licensed Utah officiant offering Zoom ceremonies — search "Utah Zoom wedding" and choose a service with verified reviews
2. Schedule the Zoom ceremony — typically available within a few days of inquiry
3. Conduct the ceremony — lasts about 15–30 minutes, both partners connected via video
4. Receive the marriage certificate — mailed officially within approximately 2–4 weeks
5. Obtain an apostille on the certificate — authenticated by Utah state authorities
6. Get a certified Hebrew translation of the certificate
7. Book an appointment at the Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPnim) — do this immediately after the ceremony, no need to wait for the certificate
8. Attend the in-person Ministry of Interior appointment with all documents
9. The Ministry of Interior updates your marital status in the Population Registry
10. You may now apply for a Dira BaHanacha (Mehir LaMishtaken) eligibility certificate as a married couple

Which Documents Are Required at the Ministry of Interior?

• Israeli national ID (Teudat Zehut) + Sefach for both partners
• Original foreign marriage certificate
• Apostille authentication on the certificate
• Certified Hebrew translation
• Sometimes: original birth certificates

Why Must You Wait for Registration Before Applying for Eligibility?

The Ministry of Housing runs an automatic cross-check against the Population Registry for every Dira BaHanacha eligibility certificate application. If you apply before your marriage is registered in the registry, your application will be processed as a single applicant, not as a couple. This affects which lotteries you can enter.

• Eligibility as a couple: access to all lottery types
• Eligibility as a single: limited to singles-only lotteries (age 35+)
• The application cannot be changed after submission — it must reflect your correct status

How Long Does It Actually Take?

• Scheduling the Utah Zoom ceremony: a few days
• Receiving the Utah marriage certificate: 2–4 weeks
• Apostille and certified translation: 1–2 weeks
• Waiting for the Ministry of Interior appointment: 1–3 months (book immediately!)
• Ministry of Interior appointment and Population Registry update: on appointment day
• Submitting the eligibility certificate application: immediately after
• Receiving the eligibility certificate: up to 10 business days

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is a Utah marriage fully recognized in Israel? Yes — for inheritance, insurance, taxation, and housing eligibility.
• Can we marry in Cyprus instead? Yes, but it requires travel. Cyprus is popular but more expensive.
• Are same-sex couples eligible for Dira BaHanacha? Yes — once the marriage is registered with the Ministry of Interior, eligibility is identical to any other couple.
• Can we apply for the eligibility certificate before the Ministry of Interior updates our status? No. Population Registry registration is an absolute prerequisite.