Avi Ivgi and Bar Edelstein, an Israeli couple currently in Bogotá, Colombia, are facing an unexpected and distressing hurdle. Their daughter, Arbel, born via surrogacy a month ago, cannot return with them to Israel due to a sudden change in entry regulations.
“We went through a long, expensive, and complex surrogacy process,” Ivgi and Edelstein told Walla. “We were supposed to return to Israel next week, but suddenly, and without any warning, Israel decided to tighten the regulations. Now it is impossible to bring babies into Israel with a foreign passport.”
The couple explained that under the new directive, babies born abroad via surrogacy must first be naturalized in the country of birth, including undergoing a tissue test, before being eligible for an Israeli passport. “This process is lengthy, especially when you’re stuck abroad with a newborn,” they said.
Longstanding policy reversed without notice
Previously, Israeli parents could return home with their babies using a foreign passport, then complete the naturalization process in Israel. “This was an accepted practice for years,” the couple said. “Now, in the wake of war and political instability, they’ve changed the rules without notice—and we’re the ones paying the price.”
Beyond the emotional toll, the new requirement has led to steep financial costs. “We have no medical insurance here [in Colombia], no family, and no idea when we’ll be able to go home,” they said. “We know of other Israeli couples facing the same situation.”
Knesset members and LGBTQ group join effort
Ivgi and Edelstein are receiving assistance from Knesset Members Yurai Lahav Hertzanu and Naama Lazimi, along with the LGBTQ Association. “We are grateful for their support,” the couple said. “No one from the authorities is in contact with us, and that infuriates us. We are following the procedures, but it feels like no one cares.”
The couple postponed their return flights to mid-July, but remain uncertain about next steps. “We don’t know how long Arbel will be without medical coverage. Living expenses here are high. Our daughter will eventually become an Israeli citizen—so why the delay?”
Surrogacy agencies assisting parents have begun informing other Israeli couples that the new regulations may also affect entry from additional countries, not just Colombia. They cited a statement from the Population and Immigration Authority indicating that a Colombian passport is no longer sufficient for entry.
Entry to Israel now requires an Israeli passport, which can only be obtained after completing the naturalization process, including genetic testing, within the country of birth.
Bureaucratic changes raise concerns of discrimination
Knesset Member Lahav Hertzanu (Yesh Atid), chair of the Knesset LGBTQ Caucus, submitted a query to the Interior Ministry on behalf of the couple. However, it was delayed by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
“The Population and Immigration Authority is tormenting an Israeli family in the name of 'policy,’” Lahav Hertzanu said. “A baby born to Israeli parents is stuck overseas because of unnecessary bureaucracy, simply because she has two fathers. Arbel is no less Israeli than any other child.”
He added that the refusal to use previously accepted solutions—such as those adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic—was not only bureaucratic blindness but “cruelty.”
The LGBTQ Association also issued an urgent appeal on Monday to the Population and Immigration Authority and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel. “The family followed every requirement, yet they cannot return due to a sudden change in entry policy,” the association said.
“Until now, parents could enter Israel with their baby using a foreign passport and complete naturalization later. Now, without any official notice, this is no longer allowed. Families are left abroad with no legal certainty, no support, and no rights—effectively denying their ability to return home.”
They noted that the requirement for genetic testing as a condition for citizenship is currently unworkable. Airlines have suspended the transfer of genetic samples to Israel due to the war. “This policy has created a situation in which families with newborns are stranded, uninsured, and unable to return,” the association said. “We urge the Interior Ministry to intervene.”
Official response points parents to Foreign Ministry
The Population and Immigration Authority responded: “The couple is currently abroad and must therefore deal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Foreign Ministry, for its part, stated: “Through our embassies, we are working to register babies born abroad via surrogacy in accordance with clear procedures from the Population and Immigration Authority.”
The ministry added that registering a baby born abroad via surrogacy requires a genetic test, as ordered by an Israeli family court. “As a result, the consulate cannot register the baby as an Israeli citizen or issue an entry visa until the genetic relationship is confirmed.”
The ministry emphasized that “the consulate is not authorized to make exceptions to this procedure without explicit instruction from the Population and Immigration Authority.”