Social residency, also called "residency for the purposes of the National Insurance Act," entitles an individual to social rights and particularly health rights. Unlike citizenship or residency status, social residency does not entitle the resident to elect or be elected to public office. By granting social residency, state authorities recognize individuals as residents for the purposes of the National Insurance and State Health Insurance Acts, making them eligible for social rights even though the Ministry of the Interior does not recognize them as residents.

Migrants and Refugees Department is acting to secure the refugees and asylum seekers’ right to health and is promoting the recognition of refugees as residents for the purpose of social rights entitlements. 

The Amendment to the Entry into Israel and Nationality Law has negatively impacted tens of thousands of couples, leaving one person in the couple with no civil status and no social rights.