Israel has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 1978, so a U.S. public document used there needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state and nothing from a consulate. That makes it one of the cleaner document routes in this directory.
Quick facts
Israeli documents travelling the other way are apostilled either by a magistrates’ court or by the foreign ministry, depending on whether the document is public or notarised, which trips people up when they expect a single office.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille on a U.S. state document | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of that state |
| Apostille on a U.S. federal document | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Apostille on an Israeli public document | Charged in Israel | Magistrates’ court |
| Apostille on a notarised Israeli document | Charged in Israel | Foreign ministry |
| Hebrew translation | Per page | Often notarised in Israel |
Translations into Hebrew are usually expected to be notarised in Israel, so check before commissioning one here.
How to prepare a document for Israel
- Order a certified copy from the issuing office.
- Notarise private documents first, since the apostille certifies the notary.
- File with the Secretary of State of the issuing state, or Washington for federal records.
- Arrange the Hebrew translation where the receiving body requires one.
- Send by a tracked service and keep copies of everything.
Required documents
- Original certified copy with signature and seal.
- Completed authentication request and payment.
- Photo identification for in-person service.
- Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.
What the consulates do
They issue passports and travel documents, handle identity and status matters, process visas, assist with aliyah alongside the immigration agency, perform notarial acts and assist Israelis in difficulty.
Consulate General of Israel Atlanta
View details →BostonConsulate General of Israel to New England
View details →ChicagoConsulate General of Israel
View details →HoustonConsulate General of Israel
View details →Los AngelesConsulate General of Israel
View details →MiamiIsraeli Consulate
View details →New YorkConsulate General of Israel
View details →San FranciscoConsulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest
View details →WashingtonThe Embassy of Israel to the United States
View details →Additional notes
Which office apostilles what
For Israeli documents, the distinction between court and ministry depends on the document type. Ask before travelling to either.
Marriage and divorce documents
Personal status in Israel is governed by religious courts, and documents from them have their own certification path. Ask the receiving body specifically.
Order two copies
Israeli offices keep what they receive, and repeating the chain is slow.
Never apostille a photocopy
The certificate attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.