All public records (birth/marriage/death/divorce certificates) must be authenticated by apostilles (US) or a chain of signatures (Canada). For more information, click here.

The following is a list of the documents that must be submitted to process your Aliyah.

  •  Copy the main page of your passport (with your picture), as well as any additional pages that indicate date extensions or name changes – for each family member making Aliyah. Your passport must be valid for at least one year from your anticipated date of Aliyah.
  •  If you are the bearer of an Israeli passport, make sure to send a copy of your Israeli passport in addition to your US/Canadian/other passports (including pages with name changes and/or date extensions).
  •  If one or both of your parents held Israeli citizenship at the time of your birth, you are considered by the State of Israel to be an Israeli citizen and therefore must obtain an Israeli passport if you do not already have one.
    If the above applies to you and you were born abroad, click here for more info.
  • Please submit a copy of your original birth certificate (issued by the country in which you were born) for each family member making Aliyah.
  •  The applicant’s full name and both parents’ names must be listed on the birth certificate. You will need to obtain a long-form birth certificate if your birth certificate does not include your parents’ names.
  •  For those applicants/children of applicants who are U.S. citizens born outside of the U.S., please note that a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is not sufficient.
  •  Generally, documents in the following languages do not require translation: English, French, Russian, and Hebrew. In some cases, depending on the length and nature of the document, you may be required to translate documents in the above-mentioned languages as well. Documents in all other languages will generally require a notarized translation into English or Hebrew along with a copy of the original certificate.
  •  Hospital-issued birth certificates are not sufficient.
  •  If the name on your passport does not match your birth certificate, and the name change is not due to a change in marital status, please submit a copy of your official name change document.

To learn what apostille certification is and how to obtain it, please follow the link in the notes at the end of this page. Canada does not issue apostilles – alternative certification is acceptable from Canada – to learn more follow the same link below.

  • You must obtain apostille certification on your birth certificate and your name change certificate. Please submit copies of the apostilles to NBN.
  • Please submit a copy of all marital status certificates that are relevant to your personal circumstances, including your civil marriage certificate, divorce certificate, and the death certificate of your late spouse.
  •  A Ketuba or a Get is not sufficient. A marriage license is also not sufficient.
  •  Generally, documents in the following languages do not require translation: English, French, Russian, and Hebrew. In some cases, depending on the length and nature of the document, you may be required to translate documents in the above-mentioned languages as well. Documents in all other languages will generally require a notarized translation into English or Hebrew along with a copy of the original certificate.
  •  You must obtain apostille certification on your marital status certificate. Please submit copies of the apostilles to NBN.
    (If the certificate was issued in Israel, apostille certification is not necessary.)

Acceptable Proof of Judaism is a letter from a recognized synagogue Rabbi from a Rabbinical Organization in North America, confirming how the Rabbi knows you and stating that you are Jewish and born to a Jewish mother

  •  This is required for all adults in the family making Aliyah.
  • The letter must have been written in the past year on official letterhead.
  • If you are Jewish through your father or grandfather, please provide a letter from a recognized Rabbi from a synagogue or temple associated with a rabbinical organization in North America, stating that you were born to a Jewish father or grandfather as relevant, listing their names. You MAY also be required, by the Jewish Agency, to provide a copy of any of the following documents- your father’s Birth Certificate, your parents’ Marriage Certificate, and/or your grandparent’s Marriage Certificate.
  • Israeli citizens may have additional options for the Proof of Judaism requirement.
  • Please contact your Jewish Agency for Israel Shaliach to discuss your options if you cannot obtain this letter.
  • Some other requirements of the letter are as follows:
    • The letter must be in English or Hebrew.
    • The letter must appear on official synagogue letterhead. It must state the name, location, and telephone number of the congregation, and include your full legal name (as appears on your passport) and parents’ names (and grandparents’ names, where relevant).
    • The letter must bear the Rabbi’s signature, and the Rabbi’s name and title should appear on the letterhead.
    • The letter must show the date it was written
    • If you converted to Judaism, you will be required to submit different documentation proving your completion of the conversion process. You will receive further instructions during the application process.
    • Signature from Rabbi must be in ink. A digital signature is insufficient.

This is necessary if you are joining an NBN group or charter flight.

  • Please submit two official and identical passport photos for each family member (ages 16 and above) who is making Aliyah.
  • For a description of acceptable passport pictures, see Passport Photos .
  • Homemade passport photos will not be accepted.
  • Note: In addition to the two passport photos submitted to Nefesh B’Nefesh which are used for the Teudat Zehut (National ID card) and Teudat Oleh (Aliyah Benefits Booklet), you will need to submit two passport photos to The Jewish Agency for Israel when you apply for your Aliyah visa (Israeli passport holders do not need an Aliyah visa).

Describe yourself and be sure to highlight your reasons for making Aliyah as well as your post-Aliyah plans. Include any pertinent information that you believe will enhance your candidacy.

Good quality, recent, color photo of all individuals making Aliyah.

  • A digital photo is acceptable.
  • Families – submit one picture which includes all family members together.
  • Singles – submit a photo of the applicant only.

Submission of this signed waiver allows The Jewish Agency for Israel to transfer any information relevant to your Aliyah status to other Israeli government offices or Olim associations. There is no need to complete the section of the Waiver called Affirmation of Signature. Please submit a copy to Nefesh B’Nefesh and retain the original for your records. Originals will not be returned to the applicant. (This form is available as part of the application process.)

Each adult in the family should complete a separate Health Declaration form. (This form is available as part of the application process.)

  • This form is for you to fill out yourselves; it is not meant to be completed by your physician.
  • Parents must complete a minor’s Health Declaration form for each child under age 18 who is making Aliyah.
  • You will need to submit a copy of the Health Declaration for each family member to the Israeli Consulate when you apply for your Aliyah visa(s).

For all family members age 17 and above who are making Aliyah: Please submit a detailed list of all of your entries and exits from Israel for the seven years prior to your anticipated Aliyah date.
Please note the following guidelines:

  • If you have never been to Israel, or haven’t visited Israel in the seven years prior to your Aliyah, you must still sign and submit this form, with an explanatory note.
  • If you were born in Israel or made Aliyah to Israel as a child, and left before your 14th birthday, please list your entries and exits from your 14th birthday until the present.
  • If you previously held an A1 (Temporary Resident) visa, or made Aliyah in the past, please list your entries and exits from the date you left Israel until the present.
  • If you are a Toshav Chozer (returning Israeli citizen), please list your entries and exits for the two years prior to your anticipated return date.
  • Please submit a copy of this form to Nefesh B’Nefesh and retain the original for your records. Originals will not be returned to the applicant.

Support for Entry/Exit Form for all family members aged 17 and above who are making Aliyah:

  •  If you are an Oleh Chadash or you were born outside of Israel to Israeli parent(s),please submit: Copies of the main page (with your picture and identifying information) of all your passports, in your possession (whether valid or expired), for all nationalities, for the seven years prior to your anticipated date of Aliyah. Include copies of any pages bearing a name change or date extension. Please clearly label all pages with the name of the passport holder and the relevant passport number. This is required even if you have never lived in Israel.
  •  If you were born in Israel or made Aliyah to Israel as a child, and left before your 14th birthday, please submit: Copies of the first page (with your picture and identifying information) and name change/date extension pages of all passports in your possession (whether valid or expired) for all nationalities since your 14th birthday.  In addition, please provide copies of all pages in those passports which include Israeli entry/exit stamps. Please clearly label all pages with the name of the passport holder and the relevant passport number.
  •  If you previously lived in Israel on an A1 (Temporary Resident) visa, or made Aliyah in the past, please submit:  Copies of the first page (with your picture and identifying information) and name change/date extension pages of all passports in your possession (whether valid or expired) since you initially left Israel, for all nationalities. In addition, please provide copies of all pages in those passports which include Israeli entry/exit stamps for the specified time period. Please clearly label all pages with the name of the passport holder and the relevant passport number.
  •  If you are a Toshav Chozer (returning Israeli citizen), please submit: Copies of the first page (with your picture and identifying information) and name change/date extension pages of all passports in your possession (whether valid or expired) for all nationalities for the two years prior to your anticipated return date. In addition, please provide copies of all pages in those passports which include Israeli entry/exit stamps. Please clearly label all pages with the name of the passport holder and the relevant passport number.
  •  If you are unable to provide passport copies as requested you must submit proof that you have been living outside of Israel for the period of time indicated above such as copies of school transcripts, tax returns or a letter from your employer including relevant dates of employment.

A criminal background check is required for any Aliyah applicant. As such, we have put together resources and information to help clarify the steps for acquiring this document.

For more information click here

Important notes

  • Please submit all documents together with your application. Depending on the Aliyah status assigned to you by the Jewish Agency, you may be required to submit additional documentation. You will be informed of the required documentation and assisted with any additional questions, during the Aliyah application process.
  • Please submit copies of all documents to Nefesh B’Nefesh and keep the originals for your records and to present when required by The Jewish Agency for Israel or Misrad Hapnim.
  • If you do not hold some of the required documents, you can order them by following the instructions in the links below.

* Last updated on January 01, 2024 *