In short
- An Israeli power of attorney signed abroad is normally verified in one of two ways: before an Israeli consul, or before a local notary followed by an apostille.
- Signing at the consulate needs no apostille. Signing before a local notary needs an apostille if your country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention – otherwise a longer legalisation chain.
- Some documents can't be signed at a consulate at all – for example an enduring power of attorney.
- Check what the receiving bank, registry or authority in Israel expects before you sign. It saves time and repeat trips.
Why the way you sign matters
A power of attorney is only useful if the people in Israel who receive it – the Land Registry, a bank, the Tax Authority, the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs – are willing to rely on it. When you sign in Israel, an Israeli lawyer or notary usually confirms your signature. When you sign abroad, that confirmation has to come from someone whose stamp Israeli institutions recognise.
In practice, there are two standard routes. Both are common and both work well when done correctly. The right one for you depends on where you live, how quickly you need the document, and the institution that will receive it. If you are not yet sure which type of document you need, start with what a power of attorney is and come back here.
Route 1: signing before an Israeli consul
Israeli embassies and consulates offer signature verification for documents that will be used in Israel. You come in person, show identification, and sign the document in front of a consular officer, who then certifies your signature. Because an Israeli official has verified it, no apostille is needed.
What to expect
- An appointment. Most missions work by appointment. Availability varies a lot between cities and seasons, so book early.
- Identification. The mission will ask for identification – Israeli missions mention an Israeli passport, ID card or driving licence, so check what your mission accepts.
- The unsigned original. Bring the document unsigned. You sign it only in front of the consul.
- A fee. Consular fees are set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vary by mission and currency. Check your mission's page.
What a consulate will not do
Israeli missions publish a list of verifications they do not perform. These include signing an enduring power of attorney, wills and prenuptial (property) agreements. If you need one of these, a different route is required – see our guide to enduring POA for Israelis living abroad.
You can find your nearest mission and its services on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs missions site.
Route 2: a local notary plus an apostille
The second route is to sign in front of a notary in your own country. The notary confirms your identity and your signature. Then a second step makes that notary's stamp recognisable in Israel:
- If your country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, as Israel is, the competent authority in your country adds an apostille – a standard certificate confirming that the notary's signature and seal are genuine.
- If your country is not a member, the document usually goes through consular legalisation: a chain of confirmations by local authorities, ending with the Israeli consulate.
Who issues apostilles differs from country to country. In the United States it is usually the Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned; in the United Kingdom, the FCDO Legalisation Office; in Australia, DFAT; and in France, since May 2025, the notaries themselves through their regional councils. Our apostille country directory lists the authority for many countries, and our apostille guide explains the process in detail.
Important: the apostille confirms the notary's signature and seal. It does not check whether the document's content is correct or suitable for Israel. That is why the drafting matters as much as the signing.
A newer option: video verification for Israeli citizens
In 2025 the Israel Bar's national ethics committee published an opinion allowing an Israeli lawyer who is in Israel to verify certain signatures by a recorded video call when the person signing is an Israeli citizen abroad. It applies only to documents for administrative or civil use – not, for example, affidavits for court – and only under strict conditions, including identification through the Israeli government's online identification system, showing an identity document on camera, and recording the verification.
This can be a real time-saver, but it is not a universal substitute. It does not help someone who is not an Israeli citizen, and some institutions or document types still need a consular or notarial signature. Ask us whether it fits your case; the opinion itself is available from the Israel Bar (Hebrew, PDF).
How to choose: a quick comparison
| Question | Israeli consul | Local notary + apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Is an apostille needed? | No | Yes (or legalisation in non-member countries) |
| Where do I go? | Embassy or consulate, often in another city | A notary near you, then the apostille authority |
| How many steps? | One | Two or more |
| What usually decides it? | Distance and appointment availability | Apostille processing times in your country |
| Not available for | Enduring POA, wills, prenuptial agreements | Depends on local rules – ask us |
As a rule of thumb: if there is an Israeli mission within reasonable reach and you can get an appointment in time, the consulate is often simplest. If not, a local notary with an apostille is a perfectly good route. For country-specific detail, see our guides for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Australia.
Step by step: from draft to a document that works in Israel
- Define the job. What exactly must be done in Israel – a sale, an inheritance application, closing an account? The answer decides the type of power of attorney (often a special one, sometimes irrevocable).
- Check the receiving institution. Some banks and other bodies have their own forms or extra requirements. We check this before drafting.
- Draft the document. We usually prepare it in Hebrew with an English version alongside, so you understand every clause.
- Choose the signing route – consulate, local notary plus apostille, or, where it fits, video verification by an Israeli lawyer.
- Sign correctly. Bring identification and the unsigned original. Sign only in front of the official. Make sure every page that needs initials is initialled.
- Get the apostille if you used a local notary. Check that it is attached to the document and refers to the right notary.
- Send the original to Israel by a tracked courier, and keep a scan for your records.
- We review it on arrival and only then start using it.
This is the same process we follow with every client – see how it works.
Common mistakes – and how to avoid them
- Signing in advance. The signature must be made in front of the consul or notary. A document signed at home first will usually be refused.
- A general POA when a special one is needed. Many institutions prefer, or require, a document limited to a specific matter.
- Apostille from the wrong authority. In some countries the authority depends on the region or the type of document. Check before you send it.
- Names that don't match. Your name should match your identification and, where relevant, the Israeli records – including spelling in Hebrew.
- Relying on a scan. Most Israeli institutions need the original document, not a copy or a PDF.
- Using an old document. Some institutions ask for a recent power of attorney or confirmation that it is still valid.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an apostille if I sign at the Israeli consulate?
Generally, no. When an Israeli consul certifies your signature, the document does not need an apostille.
Can a notary in my country sign the document in Hebrew?
A notary certifies your signature, not the content, so the document can usually be in Hebrew with an English version alongside. Some notaries ask for a translation or a bilingual version – we prepare documents in that format as standard.
How long does an apostille take?
It depends on the country and the authority, and processing times change. Check the official authority's website; our apostille directory links to official sources.
Can I sign an enduring power of attorney at the consulate?
No. Israeli missions do not certify enduring powers of attorney. These are made before an Israeli lawyer who is specially qualified for them.
Can I send the document to Israel electronically?
In most cases the institution needs the original paper document, so send it by tracked courier. If you used video verification with an Israeli lawyer, the process is different – we'll explain it.
My country is not in the Apostille Convention. What now?
Then the document usually needs consular legalisation: confirmation by local authorities and then by the Israeli consulate. We'll guide you through the exact chain.
Official sources
- Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs – embassies and consulates
- Israeli mission page – signature verification and services not provided (Hebrew)
- HCCH – Apostille Section
- HCCH – Apostille Convention status table
- Israel Bar ethics committee – verification of signatures abroad by video (Hebrew, PDF)
- 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.