Apostille Requirements
Apostille Requirements for Aliyah - Detailed by Country
UNITED STATES
Documents Needed:
ï Birth certificates (all family members)
ï Marriage certificate
ï Divorce decree (if applicable)
ï FBI background check (for adults 18+)
Where to Get Apostilles:
State Documents (Birth, Marriage, Divorce):
ï **Authority: **Secretary of State in the state where document was issued
ï **Example: **If born in New York, contact NY Secretary of State
ï Methods:
◦ Mail-in service (most states)
◦ Walk-in service (some states)
◦ Third-party apostille services (expeditors)
Federal Documents (FBI Background Check):
ï **Authority: **U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications
ï **Address: **CA-L/AUTH, SA-1, 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
ï **Note: **FBI checks must first be certified by FBI, then apostilled by Dept of State
Processing Times:
ï **State apostilles: **1-4 weeks (varies by state)
ï **Federal apostilles: **2-4 weeks (standard), 2-3 days (expedited)
ï **Expedited services: **Available through private companies ($100-300 per document)
Costs:
ï **State apostilles: **$5-25 per document (varies by state)
ï **Federal apostilles: **$20 per document
ï **FBI background check: **$18
Translation:
ï All documents must be translated to Hebrew
ï Use certified translators approved by your aliyah organization
ï Nefesh B'Nefesh has list of approved translators
Special Tips:
ï Each state has different procedures - check specific state requirements
ï Order multiple certified copies before apostilling
ï California, Texas, New York have longer wait times
ï Consider using expedited services if on tight timeline
UNITED KINGDOM
Documents Needed:
ï Birth certificates (all family members)
ï Marriage certificate
ï Divorce decree/Decree Absolute (if applicable)
ï Police clearance certificate (DBS check or ACRO)
Where to Get Apostilles:
**Authority: **Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) - Legalisation Office
Methods:
ï **Online application: www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
ï **Postal service: **Legalisation Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, MK19 7BH
ï **Drop-off service: **Globe Centre, Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes (by appointment)
Processing Times:
ï **Standard service: **3-4 weeks
ï **Premium service: **1 week (double cost)
ï **Same-day service: **Available at drop-off location (triple cost)
Costs:
ï **Standard: **£30 per document
ï **Premium: **£75 per document
ï **Same-day: **£100 per document
ï Payment by debit/credit card only
Document Requirements:
ï Must be original or certified copies
ï Documents older than 3 months may require updated copies
ï Police certificate must be original ACRO Criminal Records Office document
Translation:
ï Translate to Hebrew after apostille
ï Use NAATI or equivalent certified translators
ï Jewish Agency UK has recommended translators
Special Tips:
ï GRO (General Register Office) certificates are accepted
ï Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems
ï Short birth certificates NOT accepted - need full certificates
ï Allow extra time for obtaining new certificates if originals lost
CANADA
Documents Needed:
ï Birth certificates (all family members)
ï Marriage certificate
ï Divorce certificate/Decree Absolute (if applicable)
ï RCMP criminal record check (for adults 18+)
Where to Get Apostilles:
**Authority: **Global Affairs Canada - Authentication Services Section
Provincial Documents (Birth, Marriage, Divorce): Two-step process:
**1. Provincial authentication **(some provinces)
**2. Federal authentication **at Global Affairs Canada
Location:
ï **Ottawa office: **125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
ï **Mail-in only **(no walk-in service currently)
Methods:
ï Mail application with documents
ï Include payment and return envelope
ï Courier services available through third parties
Processing Times:
ï **Standard: **10-20 business days
ï **Expedited: **5-10 business days (available through service providers)
ï **Rush: **2-5 business days (through private companies)
Costs:
ï **Authentication: **$40 CAD per document
ï **Private expeditors: **$150-400 CAD additional
RCMP Background Check:
ï Apply online through RCMP website
ï Takes 2-4 weeks to receive
ï Must be authenticated after receiving
ï Valid for 3-6 months for aliyah purposes
Translation:
ï Documents must be translated to Hebrew
ï Quebec documents in French also accepted but still need Hebrew translation
ï Use certified translators
Special Tips:
ï Each province issues different certificate formats
ï Quebec has distinct civil law system - extra documentation may be needed
ï Get provincial notarization first if required by your province
ï Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta may have additional provincial steps
ï Consider using a service provider if not in Ottawa area
SOUTH AFRICA
Documents Needed:
ï Birth certificates (unabridged) - all family members
ï Marriage certificate (unabridged)
ï Divorce decree (if applicable)
ï Police clearance certificate (SAPS)
Where to Get Apostilles:
**Authority: **Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) - formerly Department of Foreign Affairs
Offices:
ï **Pretoria: **DIRCO Campus, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale
ï **Cape Town: **102 Plein Street, Cape Town
ï **Durban: **300 Anton Lembede Street (Dr Pixley KaSeme), Durban
Methods:
ï **Walk-in service: **Available at all offices
ï **Postal service: **Available but slower
ï **Authorized agents: **Third-party services available
Processing Times:
ï **Walk-in: **Same day or 24-48 hours
ï **Postal: **5-10 business days
ï **Backlog periods: **Can extend to 2-4 weeks during busy times
Costs:
ï **Apostille: **R100-R150 per document (approximately)
ï **Agent services: **R500-R1500 additional per document
Document Requirements:
Birth Certificates:
ï **MUST be unabridged **(full) birth certificates
ï Abridged certificates NOT accepted
ï Apply through Department of Home Affairs if you only have abridged
ï Processing time for unabridged: 6-12 weeks (can be longer)
Marriage Certificates:
ï Unabridged marriage certificate required
ï Available from Department of Home Affairs
Police Clearance:
ï Apply at SAPS office
ï Requires fingerprints
ï Processing: 4-8 weeks (sometimes longer)
ï Valid for 6 months
Translation:
ï All documents translated to Hebrew
ï Afrikaans documents also need Hebrew translation
ï Use certified translators approved by South African Zionist Federation (SAZF)
Special Tips:
ï **START EARLY **- South African bureaucracy can be slow
ï Unabridged birth certificate is the biggest delay - apply immediately
ï Police clearance also takes significant time
ï SAZF (South African Zionist Federation) offers guidance and support
ï Consider using authorized agents if you're not near major cities
ï Keep multiple copies of everything
ï Home Affairs offices often have long queues - arrive early
ï Some documents can be ordered online through Home Affairs
Common Issues:
ï Backlog at Home Affairs for unabridged certificates
ï SAPS delays on police clearances
ï Lost certificates requiring reissues (add months to process)
GENERAL TIPS FOR ALL COUNTRIES
Timeline Recommendation:
ï Start 6-12 months before planned aliyah date
ï Account for document retrieval, apostilles, and translations
Order of Operations:
- Obtain all original/certified documents
- Get apostilles
- Translate to Hebrew
- Submit to aliyah organization
Cost Planning:
ï Budget $500-1500 USD total for documents, apostilles, and translations per family
ï More if using expedited services
Keep Copies:
ï Scan everything before sending
ï Keep digital backups in cloud storage
ï Make physical copies for your records
Organization-Specific Guidance:
ï **Nefesh B'Nefesh **(North America): Excellent country-specific guides
ï Jewish Agency: Regional offices provide local guidance
ï **SAZF **(South Africa): Full support for SA olim
Updated on: 01/02/2026
Thank you!