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In depth
Aliyah (Hebrew for 'ascent') is the term for Jewish immigration to Israel. Under the Law of Return (1950), Jews and their descendants have the right to make aliyah and acquire Israeli citizenship.
The aliyah process involves: (1) obtaining eligibility confirmation from the Jewish Agency, (2) applying for an immigrant visa at an Israeli consulate, (3) arriving in Israel and receiving Israeli citizenship and a teudat zehut (identity card), and (4) applying for an Israeli passport.
Different aliyah paths exist for different groups: Jews (full aliyah under the Law of Return), children and grandchildren of Jews, spouses of Israelis, and converts to Judaism.
Related terms
The Law of Return (1950) is the Israeli law that grants Israeli citizenship to Jews, their children, grandchildren, and spouses.
The Jewish Agency for Israel is the organization that processes aliyah applications and confirms eligibility under the Law of Return.
Misrad HaPnim (Ministry of Interior) is the Israeli government ministry that processes Israeli citizenship applications and issues Israeli identity documents.
The OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card is the Indian document granting lifelong residency and most economic rights to persons of Indian origin, in lieu of full dual citizenship.
PIO (Person of Indian Origin) was a card for persons of Indian origin, merged into the OCI scheme in 2015.
A koseki is the Japanese family registry, the official record of family relationships that serves as proof of Japanese citizenship.