Updated 18.08.2026 · I tell you if you do not need a notary
Power of attorney for the Ministry of Interior
Alla Flat · Notary #224143 · Bar #49324 · advocate since 2008
Notarised power of attorney for the Israeli Ministry of Interior: certificates, status updates, and document collection. I tell you if you do not need a notary.
01 / 08 · Situations
Common situations
- Collecting Israeli civil-status certificates (birth, marriage, divorce, death, name-change) when the person cannot go to the office.
- Status updates the clerk will accept through a representative.
- Family-unification or stay-status paperwork where MOI asked for a power of attorney. This is not legal representation of a citizenship file.
- A relative in Israel who will stand in line and collect or file papers.
- An Israeli living in Georgia, Thailand, Cyprus, or elsewhere who cannot fly in.
Russian-speaking olim often call this office "МВД" because משרד הפנים translates literally as Ministry of Interior. The body here is the Israeli ministry, not the Russian one.
If the POA is for a bank, court, property, or a foreign authority, use the general power of attorney page instead.
02 / 08 · What MOI asks
What MOI actually asks for
- The receiving MOI office decides the wording. Send their form or the clerk’s written request before drafting.
- Prefer a specific POA limited to named acts, not an open general POA.
- The representative is identified by name and Israeli ID number.
- If the POA is signed in Israel and used only at MOI in Israel, a court apostille is usually not required.
Apostille is a different question (documents leaving Israel, or a foreign notarial signature that Israel must recognise). Ask before ordering one.
03 / 08 · In Israel
If you are in Israel
- Scope. Agree the acts and the representative.
- Draft. I draft the text in Hebrew, or parallel Hebrew/Russian or Hebrew/English if that helps.
- Sign. You sign before me. Identity from a valid Israeli ID or passport.
- Bind. I bind and stamp. The representative takes the original to MOI.
- Pay. You pay after the document is ready. No advance fees.
04 / 08 · Abroad
If you are abroad
You do not always have to fly back. Before anyone signs, ask the MOI office or clerk which of these they accept:
- Signature at an Israeli consulate.
- Signature before a local notary abroad, then apostille where the Hague Apostille Convention applies; otherwise the required consular legalisation route. A Hebrew translation if they asked for one.
I can draft the Hebrew text you take to the foreign notary or consulate. If you already have a signed instrument, send a photo first. No one path always works; the office decides.
05 / 08 · No notary
When a notary is unnecessary
- Some extracts and requests go through personal.gov.il or the MOI online services without a notary.
- Some acts MOI will only do with the person present (biometrics, some passport steps). A POA cannot replace those.
- If a simple written authorisation is enough, I say so before you pay.
- ייפוי כוח מתמשך (Continuing POA / Administrator General) is a different instrument. It is not this page.
06 / 08 · Limits
What this POA cannot do
- It cannot grant more than MOI will accept from a representative.
- It does not replace an advocate on a citizenship or family-unification legal case. This page is the notarial instrument only.
07 / 08 · Basis
Legal basis
- Israeli Notaries Law 1976, for notarial certification of a power of attorney.
The receiving MOI office sets the format it will rely on. That office makes the final decision.
08 / 08 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need an apostille for MOI in Israel?
- Usually no, if you sign in Israel and the POA is used only at MOI. Ask if you are signing abroad.
- Can someone else collect my birth / marriage certificate?
- Often yes, if MOI asked for a POA and the acts are named. Send what the clerk asked for.
- I live in Georgia / Thailand / Cyprus. Must I fly in?
- Not always. Ask the clerk which signing path they accept, then I draft the text.
- What ID do I need?
- Valid Israeli ID or passport, at signing.
- Is a witness required?
- Israeli notarial certification does not require an extra witness.
- How much does it cost?
- Notary fees are set by the Ministry of Justice and updated every January. I quote after I see the task. Translation, apostille, and courier are extra if they apply.
- Can this be done the same day?
- Sometimes, if the wording is agreed and you can sign. I cannot promise that before I see the request.
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“If you can do this through gov.il without a notary, I will say so before you pay.”
Get started
Message on WhatsApp. Send:
- What the representative must do
- Name and ID of the representative
- Which MOI office, if they know
- Photo of the MOI form or the clerk’s request
- Whether they are in Israel or abroad
- Deadline
