Affidavits in the Gradual Process: which ones the procedures ask for and who may verify them

Written by Alon, founder of IsraelVisa · Based on the procedures of the Population and Immigration Authority

Published: 5 November 2026

The short answer

An affidavit is a statement in writing of facts that you sign after being warned that you must state the truth and that a false statement is punishable. Under section 15 of the Evidence Ordinance the warning is given, and certified on the affidavit, by one of the persons the law lists. The procedures ask the couple for a few affidavits and, in two cases, say who may take them.

This article is based on procedures 5.2.0008 (edition 16, 20.07.2026), 5.2.0009 (edition 17, 16.07.2026) and 5.2.0011 (10.12.2020).

Which affidavits the procedures ask for

  • An affidavit of both partners on the truth of the material submitted and on your duty to report any change in circumstances, page 3 of the application form (5.2.0008 and 5.2.0009 section D.2.g, 5.2.0011 section C.5).
  • A notarial affidavit of the foreign partner on the personal status in the country of origin, only when that country issues no status certificate, signed before an Israeli consul abroad, a notary abroad, a notary in Israel or the consul of the country of origin in Israel (section D.2.e).
  • The consent of the other parent of a minor who joins the application: abroad, before an Israeli diplomatic or consular representative or a foreign public notary whose certificate is authenticated; in Israel, before an employee of the office (section E.2(9)(m)).
  • The appendix forms: each partner's declaration and an affidavit annexed to a rental agreement in 5.2.0008; an affidavit (appendix A) and one for a partner who is still married (appendix A-1) in 5.2.0009.

The letter about your relationship is a signed letter, not an affidavit.

Who may verify an affidavit in Israel

Section 15 of the Evidence Ordinance lists who gives the warning and certifies it: a judge; a dayan of a religious court; the Attorney General and the state, district and sub-district attorneys; a lawyer; the head of a local authority; and anyone else the Minister of Justice has authorised. Under section 19 a registrar or a magistrate's court judge may also take an affidavit, and a notary does so under section 7(5) of the Notaries Law.

For most affidavits in the process, one verified by a lawyer is enough. When a procedure asks for a notarial affidavit, a lawyer's verification is not a substitute.

An affidavit made abroad

If the foreign partner is still abroad, the procedures' own answer is the Israeli consul. An affidavit taken by a foreign notary is accepted when the notary's certificate is authenticated: from a country party to the Hague Convention of 1961 by an apostille, which the Israeli regulations implementing the Convention accept for notarial certificates; from any other country by an Israeli diplomatic or consular representative (Evidence Ordinance section 30).

The foreign partner's documents are filed as originals, authenticated and translated under the Authority's procedure 1.3.0001 (section D.2.e); an affidavit in another language comes with a translation.

Documents for the Gradual Process: how recent, authenticated and translated

How the signing goes

  • The text is prepared in advance. You sign only in front of the verifier: a notary may not verify a signature unless the signer stood before the notary, was identified and signed there (Notaries Law section 11), by personal acquaintance or by a passport, an identity card or another public document with your photograph (Notaries Regulations, regulation 2).
  • The warning and the certification: you are warned that you must state the truth and are liable to the penalties set by law if you do not, and the verifier certifies on the affidavit that the warning was given (Evidence Ordinance section 15). A change made before signing is initialled; an affidavit changed after signing is not valid.
  • A language you do not know: a notary certifies a document in a language the signer does not know only after it has been translated to the signer, by the notary or by a translator who gives an affidavit on commanding both languages (regulation 7(b)).
  • The original: you present it when the office invites you to identify yourselves and show the original documents (section E.2(10)); a notary keeps a copy for seven years (regulation 22).

Fees

A notary's fee is set in the Notaries (Service Fees) Regulations, updated for 2026 and published by the Ministry of Justice; check the current table on the department's page. An affidavit made at a court carries a fee under the Courts Regulations (Fees).

Notaries' service fees, Ministry of Justice (Hebrew)

When an affidavit cannot replace a certificate

An affidavit says what you know; it does not replace a certificate the procedure requires, unless the procedure itself says so. A missing document brings a written list from the office and 45 days to file it (section E.2(8)).

The July 2026 editions add a narrow opening. The regional director may exempt you from a document for entering the Gradual Process, on a reasoned request backed by documents, where objective or unique exceptional circumstances prevent getting it, you proved sincere efforts and filed an official confirmation supporting your claim; an asylum application is expressly not such a circumstance. The exemption is for entry only: all the documents are required with the application to end the process (section E.2(8)(b)). Under 5.2.0008, a partner who then proves they cannot be obtained may apply for permanent residency only; under 5.2.0009 a further exemption request may be filed. It does not hold for any later application, naturalisation included (5.2.0008 sections F.1 and H.1(4); 5.2.0009 sections F.1 and H.2).

How IsraelVisa helps

IsraelVisa helps you list the affidavits and declarations your file needs, keep each verified original and its translation in order, and track what was filed, yourselves and at your own pace. IsraelVisa does not give legal advice; if you wish, you can find independent lawyers through IsraelVisa.

Frequently asked questions

Can we sign the couple's affidavit at home and bring it to the office?

No. An affidavit is signed only in front of the person who verifies it, after the warning; a notary may not verify a signature that was not made in the notary's presence.

Does the personal-status affidavit have to be notarial?

Yes, when it is required at all. The procedures ask for it only if the foreign partner's country issues no certificate of personal status, and say it is signed before an Israeli consul abroad, a notary abroad, a notary in Israel or the consul of the country of origin in Israel.

My partner does not read Hebrew. Can the affidavit be in Hebrew?

Before a notary, a document in a language the signer does not know is certified only after it has been translated to the signer, and the certificate says how. A document in another language is filed with a translation under procedure 1.3.0001.

If we cannot get a certificate, is an affidavit enough?

Not as a rule. Since July 2026 the regional director may exempt you from a document for entering the process in exceptional, proven circumstances, but the document is still required to end the process.

How much does a notary charge for an affidavit?

The fee is set by regulation and updated by the Ministry of Justice; check the 2026 table on the notaries department's page.

Related guides

Sources

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The information in this article is general and does not constitute legal advice. The procedures are updated from time to time; check the current version on the website of the Population and Immigration Authority.