Alla Flat · Notary #224143 · Bar #49324 · 18 years of practice
Reviewed by Adv. Alla Flat · updated 2026-05-15

Power of attorney for the Israeli Ministry of Interior

Many interactions with the Israeli Ministry of Interior (משרד הפנים) can be handled by a representative on the basis of a notarised power of attorney. This is useful when the holder is abroad, recovering from illness, or unable to attend in person at the office that handles their matter.

Russian-speaking olim often call this office "МВД" because משרד הפנים translates literally into Russian as Министерство внутренних дел (МВД). The body involved here is the Israeli ministry, not the Russian one.

What this POA is typically used for

• Obtaining an updated certificate of residency, civil status, or family composition.
• Filing applications relating to status: family unification paperwork, return of an Israeli national after long absence, change of name.
• Collecting documents from the population registry on behalf of the holder.
• Obtaining a certificate of citizenship.

What this POA does not cover

• It does not transfer Israeli citizenship or any substantive status. A POA only grants another person the right to handle documentary and legal matters on your behalf.
• It does not waive in-person requirements that the ministry imposes by law. Some procedures still require the holder to attend personally, in which case a POA is not enough.

How the document is built

1. We discuss which acts before the ministry the POA needs to cover, who the representative is, and the time scope.
2. The text is drafted in Hebrew so the ministry can read it directly. A parallel English or Russian column is added when the principal asks for it.
3. You sign in the presence of the notary. The notary verifies identity from a passport or Israeli ID.
4. The instrument is bound with the red notarial ribbon and carries the notary's certifying stamp.
5. For most ministry uses an apostille is not required, because the document is used inside Israel. We will tell you if the specific office where it will be used asks for additional certification.

When the principal is abroad

If you are abroad, sign the power of attorney at a local notary, have it apostilled in the country of signing, and send the original document to Israel. From there it works before משרד הפנים the same way a notarised POA executed here would. Note: the ministry requires Hebrew text — a parallel Hebrew translation is normally added.

Frequently asked questions

Can the representative be a family member? Yes. The representative can be any adult identified in the document with name and identification number.

Does the ministry always accept a notarised POA? The ministry generally accepts a POA that is notarised by an Israeli notary and matches the format expected for the specific procedure. If the office has refused a previous POA, send us the rejection notice so the next draft addresses the reason.

Does this POA work for Russian-language documents going to Russia? No. This service is specifically for the Israeli Ministry of Interior. For Russian-language POAs used in Russia or with Russian authorities, a different draft is prepared in Russian and apostilled separately. Ask if you need that.

How long does it take? Drafting plus signing is a single in-person visit, usually short. Send the details first so the draft is ready when you arrive.

Reach out

WhatsApp is the fastest channel. Tell us who the representative is, which matter they will be handling at משרד הפנים, and whether you have a deadline.