Civil Marriage

Civil Marriage for Israelis in Israel

The Legal Landscape, Practical Options, and What Every Couple Should Know

Introduction

The question of civil marriage in Israel is one of the most contested issues in the country’s ongoing negotiation between religion and state. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have found themselves in a situation where they cannot marry through the Chief Rabbinate, do not wish to marry through it, or are looking for a ceremony that genuinely reflects their identity, values, and faith — whether secular, Reform, pluralistic, or anything in between.

This guide offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the legal status of civil marriage in Israel, the practical options currently available to couples, the advantages and disadvantages of each path, and the place of a Jewish-liberal Reform wedding ceremony within this complex landscape.

Important note: The information in this guide is general in nature and does not constitute personal legal advice. For any concrete step, we recommend consulting with an attorney specializing in family law or with an experienced Reform rabbi who works with couples navigating these questions.

Chapter One: Why Can’t You Have a Civil Wedding in Israel?

The Religious Monopoly on Marriage

Israel is the only Western democracy that does not allow its citizens to marry in a civil ceremony within its own borders. Since the Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction Law (Marriage and Divorce) of 1953, exclusive authority over the marriage and divorce of Jews in Israel has rested with the Chief Rabbinate and the rabbinical courts, operating strictly according to Orthodox halakhic law.

A similar arrangement applies to members of other recognized religious communities in Israel: Muslims marry and divorce through Sharia courts, Christians through the courts of their respective churches, and Druze through the Druze religious court. The practical result is that there is currently no official civil path to marry in a secular, egalitarian, pluralistic, or interfaith ceremony — inside Israel’s borders.

Who Cannot Marry Through the Rabbinate?

According to estimates by Hiddush (the Association for Religious Freedom and Equality), approximately 700,000 Israeli citizens cannot legally marry in Israel at all because of the Orthodox monopoly. The main groups affected include:

Immigrants and their descendants whose Jewish status is not recognized by the Rabbinate — primarily those from the former Soviet Union (approximately half a million people).
Israelis registered as having no religion, who are not affiliated with any recognized religious community.
Interfaith couples, where the partners come from different religions, with no marriage path available to them in Israel.
Same-sex couples, who are not recognized at all by the Rabbinate or the other religious courts.
Couples who are halakhically disqualified from marriage under Orthodox law — such as a Kohen (priestly lineage) and a divorced woman, a Kohen and a convert, mamzerim (children of certain forbidden relationships), and others.
Those who converted through Reform or Conservative Judaism — the Chief Rabbinate does not recognize their conversions for marriage purposes.
Couples who simply do not want to marry through the Rabbinate — whether for ideological, personal, or religious reasons.

The result is a paradoxical situation: a democratic state in which many citizens cannot exercise the basic right to formally establish a family within their own country — unless they are willing to surrender their identity or abandon their personal choice.

Chapter Two: The Workaround — Civil Marriage Abroad

The Principle of Registration by the Ministry of Interior

While civil marriage cannot be performed within Israel, Israeli law requires the Ministry of Interior to register in the Population Registry civil marriages that were legally performed outside Israel. This principle was established in Supreme Court rulings dating back to the 1960s (beginning with the landmark Funk-Schlesinger case) and expanded over subsequent decades. A registration clerk is obligated to register the couple as married based on a valid public marriage certificate and is neither required nor permitted to assess whether the marriage is substantively valid under religious law.

This status of “registration” (as opposed to substantive religious recognition) creates a unique situation: the couple is registered as married in the Population Registry and on their Israeli ID cards, enjoys the full status of a married couple before civil authorities, but — in the event of divorce, and when both spouses are Jewish — will still need to go through the rabbinical court.

The Traditional Options: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Georgia

For decades, the most common solution for Israelis seeking a civil marriage was a short trip to a nearby country to perform the ceremony. Cyprus has been the most popular destination thanks to its proximity, but the Czech Republic (especially Prague), Georgia, Italy, and others have also been widely used. A typical process involves arriving physically at the destination, submitting documents, holding a short civil ceremony at a city hall, receiving a marriage certificate with an Apostille stamp, and upon returning home — registering the marriage at the Ministry of Interior.

Advantages of This Path:

A full in-person ceremony, with family and friends able to attend.
An internationally recognized marriage certificate, accepted in most of the world.
A well-established, well-documented path used by tens of thousands of couples over the years.

Disadvantages of This Path:

Significant costs: flights, accommodations, administrative fees, and bureaucracy.
The need to physically leave Israel — which can be especially problematic for foreign partners residing in Israel without a valid visa.
A process that takes at least several days, and sometimes weeks.

Chapter Three: The Quiet Revolution — Remote “Utah Marriages”

What Are Utah Marriages?

In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Utah in the United States became the first jurisdiction in the world to allow civil marriages to be performed remotely, via video conference (Zoom), including for couples who are not American citizens and are not physically present on U.S. soil. Utah recognizes that as long as the officiant and the ceremony are conducted under its legal authority, the marriage is valid — regardless of where the participants are physically located.

The practical meaning: an Israeli couple can sit in their own living room in Israel, connect via video to an authorized officiant in Utah, conduct a short ceremony in basic English (about 30 minutes), and within a few days receive an official Utah marriage certificate — recognized in the United States and across most of the world.

The Bril Ruling — Israeli Recognition

Initially, the Israeli Ministry of Interior refused to register couples who had married via Utah, arguing that the ceremony had not taken place physically outside of Israel. A petition filed by Hiddush led to a landmark 2022 ruling by the Administrative Affairs Court in the Bril case, which was fully upheld by the Supreme Court. The ruling was unequivocal: Utah marriages are to be treated exactly like any other civil marriage of Israelis performed abroad, and the Ministry of Interior is required to register these couples as married in the Population Registry.

The impact of the ruling has been dramatic. According to data published by Hiddush, Israel has become by far the leading country in the world to make use of this service: in 2024 alone, approximately 5,316 Utah marriage licenses were issued to Israelis — about a third of all foreign couples who married via Utah that year. For comparison, between May 2020 and July 2021, only 637 Israeli couples used this path. That’s more than a tenfold increase, reflecting the enormous public demand for an alternative.

Advantages of Utah Marriages

Dramatically lower cost — the basic process costs only a few hundred dollars, with no flights or hotels required.
No need to leave Israel — especially critical for foreign partners residing in Israel without a visa, or for same-sex couples whose partner’s home country does not permit their marriage.
Speed — a ceremony date can typically be scheduled within days, and registration at the Ministry of Interior can be completed within weeks.
Fully egalitarian — open to same-sex couples, interfaith couples, those with no religious affiliation, halakhically disqualified couples, and anyone seeking a civil ceremony.
An official U.S. marriage certificate — recognized in the vast majority of countries around the world.

⚠ Important Warning — Uncertainty in 2026: As of early 2026, a bill has been introduced in the Utah State Senate that would prohibit marriages conducted purely remotely — meaning marriages in which neither partner is physically present in Utah. If passed, this bill is expected to either eliminate or significantly restrict the current option. This situation underscores the importance of timely action for couples considering this path. If Utah marriage is relevant to your situation, we recommend consulting with a professional and moving forward without delay. As of the writing of this guide, the service is still operating.

Chapter Four: A Reform Jewish Wedding in Israel — A Jewish-Liberal Ceremony Outside the Rabbinate

What Is a Reform Chuppah?

Alongside the civil paths, many couples in Israel are looking specifically for a Jewish ceremony — but one that is not under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate and that genuinely reflects their values. A Reform Jewish wedding is a fully Jewish wedding ceremony, conducted by an ordained rabbi of the Reform Movement (known in Israel as the Movement for Progressive Judaism). The ceremony includes all the core elements of the traditional Jewish wedding — chuppah (canopy), betrothal blessings, kiddushin (sanctification), ketubah (marriage contract), the Seven Blessings (Sheva Brachot), and the breaking of the glass — but is conducted through a liberal, pluralistic, and egalitarian religious lens.

Distinctive Features of a Reform Ceremony

Full equality between the partners — both are active participants, exchange rings, bless one another, and recite their vows in a mutual, reciprocal formulation.
A modern, egalitarian ketubah — a marriage contract that reflects shared commitment, rather than the traditional one-sided document.
A ceremony conducted in modern Hebrew — alongside biblical Hebrew and Aramaic — so that all guests can meaningfully follow along.
Deep personalization — the rabbi meets with the couple several times before the wedding, crafting the ceremony together with them based on their story, values, and relationship.
Openness — in many Reform communities around the world, ceremonies are performed for same-sex couples and interfaith couples. In Israel, Reform rabbis perform kiddushin ceremonies only for two Jewish partners (as registered by the Ministry of Interior), but the Movement offers welcoming, liberal conversion paths for partners wishing to join the Jewish people.

The Legal Status of a Reform Wedding in Israel

Here an important point must be clarified: the State of Israel, through the monopoly granted to the Chief Rabbinate over the registration of Jewish marriages, does not recognize Reform rabbis (or Conservative rabbis) as authorized marriage registrars. This means that a couple married solely in a Reform ceremony in Israel is not registered as married at the Ministry of Interior, and their personal status remains officially recorded as “single.”

Despite this, a Reform wedding carries meaningful legal weight. The Reform Movement issues couples a formal Certificate of Chuppah and Partnership (Te’udat Chuppah ve-Zugiyut). According to rulings by Israeli family courts, this certificate serves as significant evidence of a committed partnership and a joint household — strengthening the couple’s legal standing as “common-law spouses” (yedu’im be-tzibur) before any public authority: the National Insurance Institute, health funds, tax authorities, banks, employers, and more.

Two Practical Paths for Reform-Minded Couples

For those who want to combine a meaningful Jewish-Reform ceremony with full state recognition of their marriage, there are two well-established paths:

Path A: A Reform chuppah in Israel combined with registration as common-law partners. The couple holds a Reform ceremony, receives the Certificate of Chuppah and Partnership from the Movement, signs a financial agreement and a cohabitation agreement, and establishes their status as common-law spouses. This path suits couples for whom the religious ceremony itself is the priority, and who are less concerned about their official marital status vis-à-vis the state.

Path B: A civil marriage (Utah or abroad) followed by a Reform chuppah. The couple first marries in a civil ceremony, registers at the Ministry of Interior as “married,” and separately holds a Reform Jewish chuppah as the spiritual and communal celebration of the marriage. This is generally the recommended path today, as it allows the couple to enjoy both the full legal status of a married couple and a meaningful Jewish ceremony.

Chapter Five: Common-Law Partnership — Alternative or Partial Solution?

For those who choose not to marry at all — neither through the Rabbinate, nor civilly, nor in a Reform ceremony — Israel recognizes the status of “common-law spouses” (yedu’im be-tzibur). This legal status developed through court rulings and grants couples rights and obligations largely similar to those of a married couple: in matters of National Insurance, inheritance, spousal support, pension rights, and more.

However, the status also has important limitations: recognition is not automatic, and the couple may need to prove the nature of their relationship in various situations; the status is not universally recognized abroad (an important consideration for interfaith couples or those who may reside overseas); and the process of regulating legal status for a foreign spouse under the common-law path takes at least three years longer than for a married couple.

Common-law partnership is therefore best suited to couples who, for ideological or personal reasons, choose not to formalize their bond through a ceremony and certificate. For couples who want an official “wedding” — just not through the Rabbinate — the civil paths are generally more efficient.

Chapter Six: The Question of Divorce — The Blind Spot

This is an issue that deserves special attention, and one that many couples are not aware of at the time of their wedding: even a Jewish couple that marries in a civil ceremony abroad or through a Utah marriage will, in most cases, still be required to divorce through the rabbinical court if they later separate. The exclusive jurisdiction of the rabbinical courts over Jewish divorces in Israel applies even to couples who did not marry through them.

The situation differs for same-sex couples, couples where only one partner is Jewish, or couples with no religion: in these cases the rabbinical court does not view the marriage as halakhically valid and therefore declines jurisdiction, leaving divorce proceedings to the family courts. Sometimes, even in civil marriages between two Jewish partners, the rabbinical court may annul the marriage ab initio if it concludes that no reconciliation is possible — thereby eliminating the need for a religious get (Jewish divorce).

Important recommendation: For any couple planning to marry — civilly, religiously-Reform, or even through the Rabbinate — we strongly recommend drawing up a financial (prenuptial) agreement and a cohabitation agreement before the wedding. Such an agreement, prepared with an attorney specializing in family law, can save enormous heartache and legal battles in the event of separation, and ensures that property division and financial rights will reflect the couple’s own wishes — not the dictates of religious law.

Chapter Seven: Summary and Guidance — Which Path Is Right for Us?

There is no single answer that fits every couple. The choice of marriage path depends on the partners’ identities, their values, practical constraints, and goals:

For a couple where both partners are Jewish, seeking a meaningful liberal Jewish ceremony and full state recognition: A combination of a Utah marriage (or another civil ceremony abroad) followed by a Reform chuppah provides a complete and deeply meaningful solution.

For same-sex couples, interfaith couples, or couples with no religion: Utah marriages are currently the fastest, least expensive, and most egalitarian option for establishing civil marital status. For those also seeking a spiritual dimension, a secular Jewish ceremony (such as those offered by the Havaya organization), a personalized egalitarian ceremony, or — for Jewish couples — a Reform chuppah can be added.

For an interfaith couple where the foreign partner resides in Israel: A Utah marriage eliminates the need to apply for special permission to leave and re-enter Israel, and significantly accelerates the process of regulating the foreign partner’s legal status — by approximately three years compared to the common-law path.

For a couple who prefers not to marry at all: The common-law partnership path, supported by a cohabitation agreement and a financial agreement, offers broad legal recognition within Israel — but it is important to be aware of its limitations, particularly in international contexts and in matters of legal status for a foreign spouse.

A Closing Word

The choice of how to marry is one of the most personal and profound decisions in a couple’s life. It touches on identity, tradition, faith, community, and the mutual commitment you are building together. In Israel of 2026, despite the legal complexities, more lawful options are available than ever before — and the choice is yours to make.

I warmly invite you to reach out for an initial, no-obligation consultation, so that together we can explore the path that best fits your story, design a ceremony that truly reflects your unique journey as a couple, and build your home together in joy, equality, and meaning.