Notarial Certification of a True Copy of a Document: Procedure and Price
Notarial certification of a true copy of a document is required when it is important to officially confirm that the copy fully corresponds to the original and can be used before government, court, or foreign authorities.
In legal and business practice, situations often arise when an important document must be submitted, such as a passport, diploma, or marriage certificate, but handing over the original is impossible or unsafe. A simple photocopy has no legal force for government authorities. In such cases, notarial certification of a true copy is required — in Hebrew: אישור העתק נאמן למקור.
Attorney and notary Elena Gomelski promptly prepares notarized copies of any official documents at her office in the center of Tel Aviv (Jaffa).
When is a notarized copy required?
A notary’s stamp turns an ordinary sheet of paper into a document that has the legal force of the original. This service is most often required in the following cases:
- Opening accounts abroad: foreign banks require notarized copies of a foreign passport (Darkon) and documents confirming the residential address in Israel.
- Admission to foreign universities: foreign universities request certified copies of Israeli matriculation certificates (Bagrut) and diplomas.
- Participation in tenders: commercial organizations need to provide copies of articles of association, extracts from the Companies Registrar (Rasham HaChavarot), and licenses.
- Court proceedings and inheritance matters: when submitting a package of documents to court authorities or to the Registrar of Inheritance Affairs.
What is the difference between a simple copy and a notarized copy?
| Feature | Simple Photocopy | Notarized Copy |
| Legal force | None; it is for informational purposes only. | Equivalent to the original document. |
| Acceptance by government authorities | Authorities may refuse to accept the documents. | Accepted in Israel and abroad, with an Apostille if required. |
| Protection against forgery | The data can easily be changed in a photo editor. | The notary personally compares the copy with the original, then adds a stamp and signature. Multi-page copies are bound with a red ribbon. |
How does the certification procedure work?
The process takes only a few minutes, but it requires strict compliance with the Notaries Law.
- Providing the original: you must bring the original document to the office. By law, it is impossible to certify a copy based on a photo on a phone or a scan sent by email.
- Visual inspection: the notary checks the original for corrections, erasures, unreadable stamps, or signs of forgery.
- Making the copy: we make the photocopy of the document ourselves at the office to avoid any discrepancies.
- Certification: the notary places a special “True Copy of the Original” stamp (Neeman la-Makor), the date, her signature, and official personal seal.
Important note: the notary confirms only that the copy is identical to the original. The notary does not confirm the authenticity of the document itself or the truthfulness of the facts stated in it.
What should you do if the copy is needed for another country?
If the certified copy will be sent outside Israel, for example to Russia, Ukraine, or European countries, a notary’s stamp alone is not enough. In such cases, a state Apostille stamp must additionally be placed on the notarized copy at the court. Our office provides this service as part of a complete package.
How much does copy certification cost?
The price of this service does not depend on the type of document, whether it is a passport or a contract, and is strictly regulated by the state.
The cost depends on two factors:
- Certification of the first page, or first sheet, of the document.
- Certification of each additional page of the same document.
If you need several certified copies of the same document at once, the first copy is charged at the full rate, while all subsequent copies are charged at a significantly reduced rate.
Detailed information about fees is available on the page official price list of notarial services (Official Price List of Notarial Services in Israel: Current Ministry of Justice Rates).
Notarial certification of a true copy of a document allows you to safely use important documents without handing over the originals to different authorities. For a copy to have legal force in Israel or abroad, it is important to have it properly certified by a notary and, if necessary, additionally obtain an Apostille. Contacting an attorney and notary helps avoid refusals, mistakes, and delays when submitting documents.
Need a notarized copy right now? Come to the office of attorney and notary Elena Gomelski in Tel Aviv. We will prepare all the necessary documents without a long wait. To schedule your visit, call 03-375-1178 or leave an online request on this page. Do not forget to bring the original documents with you!
