Accepted to study in Europe? Arranging a foreign citizenship? Getting married in Cyprus, or filing Israeli documents with a U.S. authority? In almost every such scenario you will be asked for Israeli documents that are "translated and certified" — and that is where the confusion begins: notarized translation, translator's declaration, apostille... Here is the order of things, once and for all.
When a notarized translation is needed
Whenever an official body in another country must rely on an Israeli document: birth and marriage certificates, matriculation and academic diplomas, population registry extracts, court judgments, wills and inheritance documents, corporate papers and more. The foreign body cannot read Hebrew — it needs a translation that someone authorized has vouched for. The same applies in reverse: foreign documents submitted to Israeli authorities often need certified translation into Hebrew.
Notarized translation vs. "translator's declaration" — the key difference
- A notarized translation — the notary personally commands both languages and certifies the accuracy of the translation. This is the stronger certification, required by most official bodies.
- Certification of a translator's declaration — the notary only certifies that a translator declared before them that they know the languages and the translation is correct. The notary does not vouch for the translation itself.
Check in advance: some foreign institutions accept only a "full" notarized translation and reject a translator's declaration. A short inquiry with the receiving body — before you start — saves paying twice. Our office provides notarized translations between Hebrew and English.
What an apostille is
An apostille is an official stamp under the 1961 Hague Convention, confirming to the foreign country that the document — or the notarial certification — was indeed signed by an authorized Israeli official. A member state of the Convention accepts this stamp with no need for consular legalization.
Two types of apostille — and where each is issued
- Apostille for a notarial certification — issued at the courts, validating the authority of the signing notary.
- Apostille for an original public certificate (birth, marriage etc.) — issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sometimes required in addition to the first.
Which one do you need — and sometimes both? It depends on the document type and the destination country's requirements. That is exactly the question we save you: as part of the service we map the correct sequence for your case.
The right order of steps (and why it matters)
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Confirm what the receiving body requires
Notarized translation or translator's declaration? One apostille or two? Into which language?
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Obtain the original document or an official copy
Registry certificates can be ordered in advance; a damaged document or a photocopy will stall everything.
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Translation and notarial certification
The translation is prepared and certified, bound to the document with the notary's ribbon and seal.
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Apostille
At the court for the notarial certification, and at the Foreign Ministry for the original certificate — as needed.
Did step 4 before step 3? You may have to repeat the process. The sequence is not a recommendation — it is the only order that works.
The documents most often translated
- Birth and marriage certificates — for citizenship, visas and civil marriage.
- Academic diplomas and transcripts — for studies and professional recognition abroad.
- Population registry extracts — proving personal status to foreign authorities.
- Court judgments — divorce, adoption and name changes.
- Wills and inheritance orders — for estates with assets in more than one country.
Common mistakes worth knowing
- A name that doesn't match the passport. An English transliteration different from your passport (Yonatan / Jonathan / Yehonatan...) is the single most common reason for rejection. Bring your passport to the translation.
- Self-translation or a friend's translation. Official bodies will reject an uncertified translation — however good it is.
- A country outside the Hague Convention. There, a different and more complex consular legalization route applies — identify this early.
- Forgetting extra copies. You will usually need a certified set per institution — order the right number of copies up front (an additional copy costs far less than a new certification).
What does it cost?
The notary's fee for certifying a translation is fixed by the uniform statutory tariff — identical for every notary in Israel, and driven mainly by the document's word count. Apostille fees are set separately by the state. More about our notarial services — on the notary page.
Disclaimer: this article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements of foreign institutions vary between countries and bodies — verify your case specifically.
Need an Israeli document translated and certified for use abroad?
Tell us which document and where it is headed — and we will map the exact steps and the statutory fee.