In short
- An apostille is a standard certificate, created by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, that confirms the signature, capacity and seal on a public document – such as a notarial certificate.
- Israel has been party to the Convention since 14 August 1978, so it accepts apostilles from other member countries.
- If you sign your Israeli power of attorney before a local notary in a member country, the notary's certificate usually needs an apostille. If you sign at an Israeli consulate, it doesn't.
- The apostille is issued by the country where the document was signed – never by Israel – and it says nothing about whether the content is correct.
What an apostille is
Documents signed in one country are often needed in another. Traditionally, a foreign authority could only rely on them after a chain of certifications – by local officials and then by the receiving country's consulate. The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, known as the Apostille Convention, replaced that chain, between member countries, with a single certificate: the apostille.
According to the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), which administers the Convention, an apostille certifies the origin of a public document: the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp. Our broader apostille guide covers the topic in more depth.
What an apostille does not do
This point causes a lot of confusion. An apostille does not:
- confirm that the content of the document is true or legally valid;
- make a document acceptable for a purpose it wasn't drafted for;
- replace a translation, where the receiving institution needs one;
- guarantee that the receiving institution will accept the document if other requirements aren't met.
For an Israeli power of attorney, the apostille confirms the notary's signature and seal. Whether the power of attorney itself is properly drafted for the Land Registry, the bank or the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs is a separate question – and the one that most often decides whether the document is accepted.
When does an Israeli power of attorney need one?
| How you sign | Apostille needed? |
|---|---|
| Before an Israeli consul at an Israeli embassy or consulate | No – the Israeli official's certification is enough |
| Before a notary in a country that is a party to the Apostille Convention | Yes, usually – from that country's competent authority |
| Before a notary in a country that is not a party | An apostille isn't available; the document usually needs consular legalisation instead |
| Before an Israeli lawyer by video, where the 2025 Israel Bar opinion applies | Not applicable – ask us whether this route fits your case |
For a side-by-side comparison of the routes, see how to sign an Israeli power of attorney abroad.
Who issues the apostille?
The apostille is always issued by a competent authority designated by the country where the document was signed. Israel cannot apostille a document signed in New York, and a New York authority cannot apostille an Israeli document. Each member country notifies the HCCH which authorities it has designated, and the HCCH publishes them.
Some examples, from official sources:
- United States – for documents notarised in a state, usually that state's Secretary of State (the U.S. Department of State handles federal documents). See our USA guide.
- United Kingdom – the FCDO Legalisation Office. See our UK guide.
- Canada – Global Affairs Canada or a provincial authority, depending on where the document was issued. See our Canada guide.
- France – since 1 May 2025, apostilles are issued by notaries through their regional councils, rather than by the courts of appeal. See our France guide.
- Australia – the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). See our Australia guide.
For more countries, use our apostille country directory, which is based on the HCCH status table.
Step by step: getting an apostille on your power of attorney
- Confirm the route. Check that your country is a party to the Convention and in force – the HCCH status table is the reference.
- Get the document drafted. We prepare it, usually in Hebrew with an English version, and tell you what the notary needs to do.
- Sign before the notary. Take identification and the unsigned original.
- Find the competent authority for that notary – by state, province or region in some countries.
- Apply for the apostille – in person, by post or online, depending on the authority. Check the official site for fees and processing times.
- Check the result. The apostille should be attached to, or printed on, the document, and refer to the notary who signed.
- Send the original to Israel by tracked courier.
Countries outside the Convention: legalisation
If you live in a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention, an apostille isn't available. The usual alternative is consular legalisation: the notary's signature is confirmed by one or more local authorities (often the foreign ministry), and finally by the Israeli embassy or consulate responsible for that country. The exact chain differs from country to country, so check it with the local authorities and the Israeli mission – or sign at the Israeli mission directly, which is often simpler.
Membership changes over time. For example, according to the HCCH status table, the Convention entered into force for Viet Nam in September 2026, and is due to enter into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Always check the current status rather than relying on older lists.
Objections between member countries
When a country joins the Convention by accession, existing members can object, and the Convention then doesn't apply between those two countries. The HCCH status table marks these accessions. According to the HCCH's published notifications, Israel has objected to the accession of Kosovo. If you are signing in a recently acceded country, it's worth checking that the Convention applies between it and Israel.
Common apostille mistakes
- Going to the wrong authority – for example, a federal office for a document notarised at state level.
- Removing the staple. Where the apostille is attached to the document, separating the pages can invalidate it.
- Apostilling a copy instead of the signed original that will be sent to Israel.
- Assuming a country is a member because a neighbouring country is. Check the status table.
- Leaving it to the last minute. Processing times vary and can be long in busy periods.
The other direction: Israeli documents going abroad
Sometimes the flow is reversed – for example, an Israeli inheritance order or Land Registry extract you need to present abroad. In that case the apostille comes from Israel. Several Israeli official services now let you request an apostille with the document itself, including Land Registry extracts, inheritance and probate orders issued by the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs, and confirmations of the activation of an enduring power of attorney. For Israeli notarial documents, we'll explain how the apostille is obtained in your case.
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille the same as a notarisation?
No. The notary certifies your signature; the apostille then certifies the notary's signature and seal so that the certificate is recognised in another member country.
Can I get an apostille from the Israeli consulate?
No. Apostilles are issued by the country where the document was signed. If you sign at the Israeli consulate, you don't need one.
Does an apostille expire?
The Convention doesn't set an expiry date for apostilles, but some receiving institutions ask for recently issued documents. We'll tell you if that applies.
Are electronic apostilles accepted?
Many countries now issue e-Apostilles under the HCCH's e-APP programme. Whether a particular institution in Israel accepts an electronic one should be checked case by case.
My country isn't on your list. What should I do?
Check the HCCH status table, or contact us and we'll check for you.
Official sources
- HCCH – Apostille Section
- HCCH – Apostille Convention, full text
- HCCH – status table (members, entry into force, objections)
- HCCH – competent authorities
- U.S. Department of State – authenticate your document
- GOV.UK – get your document legalised
- Service-Public.fr – apostilles now issued by French notaries (French)
About the author: Adv. & Notary Rachel Shachar is an Israeli lawyer (Israel Bar license no. 43884) and notary who has run her own office since 2004 and works with many clients who live abroad.
Please note: this page gives general information about Israeli powers of attorney. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Requirements can change and can differ between institutions, so we always confirm the details for your specific case.