Updated 24.09.2026 · MFA and Magistrate Court
Apostille in Israel
Alla Flat · Notary #224143 · Bar #49324 · advocate since 2008
An apostille is a certificate added to a public document so it can be used in another country that is party to the Hague Convention of 1961. In Israel two competent authorities issue apostilles: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for public-registry documents) and the Magistrate Court (for documents that carry a notarial certification). The notarial part is charged at the official tariff (ק"ת 12158).
01 / 12 · Where
Where Israeli documents most often travel
Documents issued in Israel are most often legalised for use in Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and CIS countries, for citizenship, marriage, study, work, inheritance, and other official procedures.
02 / 12 · Who issues it
Which apostille you need
Two different authorities issue apostilles in Israel. The document type determines which one you need:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille is added to public documents issued by Israeli ministries and government authorities. Religious or academic documents may need prior authentication by the issuing body.
- The court-system apostille authenticates an Israeli notary signature on a notarial act and also applies to Israeli court judgments and decisions under the Judicial Authority service.
One authority cannot replace the other. A court apostilles a notarised translation; the MFA apostilles an original Ministry of Interior certificate.
03 / 12 · Electronic
Electronic apostille through gov.il
Some digital documents issued by Israeli authorities can receive an electronic apostille through gov.il. You apply online and receive an electronically signed file by email. You do not need to visit the MFA or a notary.
The service is limited to digital documents listed on gov.il, carries a fee paid during the application, and returns an electronically signed file. Confirm that the destination authority accepts the format before ordering it.
04 / 12 · What it proves
What the apostille proves
The apostille verifies the signature and seal on the underlying document. It does not certify the truth of the content, only that the document was lawfully issued by the named authority and that the signature is genuine.
05 / 12 · The stamp
What the apostille stamp looks like and what it says
An apostille is a certificate in the uniform format set by the Hague Convention: a square headed Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961) with ten numbered fields. The fields give the country, who signed the document, in what capacity, which seal it bears, the place and date of certification, the certifying authority, a serial number, a seal and a signature.
In Israel the apostille is attached to the document as a separate sheet or printed on it, and in the electronic route it arrives as an electronically signed file. The recipient abroad checks these fields, not the content of the document itself.
Official source: Hague Apostille Convention, Article 4
06 / 12 · Government fee
Regulated government fee
From 1 January 2026, the Judicial Authority apostille fee is ₪41 per certificate and is updated annually. Notarial work, translation, and delivery are separate.
The MFA or electronic-service fee is checked on the relevant gov.il service at submission. I separate government fees from my professional fees before work starts.
Need it today? A notarised translation of up to one page with a court apostille can sometimes be ready the same working day if the document arrives by 09:00.
07 / 12 · Process
How to get an apostille in Israel, step by step
- Check the document. Send a clear photo on WhatsApp. I will check whether it goes to the MFA, a Magistrate Court, or gov.il. If the original is needed, we will arrange handover.
- Notarised translation (if required). If the document needs a notarised translation, we will arrange certification and signing before submission.
- Submit to the competent authority. The document is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for state-issued documents) or the Magistrate Court (for documents that carry a notarial certification).
- Collect the apostilled document. The apostilled document is collected from the authority and returned to you in person, by courier, or by registered mail.
08 / 12 · Destinations
Common destinations
The Israeli apostille is valid in any country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. The convention has more than one hundred member states, including all of the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova, China, and many others.
For countries that are not party to the convention, a different legalisation chain is required, usually involving the destination embassy in Israel. Ask before sending any documents.
09 / 12 · Document types
Apostille for a birth certificate, marriage certificate, bagrut, police certificate and a Tabu extract
The rule: a document issued by a government ministry or public authority is apostilled by the MFA, and a document certified by a notary is apostilled by the Magistrate Court. Common examples:
- Birth certificate, marriage certificate, registry extract: Population Registry documents. MFA apostille, and for some certificates also a digital route through gov.il.
- Bagrut and other education certificates: a Ministry of Education or recognised institution document. MFA apostille after the issuing body confirms it, with an electronic route for some certificates.
- Police certificate (no criminal record): issued by the Israel Police. MFA apostille.
- Tabu extract: a public document of the Land Registry. MFA apostille, and if the extract was issued digitally, check whether it is covered by the gov.il electronic apostille service.
- Notarised translation, certified copy, power of attorney or affidavit certified by a notary: Magistrate Court apostille on the notary’s signature.
Before submitting, check with the office in the destination country whether it accepts an electronic apostille or requires paper, and whether a translation is needed.
Official source: Electronic apostille for government documents
10 / 12 · Foreign documents
Foreign documents for Israel
A foreign birth or marriage certificate, a diploma or another certificate cannot be apostilled at the Israeli MFA or a court. The apostille or other legalisation is done in the country of issue. After certification abroad, a notarised translation into Hebrew is often needed, if the receiving authority says so.
11 / 12 · Basis
Legal basis
- Hague Apostille Convention 1961, the basis for apostille recognition abroad.
- Israeli Notaries Law 1976, the framework for notarial acts in Israel.
12 / 12 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Does the original document have to be in Hebrew?
- For an MFA apostille, the document must be the original issued by the competent Israeli authority. For a court apostille on a notarised translation, the underlying translation must be prepared and certified by a notary first.
- Can you apostille a foreign document?
- No. The Israeli apostille only applies to documents issued or certified in Israel. Foreign documents must be apostilled in the country that issued them.
- Do I need an appointment?
- Yes. Meetings are by appointment in Petah Tikva and Tel Aviv, or at the client's location in Gush Dan.
- Is translation always required?
- Not always. Many offices accept the original Hebrew document with the apostille. If the court, bank, registry, or other office asks for a translation, we can prepare a notarised translation and apostille it separately.
- What about the e-apostille via gov.il?
- It is available only for the digital documents listed on gov.il. You pay the fee when applying and receive an electronically signed file. Before ordering it, ask the office where you will submit the document whether it accepts electronic apostilles.
- What is the apostille fee?
- The Judicial Authority fee is ₪41 per certificate from 1 January 2026 and is updated annually. The MFA or electronic-service fee is checked at submission. Work, translation, and delivery are separate.
- How do I apostille an Israeli birth certificate?
- A birth certificate is a Population Registry document, so the apostille comes from the MFA, and some certificates can be ordered with a digital apostille through gov.il. If the receiving office needs a translation, a notarised translation is prepared and apostilled separately at the Magistrate Court.
- How can I verify an Israeli apostille?
- An electronic apostille is verified by its number on the gov.il service linked in the legal-basis section. A paper apostille is checked by its serial number with the issuing authority, the MFA or the Judicial Authority.
“The Israeli apostille only applies to documents issued or certified in Israel. Foreign documents must be apostilled in the country that issued them.”
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