Legal documents include proof of ID, proof of citizenship, and proof of lineage and marital status.
If one does not have their legal documents, they will need to obtain another copy from the office that originally issued the document.
Many records from the US, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, can be ordered from VitalChek.com.
For information on replacing a US passport in Israel, please email support@chaimvchessed.com.
Additionally, if one needs a new birth certificate from the Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim) in Israel, please email support@chaimvchessed.com.
At times, a legal document may need additional certification before it can be accepted legally by a government office or even a place of employment.
Notarization
A notary is a person who is authorized by a specific state or country to certify that a document is authentic. Documents that commonly need notarization include powers of attorney (yipui koach), translations of foreign birth certificates and marriage licenses, as well as statements of consent for citizenship when a parent cannot be present.
Notarization fees are regulated by the government and subject to change yearly.
Israeli Notarization
In Israel, some senior lawyers are certified as notaries.
To certify a standard statement or document, the notary issues a typed certificate in Hebrew (and other languages, if needed) and fastens it to the document with a ribbon and seal.
If one needs a notarized translation of a foreign document (usually required for languages other than English), one will need to use a lawyer who is proficient in both Hebrew and the foreign language. The lawyer can either certify an existing translation or do the translation themself.
U.S. Notarization
When a US notary is required and one is not in the US (e.g., for the US Embassy), it is generally possible to obtain the notarization via notarize.com.
Note: Embassy and consular staff are authorized to notarize certain documents being sent to their home countries. Please note that at this time, it is very difficult to make an appointment for this service at the US Embassy.
Apostille
An apostille (from the French word for “marginal note”) is an additional certification attached to a legal document from one country that makes it acceptable in another.
Under the Hague Convention, signatory countries have agreed to recognize public documents issued by other signatory countries if those documents are authorized by the attachment of this internationally recognized form of authentication.
An apostille must be obtained from the state or country that issued the original document.
Apostille on Documents from abroad
In the United States, every state has a slightly different procedure. In some cases, an apostille can be obtained in person by walking into the relevant office in the document’s state of issuance. It may also be applied for by mail. There are also express businesses that provide expedited service for a fee.
Tip: Documents from New York will need to first get an additional letter attached called a “Letter of Exemplification” before they can be submitted for an apostille. To obtain this letter, one can order a copy of the document from Vitalchek and when prompted for the “reason” the record is required, choose “apostille/ authentication”. One will still need to request the apostille once they receive the documents; however this will ensure that the document arrives with the Letter of Exemplification allowing one to go straight to ordering the apostille.
Apostille on Israeli Documents
If an Israeli document is presented abroad, it may require an apostille. Additionally, certain embassies in Israel, such as the Swiss Embassy, require that Israeli documents be presented with an apostille as well.
An apostille on an Israeli document can be obtained from Misrad Hachutz.
Israeli citizens may apply for an apostille on certain documents (including Israeli birth certificates) online, on their government portal (my.gov.il).
Foreign citizens and those without access to the government portal must apply in person.
One can apply for an apostille without an appointment Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 9 am – 12:30 pm and Wednesday between 9 – 11:30 am. The apostille will be issued only to the person listed on the document or their first-degree relative. The applicant must bring along photo ID, proof of payment in advance, and proof of their connection to the person listed on the document (birth certificate, marriage certificate).
On Wednesday afternoons between 2 – 4 pm, up to TEN documents can be brought by messenger (ie, not necessarily the applicant or their first-degree relative) and given in at the service window. Documents must be placed in a sealed envelope and include proof of advance payment and a “return” envelope containing the messenger’s name and phone number (no stamp needed). The documents will be ready for pick-up at the window the following Wednesday during the same hours only.
Present the original document. If you are not the person listed on the document, you may be asked to provide documented proof of your relationship to them.
The fee is 41 NIS per document, which can be paid online, at any post office in advance of one’s appointment or at the self- service machine at Misrad Hachutz (Israeli credit cards only).
When paying at the post office, ask to deposit the fee into Misrad HaChutz’s account: 0-026789. Bring the receipt with you when requesting the apostille.
Note
In certain instances, Israeli citizens can issue a digital copy of the document as well as a digital apostille via their government portal, see here for details.
Misrad Hachutz (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Sderot Yitzchak Rabin 9, Kiryat Hale’um, Jerusalem
Hours for verification of documents:
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 am-12:30 pm; Sunday also 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Phone: 02-530-3358, 02-530-3301 – operates Monday through Thursday, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Email: Apostille@mfa.gov.il
A note on Israeli marriage licenses: Before obtaining an apostille on an Israeli marriage certificate, the certificate must first receive approval from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This approval (ishur) can be affixed either to the original marriage license or to a comparable copy. An ishur can be obtained during reception hours at the office of Religious Affairs or via mail. It is free of charge.
Legalizing a Foreign Marriage in Israel
A couple that got married abroad will often need to prove their marriage in government offices such as the Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim) when applying for visas, registering for Bituach Leumi or registering a child’s birth.
In some cases, such as when one of the spouses is an Israeli citizen or when applying for citizenship or a toshav arai visa, the marriage license may require an apostille.
A halachic marriage may be legally registered in Israel and can then be used in lieu of a foreign marriage license even in cases where an apostille would be required.
Please see here for information on legalizing a halachic marriage.
Criminal Background Check
If one wishes to make Aliyah, apply for an A1 or A5 visa, request permission to work on their A2 or A4 visa or even work at certain jobs, they will be asked to provide a “background check”.
A background check uses one’s fingerprints to check criminal history.
In Israel this is referred to as a teudat yosher (certificate of good conduct). An Israeli citizen can obtain this online or by going down to a local police station.
A foreigner will need to obtain the background check from their country of origin.
Note: Even if one never lived in the country in which they have citizenship, one can still obtain a background check from that country.
Organizations such as Nefesh B’Nefesh can take one’s fingerprints for a fee. For US citizens they can also submit the fingerprints and obtain the report. Non-US citizens will need to submit their fingerprinting card on their own. For Aliyah and A1/ A5 applications, these providers can also assist in obtaining an apostille for an extra fee.
Contact:
Nefesh B’nefesh: fingerprinting@nbn.org.il.
United States: For more information on obtaining an FBI background check, see here.
Canada: For more information on obtaining a Certified Criminal Record Check, see here.
UK: For more information on obtaining the ACRO Police Certificate (a DBS verification will not be sufficient) see here.
Other European countries: For more information see here.
Note: Background checks are generally valid for only 6 months from their issue date.
