Guide to Required Documents and Authentication for Portuguese Bureaucratic Procedures
Bilingual Birth Certificate תעודת לידה דו לשונית:
The bilingual birth certificate can be issued directly through the Ministry of Interior (משרד הפנים בישראל). At all branch offices, there is a dedicated counter for this purpose, where you can obtain the certificate without waiting in line. Alternatively, you can order the certificate online, and it will be mailed to the address listed in the Ministry of Interior’s records within two weeks. However, it is less recommended to order online, as handling it directly with the clerk allows you to verify and correct any errors on the spot.
It is also possible to request a digital version of the birth certificate online. Important note: A digital birth certificate is not suitable for any bureaucratic procedures in Portugal!
Where to authenticate your Israeli birth certificate?
The birth certificate must be authenticated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem with an apostille stamp.
Marriage or Divorce Certificate נישואים/גירושים:
Marriage or divorce certificates are issued by the local Rabbinate where the marriage or divorce took place. You can request a copy by phone for a fee of 67 ILS, payable by credit card to the Rabbinate. The certificate will then be mailed to your residential address.
Important: Be sure to request a signature from the Rabbinate on the back of the document (this is not done by default unless specifically requested). If you receive the certificate without the signature on the back, you can have it signed at any regional Rabbinate near your home.
Authentication of an Israeli Marriage or Divorce Certificate from the Rabbinate:
Certificates issued by the Rabbinate, including marriage or divorce certificates, must be authenticated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. Important note: If the back of the certificate does not include the Rabbinate’s stamp, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will refuse to authenticate it with an apostille stamp.
Extended Population Registry Extract תמצית רישום ממרשם האוכלוסין מורחבת:
There are two versions of this document: the standard Population Registry Extract and the Extended Population Registry Extract. Important: You must obtain the Extended Population Registry Extract!
This document is issued by the Ministry of Interior “משרד הפנים”. It contains overlapping information with your birth certificate, as well as additional details about your parents, previous addresses, and any name changes you may have undergone over the years.
For those who were not born in Israel but are Israeli citizens, the extract can also include details such as immigration dates and other relevant information.
Authentication of the Extended Population Registry Extract:
The extract is authenticated with an apostille at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. Although the document typically consists of several pages, only one apostille sticker is required for the entire document, and you only need to pay a single apostille fee.
Israeli Police Clearance Certificate in Consular Format
An Israeli police clearance certificate in consular format can be requested through the Israeli Police online platform and obtained via two main channels:
Portuguese Embassy in Tel Aviv:
- Visit the embassy on Friday mornings with the completed order confirmation, your Israeli passport, and a payment of 41 ILS.
- Alternatively, you may send a representative with a power of attorney, the order confirmation, and a copy of your passport.
Once issued, the certificate must be authenticated with an apostille at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.
- The certificate can be ordered directly to your attorney in Portugal, who will collect it from the Israeli Embassy in Lisbon.
- In this case, the certificate will already include an apostille. When completing the online form to order the certificate, you will need the apostille fee payment reference number, which can be paid in advance via the Israeli government’s fee payment portal.
