Apostille and document legalization

Apostille requirements for immigration to Israel: An apostille is mandatory only for personal civil status documents (birth certificates, marriage/divorce certificates, no-criminal-record certificates) issued from 1998 onwards. Documents proving Jewish ancestry or kinship (parents/grandparents' birth/marriage records) do not require an apostille.

For documents requiring apostille in Israel, Form 5 (valid for 6 months) and Form 6 (indefinite, required for divorce and previous marriages) are commonly checked. For Russia, an apostille for a certificate of no criminal record is often needed. Costs for apostilles can potentially be reimbursed through specific funds in Israel, requiring submission of visas and receipts.

For immigration to Israel, the Certificate of No Marital Status (Form 15) must have an apostille. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. It is mandatory for registration at the Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPnim) and will be required for any future marriage registration within Israel.

For repatriation to Israel, an apostille is mandatory for all personal civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates, etc.) issued by ZAGS (registry office) after 01.01.1998, as well as for the certificate of no criminal record, as per Israeli Ministry of Interior requirements (e.g., communicated by Sokhnut). For individuals with multiple marriages, apostilles are typically required for documents reflecting name changes, the most recent marriage certificate, and "Form 5" certificate for the last marriage. Previous marriage documents without name changes might not be scrutinized at immigration or by the consulate. Funds spent on apostille services can often be reimbursed through specific funds.

For sending a paper document, such as a marriage certificate, from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Israel, the courier service SDEK is a viable option.