APOSTILLE FOR ISRAEL
Apostille Services for Israel
Making aliyah, handling an inheritance, signing a power of attorney for property in Israel or supporting an Israeli business? We prepare and apostille your U.S. documents, including the federal apostille your FBI background check requires, and return a complete set ready for Israel.
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ISRAEL AT A GLANCE
Hague Convention member
A single apostille, with no consular verification.
- Aliyah documents and FBI checks
- Family records from any state
- Powers of attorney and inheritance
- Corporate documents
How documents for Israel work
Documents we prepare for Israel
- FBI background checks for aliyah, residency and employment, with the federal apostille
- Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, including records from other states
- Name change decrees and adoption records
- Notarized declarations, including Split Aliyah declarations
- Powers of attorney for property, banking, inheritance and legal matters in Israel
- Diplomas, transcripts and professional credentials for work and degree recognition
- Corporate documents for Israeli subsidiaries, partners, investors and banks
- Probate and estate documents for heirs and executors
What Israel usually requires
| Document | Where the apostille comes from | What else to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State | Valid for aliyah for six months from the issue date; never notarize the printout |
| Birth, marriage, divorce or death certificate | Secretary of the Commonwealth or the issuing state | A certified copy from the clerk or vital records office |
| Name change or adoption decree | Secretary of the Commonwealth, after court certification | A certified copy from the court that issued it |
| Power of attorney or declaration | Secretary of the Commonwealth, after notarization | Ask your Israeli attorney for the wording first |
| Diploma or transcript | Secretary of the Commonwealth, through your school | See our university pages |
| Corporate documents | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Delaware or the issuing state | Recently issued certificates are often expected |
Requirements change and can differ by office, city and purpose. Always confirm the exact requirements with the office receiving your documents. We are glad to review the instructions you received.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what you need, and we will take care of every step.
Making aliyah
How we handle it
- 1
Share the recipient's requirements
Send us the checklist or email you received from the ministry, consulate, employer, attorney or bank. We review it and confirm exactly what each document needs before any work begins.
- 2
We prepare each document
Certified copies, notarization by appointment anywhere in Greater Boston, or retrieval of records you do not yet have, such as Massachusetts vital records.
- 3
Certification from the right offices
Massachusetts documents go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, documents from other states to the issuing state, and federal documents, such as FBI background checks, to the U.S. Department of State.
- 4
Translation guidance and delivery
We advise on translation for your receiving office and ship the finished set with tracking, to you, your attorney or directly to Israel.
Translation for Israel
Good to know
Marriage and divorce
Israel has no civil marriage, and marriages are conducted through the recognized religious authorities. A divorce obtained abroad may need to be recognized by an Israeli rabbinical court, so ask your attorney which records are required.
Powers of attorney
Israeli attorneys often prepare the power of attorney in Hebrew or in both languages. Ask for the final text first, and we notarize it with you anywhere in Greater Boston. See Powers of Attorney.
Attorneys and law firms
We regularly work with Israeli attorneys and their assistants on documents for clients in the United States, coordinating signings, apostilles and shipping. See Law Firms.
Companies
Board resolutions, certificates of good standing and corporate powers of attorney for Israeli entities and banks. See Corporate Documents.
Common mistakes we help you avoid
- A state apostille on an FBI check. FBI checks are federal documents and require the U.S. Department of State apostille.
- Notarizing the FBI printout. A notarized FBI check cannot receive the federal apostille. The original result must stay intact.
- An expired FBI check. For aliyah, the check must be no more than six months old, so timing matters.
- Photocopies instead of certified copies. Vital records must be certified copies issued by the clerk or vital records office.
- Translating too early. If a translation is required, it should usually include the apostille itself.
- Records from several states. Each record is apostilled by the state that issued it. We coordinate them in one order.
Official sources
- Hague Conference: Apostille Convention status table
- Consulate General of Israel: verification of public documents
- Nefesh B'Nefesh: apostilles for aliyah
- Nefesh B'Nefesh: background checks for aliyah
- U.S. Department of State: Israel civil documents
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth: apostilles and certifications
Requirements change, and the receiving office always has the final word. We confirm current requirements with every quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does Israel accept apostilles?
Yes. Israel has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since August 14, 1978. A properly apostilled U.S. document needs no further consular verification.
Who apostilles an FBI background check for Israel?
The U.S. Department of State, because an FBI check is a federal document. Massachusetts cannot apostille it. See How to Apostille an FBI Background Check.
How recent must the FBI check be for aliyah?
For aliyah, the FBI check is valid for six months from its issue date, so we plan it around your timeline.
Do my birth and marriage certificates need apostilles even if they are old?
Yes. For aliyah, civil documents must be apostilled regardless of when they were issued.
Do documents need a Hebrew translation?
It depends on the office. English documents are commonly accepted, but some offices require a Hebrew translation verified by an Israeli notary. We confirm before anything is translated.
Can you notarize a power of attorney written in Hebrew?
Yes. A Massachusetts notary notarizes your signature, not the content, so the document can be in Hebrew. We recommend asking your Israeli attorney for the final text before your appointment.
Do you ship documents to Israel?
Yes, with tracking, to you, your attorney, your notary or the receiving office.
Sending documents to Israel?
Tell us about your documents, their purpose and your deadline, and we will outline every step.