Verification of Official Documents from an Enemy Country Without Diplomatic Relations with Israel

How is the verification of official documents from an enemy state (such as Iran or Lebanon) or a country without formal diplomatic relations with Israel conducted? Submitting documents from an unfriendly country in Israel is a complex legal situation that requires a verification process involving several representations across multiple countries.

Our law firm in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specializes in Israeli immigration law, as well as immigration to various countries abroad and obtaining foreign citizenship, including the United States, Canada, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Poland, and more. Often, our clients are required to submit foreign documents to Israeli authorities after they have undergone international verification, either through an Apostille or via the Israeli consulate abroad.

In this article, Attorney Joshua Pex, a partner in our firm, explains the procedure for verifying official documents from an enemy state or a country without formal relations with Israel, before submitting said documents in Israel.

 How to verify foreign documents in general?

In the modern globalized world, we are often required to submit foreign official documents in Israel. There is a set procedure to ensure their recognition in by Israeli authorities. For example, couples who perform civil marriages in a foreign country and wish to register as married in Israel must provide official proof through the verification of their marriage documents before submitting them for registration. Other scenarios requiring document verification include regularizing the status of foreign spouses of Israelis or their minor children in Israel, proving education credentials from a foreign country in order to study or work in Israel, and demonstrating a clean criminal record.

For the majority of the world’s countries, verifying official documents for recognition in Israel is a relatively simple process. Israel maintains diplomatic relations with most countries, many of which (along with Israel) offer a streamlined procedure for verifying official documents (known as an “Apostille stamp“). Even in countries where this expedited process is not available, there is usually an organized procedure for verifying official foreign documents.

How to verify Documents from an Enemy State or a Country Without Official Relations with Israel?

As a general rule, the State of Israel refuses to directly recognize certificates or documents issued by an enemy state or a country with which it has no diplomatic relations, even if they have been verified. Conversely, most of these countries would refuse to recognize documents from Israel. However, certain situations arise where Israelis require the verification of documents from enemy states, such as Israelis born in Iran who are undergoing immigration processes to the United States or other countries.

The Israeli Ministry of Interior has established a procedure for the verification of official documents. Regarding documents from enemy states, this procedure requires that the documents be verified through a third country. This is a complex process requiring verification through four official representatives across three countries: the enemy state / country without relations with Israel; a third country that has relations with Israel; and finally, the Israeli consular representation.

How Does the Verification Procedure Work According to the Ministry of Interior?

First, the documents must be authenticated in the country that issued them. Subsequently, the documents must be verified by a representative of a third country that has relations with Israel but is located in the unfriendly country. After this double verification, the documents must be sent to the foreign ministry of the aforesaid third country with official relations with Israel for further verification. Finally, the documents are submitted to the Israeli consulate in that third country for official authentication.

An example of how the process works: Documents from Iran or Lebanon must first be authenticated by the relevant authorities in the originating country. Then, they must be verified by the Jordanian consulate in Iran or Lebanon. Following that, the documents are sent to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification. Finally, the documents are transferred to the Israeli consulate in Jordan for official authentication.

Clearly, this is a cumbersome bureaucratic process. However, in some cases, there is no alternative but to perform this complicated verification process to present the documents to the relevant authorities.

Contact an Experienced Immigration Lawyer and Notary

Our firm includes attorneys with notary qualifications and extensive experience in assisting with the verification of official documents, including documents from enemy states or countries without official relations with Israel. For any questions or issues regarding document verification, Apostille certification, or representation before the Ministry of Interior and other authorities, we are here to assist. You can contact us via the phone numbers or email address listed below.

 :  :

03-3724722

055-9781688

office@lawoffice.org.il