Family law6 min read8/31/2026

Taking a Child Out of Israel Without Consent: How to Urgently Stop the Departure

A verbal prohibition, notifying the other parent, and a phone call to the airport are not enough: a judicial order is what actually blocks the departure. When there is a real risk, an application should be made to the Family Court for a stay-of-exit order against the minor, while distinguishing among three separate matters—the order itself, a valid passport, and the conditions for temporarily lifting the order.

Numbers and facts

•Under age 18—the child is considered a minor for the purpose of a telephone inquiry
•A child’s stay-of-exit order is generally valid until age 18
•30 days—the period specified for an imminent trip for the purpose of the urgent proceeding
•From age 16, a minor’s passport may be valid for 10 years
•*3450—the Population and Immigration Authority call center

When a Judicial Order Is Specifically Required

A stay-of-exit order is justified when there is a concrete risk that the child will leave without the other parent’s consent or will not be returned after an agreed trip. A parent may apply for such an order if their guardianship powers have not been revoked. The Population and Immigration Authority’s border procedure expressly states that it is not intended to decide custody disputes between parents. It is therefore dangerous to rely solely on questions asked by the border control officer, the absence of notarized consent, or previous verbal agreements.

Where to Apply When the Departure Date Is Near

An application for a stay-of-exit order is filed with the Family Court, together with a request for urgent interim relief and preservation of the status quo. In materials concerning family proceedings, a trip or event within 30 days is specified as grounds for an urgent application under Regulation 12, without a preliminary dispute-resolution proceeding. It is important to attach to the application anything indicating not an abstract concern but the immediacy and reality of the risk: flight details, correspondence, the child’s passport details, valid agreements, and judicial decisions. The more detailed the departure date, itinerary, and the other parent’s statements about not returning the child are, the clearer the urgency of the situation will be to the court.

Why a Passport and a Stay-of-Exit Order Are Not the Same Thing

The rules for issuing a passport are not a substitute for a stay-of-exit order. When the parents are married, the consent of one of them is generally sufficient to issue a passport to the child; in cases of divorce, separate residence, an unregistered relationship, or acknowledged paternity, the consent of both is generally required, unless there is an appropriate agreement or a decision concerning sole guardianship. However, refusing to sign an application for a new passport does not in itself block the trip if the child already has a valid document. The cited sources also do not indicate that a stay-of-exit order automatically invalidates the passport or requires its immediate surrender: the precise wording of the judicial order remains decisive.

How to Check Whether the Order Has Been Entered into the System

The Population and Immigration Authority allows people to check whether a stay-of-exit order exists, but the online service provides information only about the applicant and only regarding orders available for viewing. By telephone, you may also request information about your children who are under 18 years of age; the call center number is *3450. Prepare the passport number, its date of issue, and the year of birth in advance. The Authority warns that a discrepancy between the identity card number in the order and the number in the document, as well as a recent update, may result in the order not being found in the information check, even though border control will still delay the departure.

Temporary Travel, Lifting the Order, and Guarantees

A stay-of-exit order concerning a child is generally valid until the child reaches age 18. Temporarily or permanently lifting it, for example for a vacation, generally requires the consent of both parents; in the absence of consent, the matter is referred to the Family Court. The cited sources do not specify a fixed guarantee amount in shekels, a mandatory form of security, or a uniform “rate” for obtaining travel permission. It should therefore not be assumed that there is a standard amount: the conditions should derive from a written agreement between the parents or a specific judicial order, including the permitted duration of departure and how the order will be reinstated.

FAQ

Can a child be stopped at the airport with a single phone call?

A parent’s objection is not in itself a judicial order. The border procedure does not decide custody disputes, so in the event of a family dispute, an urgent judicial order entered into the appropriate system is required.

Is the other parent’s consent required for the child to leave Israel?

This depends on the circumstances of the trip, valid agreements, judicial decisions, and the destination country’s requirements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends carrying appropriate notarized consent when the child travels alone or with only one parent, but the absence of such a document should not be regarded as a reliable substitute for a judicial order.

If I do not sign for the issuance of a passport, is it certain that the child will not travel?

No, if the child already has a valid passport. In addition, when the parents are married, under ordinary circumstances the consent of one parent may be sufficient to issue the passport; in cases of separate residence or divorce, the rules are stricter.

Can the order be temporarily lifted for a vacation?

The consent of both parents is generally required for a temporary lifting. If no agreement is reached, the Family Court decides; the cited sources do not specify a fixed guarantee amount.

How can a parent check whether there is a stay-of-exit order for a child?

By calling *3450, you can obtain information about your minor children after preparing the passport number, its date of issue, and the year of birth. The online check is intended only for the applicant and displays only orders available for viewing.

What to do next

If the risk of departure is concrete and imminent, retain the tickets, correspondence, the child’s passport details, and valid decisions or agreements, and then determine the procedure for making an urgent application to the Family Court. Separately, check whether the order exists through the Population and Immigration Authority, and do not confuse preventing the issuance of a new passport with prohibiting the crossing of the border. This is general information and not individualized legal advice.